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And little Emma, Ridley‘s fiveâ€"yearâ€"old daughter, enjoys helping her dad clean the tanks from time to time. But when he wants to get into a deep discussion about spawning and breedâ€" ing, he looks to his comâ€" rades at the Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society, a nonâ€"profit organization whose primary goals are to further the hobby and study of tropical fish and related endeavors, and to inspire the preservation of aquatic life. Ridley is president of the local club, which has been around for more than 40 years. and chair of the upcoming Oktoberfish show and auction, taking place this Saturday at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Comâ€" plex. "This is nothing," he said. "When 1 was a kid, 1 had 60 tanks in my parents‘ house." His family doesn‘t think much of his hobbv. Sure, they‘ll go down and take a peek at the Angel fish once in a while. "She‘ll hold the hose," he said. A member of the club for the past 25 years, Ridley said he enjoys meeting others who share his interest. "As a kid I liked it (thobby; because you actually have the ability to spawn the fish and sell the babies to the pet stores for 10 cents each which. at that time, was a big windfall," he said. Now he enjoys collecting fish for the diversity they offer. ALRidley never met a fish e didn‘t like. And that‘s part of the reaâ€" son six large tanks of aquatâ€" ic life fill up a room in his basement. Waterioo show and auction targets tropical fish fanatics "They‘re so colourful," he By Anonea Baitey Chromicle Staff Ridley‘s pastime overâ€" flowed into his backyard this year with addition of a pond, complete with goldâ€" fish. Al Ridley tries to get the attention of one of his angel fish. Ridley is president of the Kitchener Waterloo Aquarium Society and chair of this Saturday‘s Oktoberfish show and auction at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. said. "And having 500 fish is a lot better than having 500 cats or dogs, if that‘s even possible." "I don‘t name them," he said with a laugh. "And yes, 1 do eat fish. I‘d even eat fish in front of my fish. "Backyard ponds are becoming very popular within the club," he said. "They‘re really nice to look at in the summer when _ Ridley said he considers his fish more as projects than pets. "Every couple of weeks T‘ll add some fresh water, scrape the glass, and 1 feed them once a day. "It‘s a way for me to waste time doing something I enjoy." LIFESTYLE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE "People who are just coming into the hobby often have no clue where to start." he said. "They‘ll go to the pet store, buy the aquarium, the gravel, everything else they want, and the fish. Raising fish can also be calming, Ridley said, if the owner doesn‘t let frustration get in the way. everything‘s in full bloom. "My wife, who I call my tolerant spouse, even likes it." "It‘s a way for me to waste time doing something I enjoy." wreat musicâ€"â€"up close and personal â€" Al Ridley Kitchener Waterioo Aquartum Society eZ J 1Calrs C ammaclfan C hamibjer Tickets: $26 Adult/Senior or $12 Student nnommtmr Get y our tickets tod ay!‘ Call 578â€"1570 _nsem They take it all home, set it all up, and 24 hours later the fish is {dead). That‘s when the frustration tends to set He also said the easiest fish to start out with are any African cichlid, barbs and danios. "They can buy the tank and other stuff right away, but they should wait at least a couple weeks before they buy the fish." he recomâ€" mended. "That way they‘ll have time to read the book, and let the water cycle and the good bacteria build up so that when they do put the fish in. there‘s no ammonia spike." "They‘re OK in hard water, which is perfect for Ridley said all new ownâ€" ers should start out with a book on raising fish. Continued on page 13 ANDREA BAILEY PHCTO Presenters for the health fair include the Alzheimer‘s Society, Community Care Access Centre, Hospice of Waterloo Region, Lutherwood Family and Children‘s Services, Physiotherapy, Ontario Breast Screen Clinic, Home Instead and more. The Living Well in Life Health Fair is being held this Sunday from 12:30â€"3 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Chapter 102 of the club No Kidding, a nonâ€"profit social club aimed at childless and childâ€"free adults of good cheer who are looking to have fun in a guiltâ€"free environment, will hold its inaugural meeting this Satâ€" urday from 9â€"11 a.m. For details of how to join and the meeting location, eâ€"mail nokidding.kw@sympatico.ca. WLU School of Music Therapy graduate and faculty member Ruth Roberts is seeking support for her innoâ€" vative music therapy in palliative care program at Toronto‘s Sick Kids Hospital during the second annual Jesse‘s Scissorsâ€"inâ€"Motion fundraiser. The fundraiser takes place this Sunday at local hair salons, Pinos and Voila in uptown Waterloo, who will open their doors to cut and style hair for just $30 in order to bring music therapy to critically ill children for whom a cure is uncertain or even unlikely. "Jesse‘s Scissorsâ€"inâ€"Motion is an important fundraiser in support of music therapy in palliative care at Sick Kids Hospital." said Carolyn Daniels. director of discharge planning and palliative care at the Toronto hospital. "Parents treasure their memoâ€" ries of their child‘s experience. "We are very grateful to Jesse‘s Foundation for Music and Dance Therapy for its ongoing support of our program." 877â€"292â€"1798 It‘s free admission and refreshments will be availâ€" able for anyone interested in attending. Redeemer Lutheran Church is located at 78 John St. W. People interested in supporting this fundraiser are asked to preâ€"book their appointments by calling 1â€" The program became part of the oncology unit at Sick Kids in 1999. It was expanded to provide a music therapy service for children receiving palliative care at home in 2001. Roberts, who initiated the program, continues the practice at the hospital, and shares her experience as a faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier‘s School of Music Therapy. event will help bring â€" music therapy to sick kids WLU grad‘s fundraising Learn to live well at health fair this Sunday No Kidding club holds inaugural meeting