For my college thesis, I decided to base my work on freshwater biotopes and how they provide the perfect captive enclosure for fish.

Biotopes are a type of aquarium that mimics aquatic habitats found in the wild. From the PH, salinity, and temperature of the water to the substrate, hardscape and plant life that make up the scenery, these tanks create the an optimal living space for fish, snails, shrimp and other aquatic creatures by providing them with a space that suits their needs.

Many of these biotope locations -freshwater and saltwater alike- are under threat, and while the plights of the ocean are constantly covered by documentaries, tv shows and news articles, issues on freshwater environments seem to be a topic less covered.

I believe that biotopes are the key to creating a public understanding of the wild ecosystems that popular fish in the aquarium hobby come from. Through that knowledge, old and new fish keepers alike can improve their private aquariums to help their fish thrive and species that are extinct in the wild can be preserved and observed in a similar environment.

Freshwater is a book that I wrote to accompany my college thesis. It is about my process of creating the painted vinyl backgrounds for these biotopes and covers the research done on four popular biotope locations, what aquariums and biotopes are, and how these specific enclosures can prevent animal cruelty in the aquarium community.