Manuel Salazar, Melo for friends, was born in Sabinas Hidalgo in the mexican state of Nuevo León. A civil engineer and fond of aquariums since 6, inspired from his father who kept 14 aquariums where Melo helped him with their maintenance, at 12 he took total charge of the aquariums. At his leisure time Melo does fish collecting and exploration trips in México. His favorite fish are mexican natives adn particularly godeids, although he keeps a little bit of everything. Melo met Juan Miguel Artigas by e-mail, and has had the pleasure to meet him in person and collect with him in a couple of ocassions, when Juan Miguel Artigas invited him to collaborate with the Cichlid Room Companion, he did not doubt it and now he is getting fond of Mexican cichlids, surely because of Juan Miguels influence.