What to do when unsure about what to keep?

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I do actually like Golds, I've purchased a few nice fish there over the years and I will admit I don't go there often and I haven't in quite some time.
Definitely worth a look.
I must admit I like Francos more, & I have had better experiences there as a whole but that's just my individual preference. I very rarely find myself in the NE of the city.
Apparently there is a new place in town called Fin Gallery that I was thinking of checking out.

Okay I knew that this thread would probably go that way as per Nissafeller, allow me to elaborate.
I am 28, that was an entire run down of 20 years of fishkeeping, whilst keeping multiple tanks at every single point.
I never usually have less than 3 tanks at any given point, I have moved in my life about 6 times, one a major transatlantic move.
Every time I have moved I have sold most of my stock to prevent unnecessary stress to my fish.
This also includes at least two tank disasters because I like to buy old tanks....

I currently have had my Bearded dragon and red foot tortoise for 8 years and counting, My old Labrador retriever from champion showlines lived to be 13 and I currently own a 6 year old Black Lab X Redbone Coonhound. His name is Fabio and you couldn't take him away from me for a million bucks. I would never be without my boy.
I do not need to be lectured about throw-away pets and 'for life not just for christmas' I have had pets my whole life and I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression based on what I said.
The longest fish I had ever kept?I had a black Moor that grew to 10" in a Koi pond and he lived to be at least 15. He may even still be alive hes on another continent. Besides that I would say my two oscars or my flowerhorn at around 6 years each.

If I like so many keepers just ran out and stocked things to grow them out that caught my monthly interest I wouldn't be making a thread about this. I chose to post here because I have used this forum since 2005 and although I don't keep many 'monster' fish these days, I enjoy this community the most. and more importantly, to see how others have handled a similar problem. I saw many threads like this on here back around 2012 and I couldn't believe someone could feel unsure what they wanted to keep, and now I am that man lol.


Funnily enough I always had wanted to keep tropheus but I always was lead to believe they are quite demanding in water quality and feeding schedule.

If I had a local stream or pond I could collect fish from legally I would love to keep native fish, Apparently it is illegal.
I didn't grow up here and I spent my childhood catching insects and whip scorpions and making temporary vivaria for them. I would have loved to collect fish locally!

Thank you Duanes, that was one of the few ideas I had already thought of. I was thinking maybe a few G. Balzanii, some corydoras and Buenos aires but still unsure as I seem to be tired of cichlids these days.
Haha sorry brother I took the question the wrong way but didnt mean you necessarily do that (throw pets away when you get bored of them) but so many people seem to do that and its upsetting... so more of a suggestion to any of those who have that problem... as for francos... only been there once and alot of dead fish in those tanks... maybe it was a bad day to go I dont know... and fin gallery is very very small but has some really nice fish and well takin care of... sometimes you'll find deals there aswell but for the most part its quit expensive
 
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Thanks Jexnell, I already have one.
Are you saying I should use the 120 for something other than fish?
Was thinking so, a diversion of part of your spare time. It's what I am doing. Shut down all my tanks save one. And now getting another critter to occupy some of my time.
 
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I had heard that Wayne from Riverfront is now at Fin Gallery. Franco's, last time I was there was 3-4 yrs ago, and would never go back. Used to be a great place many years ago. I must admit that I haven't been to Golds in a number of years as well, but at one time all of the top stores in Calgary were customers of mine so I saw the good, the bad, and the ugly. lol Denis at Gold Aquariums was always #1 in my books. Good luck on your search.
 
Golds can be good. Kinda sketchy but they have all my favourite types of fish so I don’t say much.

I always feel like Linda hates me at Francos so I don’t go there. It seems she either loves you or hates you.

Fin gallery is great ime. I picked up a ray from there and it was top notch quality and is still very healthy. Not very big but they are getting some neat stock in there. Usually they are willing to order anything you want if they don’t have it.

What about polypterus? Have you ever kept them in your journey? There are many different types that you can house in a 120. They don’t have the typical requirements as most other fish do. But they are a neat oddball that I really enjoy. I would have a bunch of them if I didn’t take the ray curveball.
 
Get a bigger tank and get pbass. Love the pbass.
Or if gonna do the 120...what Duanes said.
 
LOL, I'm pretty tame in my golden years. Haven't even had a drink in 25 yrs or so, but once in a while a little medicinal herb can do wonders for arthritic inflammation. :thumbsup:

Haha, from what i've seen on here you could do with some of your "medicinal herb" when you and Coryloach go toe to toe.:chillpill:
 
Firstly thanks for all the positive replies, I am always first to defend this forum if anyone says the community is bad or whatever, collectively we have an immense amount of knowledge.

I was thinking of something easy to maintain as like someone previously said, with my new home I’ll be very busy for a good while.

I do like the idea of something that is unheated as I have always kept tropical species. The reason why I thought maybe some really nice fancy goldfish is that like the koi I watched grow as kid they take a long time to grow and get more impressive with age. That really appeals to me.

In the vein of unheated and possibly something that isn’t a fish, perhaps amphibians might be a good idea ?

I’m not very good at growing plants and I feel that keeping amphibians alone in a tank that isn’t heavily planted might make for a kind of boring display but It would be a nice challenge...
 
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If you are looking for that route, I know of a nice axylotl breeder here in Calgary I can get you in contact with. Also if you don’t already know there is an auction on Sunday at Montgomery community hall at 11:30.

HTH and good luck Sir.
 
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