I was born on November 2, 1970 in St. Petersburg, Russia (ex-USSR). Aquaria began to get involved 40 years ago. I have been doing biotopes for the last 20 years. I was in many regions of Russia, where I studied and continue to study biotopes. He was a member of the jury at the International Biotope Competition for 6 consecutive years and other domestic competitions. Author of articles in print and on the Internet about biotopes, fish and crustaceans.
Dr. Anton Lamboj has been an aquarist since the age of ten. Around 1980, he began to take a special interest in the cichlids of West and Central Africa. This interests led, in 1988, to the beginning of his academic education at the University of Vienna. Focus in science and hobby are West African cichlids. He has made numerous field/collecting trips to Africa, South East Asia, Australia, Central America and South America. He holds about 50 tanks, has authored more then 400 papers (both academic and hobbist) in eleven languages, including six books and contributions to about 40 other books (aquaristic and scientific). Till now, he has described 4 genera and 23 species. He is lecturer and associated scientist at the University of Vienna/Austria and the University of Applied Sciences in Wels/Upper Austria, chief editor of the Austrian aquarium and terrarium journal, curator in the C.A.R.E.S. program and at Cichlid Room Companion; also honorary member of the French Cichlid Ass. (AFC), the Hill Country Cichlid Club (HCCC, USA), Texas, the Nordiska Ciklidsällskapet (NSC, Scandinavia) and Multicolor Ailingen (Germany). 2011 he was honored for his international work for the hobby as a „Mastère fédéral d‘aquariophilie“ by the French Aquarium Federation FFA, 2015 he got the „Scientist Award“ from CAOAC (Canadian Association of Aquarium Clubs). For many years he was president of the Austrian Federation of Aquarium and Terrarium Clubs (OEVVOE), where he is now „President in Honor“. From OEVVOE he also got the first „Golden Anton Award“ in 2015, which is named after him and now given every year to a person or organization with outstanding contribution to the aquarium or terrarium hobby. He was judge for several competitions, foe example at ACA, Aquarama in Singapore an in 2019, he also was judge for BADC.
Who is Ivan Mikolji?
“If you are an admirer of the aquatic habitats of South America, you certainly know Ivan Mikolji!
He’s a world-renowned explorer, researcher, audio/visual artist, and author who tirelessly documents the magnificent diversity and wonder of this beautiful region of the world. His dramatic underwater videos are seen around the world, and his photographs have graced articles in numerous publications.
Ivan Mikolji is also an extremely accomplished artist, whose beautiful interpretations of the aquatic life of Venezuela and South America are sought after by collectors worldwide.”
Scott Fellman, Tannin Aquatics
Introduction to Mikolji
With more than a hundred expeditions and innumerable publications in different countries, he has demonstrated the authenticity and originality of his artistic passion for photography and painting. The philosophy that moves his creative will is the urgency to preserve the aquatic ecosystems of the planet, and as a first step he considers it necessary to make known the richness and beauty of these biomes. That is why he maintains: “you cannot preserve what you don’t know exists.” And to that work he has dedicated a great part of his life.
Eduardo Planchart Licea
Phd Latin American Art History UNAM