Alex got into tropical fish when he was 8 years old with his dad getting him a 5 gallon tank. One of the earliest fish he became hooked on was the common krib, Pelvicachromis pulcher. Since then he has been interested in reptiles, birds, orchids, native colubrid snakes and tarantulas.
After spending time in New England teaching Environmental Education he came down to attend UNC Charlotte for a Masters in Education. He has spent over 10 summers at various summer camps running nature programs, and other duties, and it was his experience at summer camps that got him to go into education. After keeping and breeding a wide variety of snakes and tarantulas as well as fish and plants he has settled back into keeping tropical fish, orchids and roses. He spent a few years in the tropical fish business with Fintastic, until it closed. Currently he specializes in West African riverine cichlids, and the genus Pelvicachromis, with nine tanks, about 40 orchids and other tropicals, 60 rose bushes and other outdoor plants, at his condominium in Central Charlotte. He is an elementary school science teacher, board vice president of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, and president of the Charlotte Area Aquarists Society.