Hi, my name is Matt and I’m organizing this fundraiser for the wife and young daughter of my best friend, Armando Leyba.

Armando passed away unexpectedly in early 2026. The beginning of this year has been hard in many ways, but nothing prepared us for losing him so suddenly. Armando was only in his 20s and leaves behind a very young daughter and a wife who are now facing this loss without warning.

If you knew Armando, you knew he was a fish lover, a rescuer, and someone who would always make time to help others. Together we started what became our little “Arizona Fish Rescue.” Whenever someone had an aquarium they could no longer keep, Armando would show up — no judgment — and rescue the animals, rehome them, and try to keep people from dumping fish into rivers or lakes.

We didn’t do this for money. We did it because we cared about the hobby, the animals, and the people. Armando helped build so much of what we accomplished, from aquascaping and shrimp breeding to growing plants and saving bristlenose plecos. On weekends, we would clean up used tanks, make them usable again, and bring them to swaps and shows. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t profitable, but it gave us purpose and it gave kids and families a chance to get into the hobby without breaking the bank.

Armando taught me so much, pushed me to do more, and never gave up on what we were trying to build. More importantly, he was a loving father and husband. His little girl adored him, and he adored her.

The funds from this campaign will go directly to his wife, Angel Urso who is the beneficiary and daughter to assist with funeral costs, living expenses, and support during this extremely painful transition.

For those of us in the aquarium community — we spend thousands on tanks, equipment, corals, and fish without thinking twice. If you’re able, even a small donation will go farther here than you can imagine. And if you can’t donate, sharing this campaign with hobby groups, fish clubs, and fellow aquarists means just as much.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, for donating, and for helping Armando’s family through something no family his age should ever have to endure.

We love you, brother. Rest easy.