Burke’s Backyard recently visited the home of Gabrielle and Ross Lester who have a passion for fish as well as some other unusual collections. The collection of fish began when Ross acquired eight gold fish after helping some people out about four years ago. The house, garage and engineering workshop is now full of fish tanks housing their huge collection of fish and other sea creatures including coral, crabs and lobster. Gabrielle no longer eats fish because she says it would be like eating a relative. There are 60 tanks scattered around the house, garage and factory workshop with about 2,500 fish in them. The fish feed on fresh vegetables like peas, as well as banana and prawns. It costs about $250 a week to feed them the 30kg (66lb) of food and about 20 hours to clean all the tanks each week. There are another 200 fish in the backyard and a further 2,000 fish in the foyer of their engineering factory. Other collections that have taken over the house include the large fish and soft toy collection and a mineral crystals and rock collection. The couple is dedicated for caring for fish and have established a non-profit organisation that is a nursery for unwanted fish. The nursery will either keep the fish on display or find them a suitable home where they will be well cared for.
Further information
If you have unwanted fish in your tank possibly because:-
you have too many fish
your fish have grown too large for your tank
you have cranky fish that do not mix
your fish are too time demanding
you are re-locating your dwelling,
then Red’s Fish Nursery will accept fish at their receiving premises, 11 Clyde Street, Rydalmere, NSW, 2116, Monday to Friday 5.30am – 12noon or Saturday to Sunday 5.30am – 10am. Phone: (02) 9638 6402 or (02) 9638 0899.
