What makes an "expert" aquarist an "expert?"

[Tannin Aquatics]

The inspiration for today's little piece comes from talking to a bunch of customers over the last few weeks, who have brought up the subject of "experts" and the pursuit of knowledge in the hobby. Often, when I've given talks around the country, I've been occasionally referred to as "EXPERT hobbyist Scott Fellman"- YIKES! That makes me cringe.

The funny thing is, that if anything, I suppose that the term "noted hobbyist" is more accurate...and in the freshwater world, it would probably be best to just say, "Owner of Tannin Aquatics", because even though I've been a hobbyist in FW and SW all my life, and a "rock star" (according to a friend of mine) in the saltwater world, the FW world largely don't know who the hell I am... Regardless, it made me think about what a real "expert" is in this hobby...and the traits they possess which they won't just tell you about.

As a hardcore hobbyist, youre not easily impressed, are you? I mean, there are a lot of armchair experts in this hobby. Ive encountered more than a few in my time. The real experts in our hobby are far fewer and far less commonly encountered. (click to read more)

 

[dogofwar]

Scott - thanks again for another thoughtful and insightful post!

In my perspective, expertise arises from a combination of book-learning and practical experience. And people can be experts in one area and novices in many others!

I wish that there is more cross-over between the freshwater and saltwater/reef hobbies. There truly is a lot for both sides of the hobby to learn from each other.

There is also so much opportunity for experts in one domain to learn from experts and novices in other domains.

I look forward to hanging out with other fish hobbyists, seeing speakers and reading books and magazines, even on topics that might not be my current area of focus, precisely for this reason. What can you learn from one area that you can apply to another or use as a foundation for building success and expertise in another area?

We need real experts to counterbalance the endless conjecture and BS out there...and help more people become successful, long-term hobbyists!

Matt

 

[Tannin Aquatics]

Scott - thanks again for another thoughtful and insightful post!

In my perspective, expertise arises from a combination of book-learning and practical experience. And people can be experts in one area and novices in many others!

I wish that there is more cross-over between the freshwater and saltwater/reef hobbies. There truly is a lot for both sides of the hobby to learn from each other.

There is also so much opportunity for experts in one domain to learn from experts and novices in other domains.

I look forward to hanging out with other fish hobbyists, seeing speakers and reading books and magazines, even on topics that might not be my current area of focus, precisely for this reason. What can you learn from one area that you can apply to another or use as a foundation for building success and expertise in another area?

We need real experts to counterbalance the endless conjecture and BS out there...and help more people become successful, long-term hobbyists!

Matt

A big "AMEN", Matt!