And they are less likely to be constantly fighting and trying to kill eachother. Thats the part I got tired of
The Hobby Was More Fun When I Started
- Thread starter BlueTailCatfish
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And they are less likely to be constantly fighting and trying to kill eachother. Thats the part I got tired of
Your friend is a smart dude. When people try to purchase happiness, it's always fleeting.
The same consumerism you see in people buying things also carries over into buying fish. A friend and fellow MFKer (we'll call him John because that's his name) buys new fish on a weekly basis, despite the fact that he can't properly care for the hundreds of fish he already has. He's addicted to the excitement of his latest acquisition, his most recent purchase. But the thrill fades within a few days and it's on to the next fish that he just has to have. It's gotten to the point that his tanks are so ridiculously overstocked and unsightly that he just posts pictures of the fish in the containers he purchases them in and will not post pictures of them in the tank (I guess he's embarrassed by what his tanks look like). He doesn't buy these fish for status symbols (he says so in his signature and I believe him), he buys them for rush it gives him.
I think we all like the idea of a new addition to the tank, but the way I have been able to avoid the trap is to remind myself
1. I have enough fish.
2. Adding more fish will reduce water quality for the fish I already have (increased bio-load).
3. Adding more fish increases the risk of introducing parasites and other nasties.
Below is a link to a really good article that touches on this phenomenon. He takes it a step further and argues that with each purchase you are essentially enslaving yourself to the rat race. It sounds like your buddy has figured this out and is living like Mr. Money Mustache. Good for him.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/04/14/how-to-make-money-buy-happiness/
All very very true. Funny thing is my friend went back and forth trying to decide if he should buy a Pontiac Fierro because he loved them as a kid. He could afford some of the exotics but decided to buy the Fierro. I think he appreciates the $4,000 car more than most appreciate the fleet of exotics they have.
^ Great perspective.
As someone who's been keeping fish for a long time and been involved in fish clubs about as long, I have some perspective on how to make the hobby rewarding.
First, focus on what YOU like and enjoy. This seems obvious but there are a lot of folks who keep fish for a lot of other reasons.
This, of course, requires you to experience keeping an array of fish and figuring out what you like. I had the benefit of working in an LFS as a kid, so I "kept" just about everything and between the LFS and fish clubs could acquire just about anything that was legal (and this was well before the internet). Yet I keep a lot of fish that folks would consider common. Why? I like them. And that's what matters.
Keeping fish is one thing but keeping them for years...and breeding them and raising babies is another. I used to enjoy the competitive aspects of fishkeeping: earning BAP (breeders award points) from the fish club, winning fish shows, aquarium beautiful competition, having more / bigger tanks, selling fish, whatever. If that's fun for you (it was for me), then embrace it. If it's not, then don't get caught up in the rat race. More and bigger isn't necessarily better. Nor is rarer or more expensive. And the time and trouble of selling fish (locally and/or shipping) can be more than it's worth. I don't do any of it anymore.
Which leads me to my final point:
The aquarium hobby - for me at least - is most fulfilling when it's about more than acquiring and keeping fish. Being in a local fish club can be a blast. Organizing events to give away tank set-ups to introduce kids and families to the hobby is awesome. Traveling to South America and visiting and seeing fish in the wild - even if you can't take them home - is mind blowing. Learning about the scientific research on how cichlids evolved always sparks my interest. If fishkeeping is you, your fish and an internet forum, then you're missing out!
Matt
As someone who's been keeping fish for a long time and been involved in fish clubs about as long, I have some perspective on how to make the hobby rewarding.
First, focus on what YOU like and enjoy. This seems obvious but there are a lot of folks who keep fish for a lot of other reasons.
This, of course, requires you to experience keeping an array of fish and figuring out what you like. I had the benefit of working in an LFS as a kid, so I "kept" just about everything and between the LFS and fish clubs could acquire just about anything that was legal (and this was well before the internet). Yet I keep a lot of fish that folks would consider common. Why? I like them. And that's what matters.
Keeping fish is one thing but keeping them for years...and breeding them and raising babies is another. I used to enjoy the competitive aspects of fishkeeping: earning BAP (breeders award points) from the fish club, winning fish shows, aquarium beautiful competition, having more / bigger tanks, selling fish, whatever. If that's fun for you (it was for me), then embrace it. If it's not, then don't get caught up in the rat race. More and bigger isn't necessarily better. Nor is rarer or more expensive. And the time and trouble of selling fish (locally and/or shipping) can be more than it's worth. I don't do any of it anymore.
Which leads me to my final point:
The aquarium hobby - for me at least - is most fulfilling when it's about more than acquiring and keeping fish. Being in a local fish club can be a blast. Organizing events to give away tank set-ups to introduce kids and families to the hobby is awesome. Traveling to South America and visiting and seeing fish in the wild - even if you can't take them home - is mind blowing. Learning about the scientific research on how cichlids evolved always sparks my interest. If fishkeeping is you, your fish and an internet forum, then you're missing out!
Matt
really big fish are boring because its like keeping a hamster in a shoe box, im guessing your rtc is not in a 5000g amazon biotope. i would bet 180-300g almost touching the sides or a kiddie pool where you cant see him? im guilty of it too so im not attacking you just saying. if you get fish sized to you tank i think it would be much more fun, if i didnt have my rocky (midas ive had years) or my wyckii cat i would go amazon biotope of dwarf cichlids, rainbow fish, angels, and small catfish in my 300... think about it all the time. i enjoy my 35 and 1g as much as my 300 tbh.
No he is in no way in a 5000 g biotope. And by the way you give GOOD advice. Not some idiot who automatically says that one red tail needs a 20x20 tank. I am gonna get a "stock tank" which is 5x6 foot. Stock tanks are nice and MEANT to hold water (unlike kiddie pools) Not big enough for mosts expectations but hey at least i am trying.
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You are preaching to the choir! The hobby was so exciting to me before it actually became a hobby. I am never satisfied with the stock that I have. Whenever I start over for a new stocking plan then once again I become unsatisfied shortly after. I miss the good old days when fishkeeping was not my hobby but just decoration. Then I didn't care really about what type of fish I kept. I only wanted an aquarium with fish in it.
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I agree with what people are saying about big fish, over the years as my tanks have gotten bigger I've appreciated small fish with plenty of space far more. I love my black aro but it just restricts the fish I can keep so much, I'm looking to rehome him and replace him with a much of tetras, corydoras, dwarf cichlids, angels etc. One big fish doing an endless circle of 500g shoebox, or a few hundred smaller fish in a far more natural looking environment....
TBH I couldn't imagine anything much more boring than keeping massive cats like redtails, unless you have a johnPTC-sized aquarium. And that's coming from a guy who loves plecos!
TBH I couldn't imagine anything much more boring than keeping massive cats like redtails, unless you have a johnPTC-sized aquarium. And that's coming from a guy who loves plecos!
Well redtails like mine are awesome when young cuz mine hand feeds has personality etc. and tolerates tankmates. Adults do not.
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I found out that planning a tank and setup is always more fun then actually finishing setting it up.
I also just got a 190 tank, which has been my dream for the last 10 years, I never had one this big. The whole process of dreaming about the possibilities is both fun, educational and frustrating.
I find that my hard scape tends to always be the same in all my tanks, even this. I always want sand substrate, driftwood and plants.
Because of that, I never even considered Rift cichlids or plant eating fish, although I certainly want them.
But I am afraid it just won't be appealing to my taste. I'm always skeptical of change.
Take the red belly piranha I used to have, I didn't like them at first, then they grew on me, then the wow factor sort of faded away quickly.
I feel the same with most predatory fish.
Now I'm at a total loss of thinking if what to keep.
I honestly think that a lot of smaller tanks would be more satisfactory, but due to space and lack of time to take care of several tanks, that would have to wait.
So for now I got a small nano and 190 tank, the nano tank was a gift and I didn't think it would be of any source of enjoyment, but so far my favorite tank I've ever owned.
I honestly think it would provide me with more joy than the larger tank.
But time will tell, I have to say this thread certainly is a little depressing to be honest.
But hopefully I will get this 190 tank as great as I hope it will be, and hopefully find the right fishes for me to enjoy.
But truthfully it's probably not going to be "perfect" at my very first try, although I'm taking my time to get this just right with the species.
It's not fair on the fishes and my wallet, but it's probably the truth.
I'll add a picture of my nano:
3 crabs
2 amano shrimp
2 claw shrimp
And the guest of honor:
The dwarf puffer (a fish I've wanted to keep for many years)
And a bristle nose pleco, but it's going to be relocated because of excessive amount of poop.
View attachment 1013404
Also a picture of my 190 without plants, I'll be adding 50-70 plants at the end of the week.
View attachment 1013405
Sorry for the long post, but typing does feel good sometimes.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
I also just got a 190 tank, which has been my dream for the last 10 years, I never had one this big. The whole process of dreaming about the possibilities is both fun, educational and frustrating.
I find that my hard scape tends to always be the same in all my tanks, even this. I always want sand substrate, driftwood and plants.
Because of that, I never even considered Rift cichlids or plant eating fish, although I certainly want them.
But I am afraid it just won't be appealing to my taste. I'm always skeptical of change.
Take the red belly piranha I used to have, I didn't like them at first, then they grew on me, then the wow factor sort of faded away quickly.
I feel the same with most predatory fish.
Now I'm at a total loss of thinking if what to keep.
I honestly think that a lot of smaller tanks would be more satisfactory, but due to space and lack of time to take care of several tanks, that would have to wait.
So for now I got a small nano and 190 tank, the nano tank was a gift and I didn't think it would be of any source of enjoyment, but so far my favorite tank I've ever owned.
I honestly think it would provide me with more joy than the larger tank.
But time will tell, I have to say this thread certainly is a little depressing to be honest.
But hopefully I will get this 190 tank as great as I hope it will be, and hopefully find the right fishes for me to enjoy.
But truthfully it's probably not going to be "perfect" at my very first try, although I'm taking my time to get this just right with the species.
It's not fair on the fishes and my wallet, but it's probably the truth.
I'll add a picture of my nano:
3 crabs
2 amano shrimp
2 claw shrimp
And the guest of honor:
The dwarf puffer (a fish I've wanted to keep for many years)
And a bristle nose pleco, but it's going to be relocated because of excessive amount of poop.
View attachment 1013404
Also a picture of my 190 without plants, I'll be adding 50-70 plants at the end of the week.
View attachment 1013405
Sorry for the long post, but typing does feel good sometimes.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
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