About the Dapper Fish

Hey there—I'm Mark. I'm an artist, illustrator, and designer by trade, but if you ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you my real obsession is aquascaping.

It all started with my two tanks: a 75-gallon attempt at a natural-style setup (emphasis on “attempt”) and a 24-gallon rimless tank where I’ve been chasing that ever-elusive Dutch-style perfection. Hours of planting, trimming, testing, tweaking, and—of course—staring into the glass box for way too long... I was hooked.

I love the hobby, but I’m also that person who doesn’t always feel like explaining what a CO₂ regulator is to strangers at the grocery store. So, I figured: why not wear my obsession instead?

That’s how The Dapper Fish was born.

A place where I combine my background in illustration and design with my passion for aquariums. Every design is hand-drawn, 100% original, and proudly AI-free. Whether it’s a witty fishkeeping pun, a bold species portrait, or a shirt only real aquarists would understand—it's all made for people like us.

Because let’s face it: we’re not just fishkeepers. We’re scapers, testers, tinkerers, and proud members of the wet-hands club.

Thanks for swimming by—now go wear your passion on your sleeve.

#StayDapper

– Mark T. Hardin