What She Keeps in Her Fish Room after 50 Years in the Hobby

Lessons from an old school hobbyist. Bonnie has been keeping and breeding tropical fish for over 50 years... wow! She is the OG (old guy hahaha). Bonnie was a huge blessing to spend time with and learn about her life in the hobby and how the hobby saved her through live. This fish room tour will always be one I remember as Bonnie was such a great person to spend time with.
Bonnie is currently breeding corys, rainbows, chiclids and some angelfish. She has over 40 aquariums and she isn't stopping there. She even has one of the coolest antique aquariums I have ever seen!
Check out some of the other fish room tours I have done:
• Fish Room Tours

[@yl9644]

I'll say, she's managing the fishes way better than my local aquarium stores.

[@jamesalan779]

Duh

[@Gk22632]

Is that a surprise? She’s literally a veteran fish keeper

[@kyleattwood5308]

“enjoy your life too?” “no not really” 😂

[@tonycarpaccio9550]

I was really stressed going through Law school and securing a job at a firm etc. During that time I got really into fish keeping. I was in a skyscraper looking up the nitrogen cycle and learning all the basics at 25. Buying a tank, getting it settled, decorating it, and getting my fish etc really helped me through that time. Fishkeeping is definitely therapeutic.

[@GlobeXLabels]

This is weird a lot of people say this, but I just find that it brings more stress (aka additional tasks)

[@midnull6009]

@@GlobeXLabels Depends. You can look at it one way; you are taking care of something and watching it grow. It depends on you. Or you can look at it as a chore. Also, if you have 1 or 2 tanks...it's nothing. Especially if they're well balanced. You can have a self sustaining ecosystem and the only thing left to do is top off a tank.

[@BlingIsSpring]

You must be trolling or you’re just that out of touch and completely have no self awareness lmao.

[@dingodyno9016]

Also depends on what you are running in your tank. If you are doing a full planted tank, then less time doing maintained and more time enjoying the fish as the plants are absorbing all those excess nutrients for you and doing way less water changes. Non planted tank on the other hand is a different story. Also depends on the type of fish you have and sizes of them and size tanks also, its just a lot of variables that go into it, but at the end of the day, you decide how the outcome of the tank is going to be and the amount of work you would be giving yourself

[@mackdog2.048]

When he mentioned ptsd and added about people who have it from car accidents it made me smile because people need to be aware that ptsd can come from all kinds of stuff not just war. This isnt talked about nearly enough and it needs to be because this stereotype needs to be squashed. So I want to just give a big THANK YOU too Flip Aquatics for just bringing this fact up on his channel.

[@isaaccuervo147]

Yeah this is very true i get panic attacks all the time. I was hit by a car when i was a kid. And i keep fish. Helps with anxiety

[@mhattbrieltugare5945]

Fish and tanks are my escape from stress back when i was in college.

[@IamGantz]

My ptsd came from the police raiding my home after a fire!

[@Jotto999]

Can confirm. The brain doesn't wait for a heroic, war-like danger to develop PTSD. It can happen from some rather domestic things; being assaulted, car accident, natural disasters, being bitten by a dangerous animal, and a bunch of other pretty mundane things.

[@coldbloodedcasey1508]

Ok but let's not compare someone fighting for our country over a car accident.....

[@mahithareddy7631]

Bonnie is such a lovely lady

[@LupDiesel]

She truly is! Loved her so much!

[@shesellsfish]

I love Old G fishroom tours, as others have said, Bonnie has forgotten more about fishkeeping and breeding than I will ever learn, and done it all without benefit of the internet back in the day. THESE are the folks we need to learn from.

[@LupDiesel]

Amen! She has so much knowledge and learned everything through trial and error then through others in fish clubs. Such a different generation and so much to learn from them.

[@elrey4137]

Are you saying that you're stupid?

[@emietogonon5530]

did she sell sometimes ? another type of income

[@gab1105]

"Old g" ??? Lmfao

[@canecorsomolosser3294]

Older people aren't that crazy 😊 They have many secrets to reveal 😊 People like her are indeed precious.

[@wyzemann]

This woman knows her fish. Every specimen was lively, colorful, and SUPER HEALTHY! Bonnie's Gold Rams were the showstopper; no one on KZbin has a colony more beautiful...at all. She's truly one of a kind in our ever-expanding fish universe. Thank You, Flip for bringing her fish room to our attention.

[@lisac5287]

You're right. The Gold Rams are something else.

[@tk45440]

"What are these? ... "Chocolates" "Are they? They look like Philippine Blues" "no"

[@111nick6]

"Do you breed those?" "yes."

[@kaisoisla]

tk45440 😆😆 I thought that was funny too, but he is right, those angels are Philippine blue chocolates

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

Too many tanks causes something I call burnout. I have had fish tanks for 62 years starting with quart jars of guppies. Burnout happens when you get tired of the work and the challenge of keeping them alive.I have seen burnout many times over the years. It is a natural consequence of getting tired of a particular hobby. Some of my fish are 30 years old. Bonnie is an unusually dedicated fish keeper. Full time tank keeper.

[@stanr5787]

James King incredible right!?! I have owned my cichlids for approximately 3 years now and burnouts happens at a point I stopped caring for a while I stopped cleaning or feeding. I got a kick in the butt when I saw them getting weak and started making changes got them a new aquarium, better canister filter, changed gravel to sand to match their natural habitat I also got rocks, new lighting, heater and everything. I've been with them for 3 years and I would cry if I see them die.

[@JamesKing2understandinglife]

You have done very well congratulations.

[@surfinjb]

Yeah I’ve been keeping with breaks here and there for 35yrs. I think that’s totally natural and life is all about cycles of on/off. Most go through this in most aspects of their life-like my job/ hate this boring job, like living here/I need a change, I love spending time with my wife/ Lol better not type this one. Life itself is setup like this so you don’t get burnt out-you have the experience of life and then bam the switch shuts off. Omg I’ve been watching too much Alan Watts. Sometimes a species change such as her leaving angels can revive you.The most impressive dedication I’ve seen in person to a species was visiting old Jack Watleys discus room back in the early 90s. He had been working with them breeding from wild form to what we have today since he traveled down to get his breeding stock in 1963.

[@marioncobretti8210]

Ya as a former park ranger I try to remake a natural habitat. I stick to ponds that don't require filters and clean themselves. I'm a truck driver so Iam only home once a week.

[@rradiosilencee]

I'm in a burnout RN,,

[@karenwolfsen]

Isn’t she a pip! What a doll. A living treasure ! She warmed my heart! It’s nice to see such an experienced woman fish keeper. I love her tanks and fish room. Beautiful. I love those Angels! Oh the gold ram tank is beautiful !

[@LupDiesel]

hahah I love her! Such a sweet heart! It is good to see old school gals being experts in this hobby

[@karenwolfsen]

Flip Aquatics - LupDiesel yes it is! It’s wonderful that she is doing something SHE loves all this time! Such an inspiration !

[@sumannraaz5264]

I am 34 and i have kept aquariums for more than 2 decades. Its all about love. You are so attached with it that every individual fish becomes a family member. Some really grow big n some hatch numerous babies. You keep on adding tanks to make room for them or even build ponds. They deserve that. Lucky me, i have 10 tanks, very big and very small n a DIY pond too with a total of 200+ fishes. I m sure i will keep expanding bcoz my son is a bigger fish lover than me.

[@udayakumar.s163]

We all can totally relate to what you've mentioned in this hobby!

[@genisisarmstrong5896]

Yep, u described it. I got a sucker fish and left it with my x. I named him The Godfather..I honestly miss him. So, yes, they are family. I'm about to get a Siamese fighter fish and a Black cat. We'll see how that works 😃😳🤷🏾‍♀️

[@heidisfishtank7543]

I have just seen a glimpse into my future! This woman is amazing!

[@udayakumar.s163]

You did just time travelled into the future!!

[@JJordan1012]

She makes me miss my grandma more than I already did.

[@Bella-sm2yf]

JJordan1012 I feel it man. Just hold on to the memories

[@dgstanks7447]

I just turned 57 and my fish room only has half that many tanks, with no auto water change either, total respect to her, god bless her, I wish her many more years with her hobby

[@KGTiberius]

My grandmother’s single aquarium is 73 years old. Only 2 additional dna added by my cousin in the 1990s, else, the colony of guppies is from ~1945. I took a few out to continue the colony and have been colony breeding my own since (adding a new dna set 2-3 times per year). Great to know grandma’s original are the founding dna of this new generation.

[@TheTurtleGirl]

Only 2 minutes in and it's already amazing!! Bonnie is so cool!

[@LupDiesel]

I love her so much haha I smiled so much editing this video :)

[@klcpca]

Wow!!! The amount of knowledge in her head!! Folks like her are a treasure in the hobby....she has probably forgotten more than many will ever know!!! And the changes she has seen!! Loved the old tanks!!! Thank you Bonnie and Rob for the tour!! :)

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you for watching!~ She was amazing! What a great time and you're right, the amount of knowledge is so immense! These are the types of tours I love.

[@TheBudgetAquarist]

They look like Philippine blues Nope Lol. She's a riot

[@LupDiesel]

hahahaha I know, right? She had me cracking up

[@dracosai3530]

Rip I don’t get it

[@lyzzylabelle]

Yes I had the same fish sold as smokey blue pearl scales they r lovely

[@traplordadrian7053]

Rob the lady looked so happy to show you her fish room, it warmed my heart! Great video 👍

[@LupDiesel]

She was awesome! What a great time it was :)

[@FatherFish]

I love Bonnie's fish room. I have known many old timers like Bonnie. They teach by watching them at work in their fish rooms. What a grand tradition.

[@MbunaMarcus]

She's amazing...wow and the quality of those tanks and species are outstanding

[@AQUAPROS]

Crushin it fam

[@gordonramsay1637]

AQUAPROS nice to see you here

[@WendyW7508]

What a treasure in the fish hobby! I aspire to be like her some day. God bless you Bonnie 😊

[@hardybryan]

Gotta love her no nonsense answers. 90% of the time it's "Yeah" or "No". Only expands when she needs to. Seriously, gotta love OG's.

[@lorenzoedgar6111]

Got electrocuted and flew across the room at that age and just brushes it off. A GOD AMONGST PEOPLE.

[@RustyPawz]

Honestly this happened to me as a kid with my first tank. But it was a short in the air pump that got me.

[@dangerupclose]

She is the great grandchild of Poseidon and Zeus. Must have felt nostalgic to her.

[@genisisarmstrong5896]

That comes with age..

[@isaaccuervo147]

The definition of electrocuted is dying by shock. She was never electrocuted.

[@dangerupclose]

@@isaaccuervo147 you are wrong. Because shock on it's own can also mean just getting scared or surprised. Should have put in "electrical" in that sentence. But still come on you know what the guy is talking about...this isn't a courtroom.

[@FlynnsFishForum]

This video really inspired me. Thank you so much for sharing, Rob!

[@AS-zn6wp]

Bonnie! Thanks so much for sharing this gem of a fish room! So much inspiration for me! Thank you!

[@sakarpanse]

Such a beautiful video to make !! What a wonderful lady bonnie is :) .. Thanks dude for sharing this ..

[@billmc8964]

Bonnie, You are truly an inspiration! Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@RogueAquariums]

Fish keeping, OG style. 😁This lady is a plethora of info yet she’s outgoing and helpful. Thanks for the tour

[@sorapokeball]

She's so inspiring, awesome video!

[@craniumrex4614]

Talk about dedication - thank you so much for this tour and interview. "Enjoy the fish" - wonderful advice.

[@Fishtory]

She is my new hero. Awesome Awesome video Rob!

[@violahopsalot162]

That was a fun video. It's nice to see that people enjoy that hobby for such a long time

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you :) I agree, it is so good to see.

[@thefuture1655]

wow, best video I watched in a long time!! thank you. what a lovely lady!!!

[@Megatone230]

Beautiful! Thanks for the awesome tour

[@ReeferGil]

Really awesome that you covered her tanks. She looks like she appreciated you.

[@Rightround0846]

This video was incredible. Filled with knowledge! Its good to hear from a 50 year veteran! I listened to every word!

[@krenay3292]

Just found this video, best one I've seen in.....Well, since I can't remember when. What a great lady, great fish room, great video, great time watching it, I could've watched more, all day! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@KenDo_creation]

50 years of so much fun. Happy for you Bonnie. Keep it up :)

[@JustNice980]

Awesome to hear buffalo mentioned. It's my home city! Lots of fish nuts here in the 716!

[@yummibacon3155]

I love her 😭😭😭❤❤❤ She is an amazing person. You can tell just looking at her.

[@SeabassFishbrains]

This video is so pure, what beautiful fish and what an awesome lady!

[@ejfishes7610]

Great fish room, thanks Rob!

[@ydin77]

So lovely!

[@capj64]

She can sell the metal tanks to reptile owners. Unique tanks

[@candioverhuls1003]

What a great lady! Awesome fish! Thanks for a great video!

[@sarajustice656]

She is absolutely adorable!!! Such a lovely and very smart lady!!🐟💕

[@magdavaughan9370]

The tanks are amazing. So clean and crystal cool. Bonnie you rock

[@magdavaughan9370]

Clean and crystal clear!

[@LupDiesel]

For an older gal, she gets things done!

[@chrismeredith5605]

Really enjoyed that tour! Bonnie's such a sweetheart :)

[@LupDiesel]

She is :) Thanks for watching Chris!

[@chrismeredith5605]

You're quite welcome Rob.

[@DaniOnDemand]

Thanks for sharing your fish room with us, Bonnie! What a great gal :)

[@MikeinEtna]

What a great lady. Thanks, enjoyed getting to know her.

[@HeatherNielsenScarletAquatics]

Bonnie is amazing! So is her fishroom! :-)

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you Heather! Bonnie will love reading these comments

[@jimmygimbal]

I freaking love her!!! Hope this video never gets thumbed down!

[@deedeedamnit406]

Absolute awesome video! Ms. Bonnie is a jewel to be treasured. And her tanks are fantastic! Those old tanks tho 😃

[@ctophercs]

Bonnie was awesome. Please spend more time with her. I'd really enjoy seeing more videos. She has so much knowledge.

[@craigfrancis984]

I love this lady!

[@LupDiesel]

You and me both Craig!

[@craigfrancis984]

I have family in Ohio, I wish I could work with yall. Such a positive attitude and all the building and aquariums.... dream come true lol

[@emilyjackson]

Love this video! It's actually a coincidence for me because this video was posted on my fishaversary! It was my 3 year reunion of fishkeeping. :D

[@thirstyrabbittanks2u191]

What a wonderful woman.. im speachless.. thank you so much.. this is one of your best mate.. loved this tour so much.. every aspect of this tour.. and i to have been shocked by one of those old tanks. Thanks again flip

[@danielleaurora9828]

The plants she has in here tanks I am so envious... great job Bonnie 👏👏👏

[@robertfletcher3421]

That was so good and eye-catching. Bonnie is such a wonderful person.

[@LupDiesel]

Agree 100%! What a woman. I love meeting people like this

[@prateeksrinivas]

Best tour❤️

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you :)

[@theGreatandPowerfulGOD]

REALLY L💜VE THIS! She is so ON IT and THANKS YOU GUYS FOR SHOWING!

[@rottentwapple]

All these fish are just splendid and well taken care of. Hats off to this lady.

[@yanjijay6752]

Wow amazing so many tanks

[@LupDiesel]

For an old lady, she gets it done!~

[@3D1ofakind]

Fishkeeping is great. Glad she's still thriving after 50 years in the hobby!

[@Songbird1977jk]

I just love bonnie! Wealth of knowledge and a spitfire!

[@044aquatics5]

Great fish room

[@LupDiesel]

Thank you :)

[@marsworld7513]

Awesome video. I wanna be like Bonnie when I grow up.

[@LupDiesel]

haha keep with the hobby, you will :)

[@marsworld7513]

Flip Aquatics - LupDiesel I've had fish of and on for about 33 years . Currently on. have 3 tanks.

[@leosanders4626]

a pleasant watch, got to see some fish I had never seen before....and dang she keeps a clean tank.

[@khalilhannah4005]

Great video !! I love Bonnie and her fish room

[@LupDiesel]

Bonnie was such a fun time! We love doing these fish room tours. If you want to support us to make more of these, check out our Patron here: www.patreon.com/flipaquatics

[@nikko187]

Buffalo NY?

[@PuganPoo]

DOES SHE SELL HER FISH

[@laurelmcclendon3321]

Does Bonny sell any fish?

[@jimmyjiinuk]

mmmm hey sexy boo boo

[@johnchase4408]

You have a business. I don't get the e-begging for money. You spread the word of your business with EVERY video you put out. That should be enough reward from your KZbinrs. I've watched your business grow and I truly like you, but this "support me" nonsense really has to stop. Especially from people that have money generating businesses. KZbinrs that do nothing but create content is one thing. That's all they do. Please. Enough asking for money from your viewers.

[@PriscillaMKArt]

Awww she's adorable.

[@LupDiesel]

hahaha i love her :D

[@pagewhite8177]

Wow! What a treat. Thank you for bringing this to us.

[@starlamorgan9776]

Precious lady. Her aquariums are beautiful so clean and well maintained

[@catfishcave379]

Bonnie has some amazing looking fish. Whomever is buying them is getting some goodies. I remember metaframe tanks, but that brass tank is a treasure. Someone needs to get all these long time hobbyists together and let them swap stories... with a camera running of course. Nice video!

[@KoiAquaponics]

This grandma has a deadpan look when she doesn't smile, it's hilarious.

[@kpbsas91776]

One of the best most honest tours ive seen. Bonnie's advice is clear. 'Just enjoy your fish'!

[@nikhilsukumar23]

I love such women. So much into pets like fish. It takes great patience to breed such fishes: lovely tour and lovely Bonnie. Thank you. You have lightened us.

[@htc148]

"someone put an ad out on the computer..." god i love that...

[@dysemkho1293]

I can see the future pf solid gold aquatics 😍

[@justeenwade9601]

Wow beautiful fish and what a great fish room.

[@johnb1448]

I love this lady awesome to see her staying active.

[@ChallengetheWild]

That is so awesome!

[@heathcrowther3813]

Hi

[@TheeExecrationist]

Great tour, I regret that I have but one "like" to give!

[@LupDiesel]

haha thank you so much Riley!

[@mikef3300]

Best fish room tour ever. I bet hanging with Bonnie was a blast. Those angels are spectacular

[@majesticcichlids1630]

She is adorable and has a wealth of knowledge, God bless her . Great video

[@ed1501]

Great video but I'm concerned for Bonnie. If you start a go fund me to raise money to install GFI breakers for Bonnie's fish room I'll be the first one to contribute. Lets make that fish room safe.

[@turtle2pond]

I also noticed she had a power strip flat on the floor.

[@raechel381]

Tiffany N should they not be flat on the floor?

[@aquatictints760]

Rae chel no they should be up with a drip loop so if water drips it doesn’t go into the outlets and electrocute someone or start a fire. However I also need to get my power strips off the floor 😳😬

[@raechel381]

Aquatic Tints ohhh ok. I thought that they shouldn’t be flat lol even when they’re not being used for fish tanks lol

[@TheChemisch]

Simple lights, simple pumps barely pulls any power. Even with 50 tanks that would be no worse than a couple hair dryers running.

[@dewit3227]

I might have missed it, but what was Bonnie's first fish? Loved to watch! Looks all amazing!

[@miamarks2925]

Love how dedicated Bonnie is to her babies, such a sweet lady❤️

[@badgoat666]

Bonnie is smashing it. That water clarity is amazing 👏

[@KaltrinaDemiri]

I swear this lady is me in the future lol I love fish !

[@KGcichlids]

wow! thats a fish room!

[@penngrey]

What an amazing tour. I have watched many videos by hobbyists, but I can't say I ever saw so many tanks that were so crystal clear. You can tell Bonnie puts in the time and effort for the fish she loves.

[@gazlee723]

Just stumbled upon this video. Bonnie is a blast. Had me cracking up. What a great lady. People like Bonnie are priceless

[@sabbath3787]

"uhhh they're called Marci's".. "Cold Marcis, okay" lol :) awesome video tho :)

[@Rupert1213]

lol

[@1invag]

"I used it until one day I got electrocuted" 😂

[@twunderaquatics1770]

I have watched this video I don't know how many times. What a great woman. 😁😁😁

[@drjermz29]

this is the funniest most entertaining, educating fish video i ever watched that Bonnie lady is a star

[@mastiffpeople4868]

Fish keeping keeps you young

[@LupDiesel]

Most of the time :D it definitely keeps us going though