Thank man seriously!!! I will look into Vik or ofr tbh. I am making a list to give to my fish club for my smaller fish. Hopefully someone can take them. I’m just worried once I’m done my four years all the cool fish will be banned.
The issue with what you’re saying is, yes I have big fish but I have the provisions. I work two jobs in the summer. Didn’t post this to be nit picked.
This is the issue with so many forums…
You seem to be under the impression that what I said was criticism and not advice. Read my post again Mike as you seem to have misinterpreted what I said.
I somewhat agree with this. I had wanted to get my hands on various wolf fish, a bowfin, and few others and after the initial “I finally got them” wore off, they weren’t as special as I imagined, still cool but not so much cooler than other fish that are commonYou're dealing with two separate concerns, from the sounds of it. First, what to do with your fish when you go to college. I think you're correct to downsize or even eliminate altogether the tanks you leave running at home. I was in the identical situation back in the lat 70's, and foolishly attempted to keep a number of tanks in operation. My father did some feeding and simple maintenance for me, but I was travelling back and forth between Toronto and Windsor, a 4-hour train trip, every couple of weeks...and then working like a crazy person doing maintenance when I was home, unable to enjoy my visit. By the end of the first year, I had divested myself of almost all of my fish and tanks. Fish keeping is supposed to be fun. Having too many fish in too many aquariums taking up too much of your time is not fun, and eventually both you and the fish will suffer for it.
Your second concern seems to be a lack of "cool" fish when you return to the hobby after college. While it's probably correct that there will be further restrictions and tighter legislation, I think you need to perhaps re-examine your attitude about this. Any fish, kept and maintained properly and in good health...is pretty cool, IMHO. Fish are practically like aliens when compared to other animals; living in a liquid medium where they have freedom to move in three dimensions, breathing dissolved oxygen; they're about as exotic as one can get and still be from Earth, IMHO.
Too many people consider a fish to be "cool" or worthy of their interest only if it's uncommon, or expensive, or is perhaps owned by very few other people. Half of MFK sounds like they would give up a kidney if they could only get their hands on an Asian aro, or a snakehead or some other example of unobtainium. You know what? If you get one of those, you realize that it's just another fish. If Guppies become illegal tomorrow...you'd hear the same weeping and wailing: "Oh, if only I could get..."
I've owned lots of fish that might be considered "cool" to folks like that...some of which I can no longer own due to legal restrictions, and I do regret that...but I have gotten just as much enjoyment out of simple things like Swordtails, Mosquitofish, Firemouth Cichlids, native Sunfish and Bullheads and many, many others. I'm currently keeping goldfish for the first time, at least in a serious way. I went through tons of goldfish feeders back before I knew any better...and I had a couple in a smallish tank back when I got around on a bicycle...but I am now keeping about twenty plain ordinary common goldfish in my main tank, along with a few other cool-tolerant species. I'm loving it! Fish are cool!
Some fish will become unavailable...and others will become "new" to the hobby and available...and you just need to learn to appreciate what is available to you. Good luck with whatever plan you choose; hopefully you keep us posted on progress.
Very true. I’ll start getting rid of most of my stuff for sure. Thank you for this.You're dealing with two separate concerns, from the sounds of it. First, what to do with your fish when you go to college. I think you're correct to downsize or even eliminate altogether the tanks you leave running at home. I was in the identical situation back in the lat 70's, and foolishly attempted to keep a number of tanks in operation. My father did some feeding and simple maintenance for me, but I was travelling back and forth between Toronto and Windsor, a 4-hour train trip, every couple of weeks...and then working like a crazy person doing maintenance when I was home, unable to enjoy my visit. By the end of the first year, I had divested myself of almost all of my fish and tanks. Fish keeping is supposed to be fun. Having too many fish in too many aquariums taking up too much of your time is not fun, and eventually both you and the fish will suffer for it.
Your second concern seems to be a lack of "cool" fish when you return to the hobby after college. While it's probably correct that there will be further restrictions and tighter legislation, I think you need to perhaps re-examine your attitude about this. Any fish, kept and maintained properly and in good health...is pretty cool, IMHO. Fish are practically like aliens when compared to other animals; living in a liquid medium where they have freedom to move in three dimensions, breathing dissolved oxygen; they're about as exotic as one can get and still be from Earth, IMHO.
Too many people consider a fish to be "cool" or worthy of their interest only if it's uncommon, or expensive, or is perhaps owned by very few other people. Half of MFK sounds like they would give up a kidney if they could only get their hands on an Asian aro, or a snakehead or some other example of unobtainium. You know what? If you get one of those, you realize that it's just another fish. If Guppies become illegal tomorrow...you'd hear the same weeping and wailing: "Oh, if only I could get..."
I've owned lots of fish that might be considered "cool" to folks like that...some of which I can no longer own due to legal restrictions, and I do regret that...but I have gotten just as much enjoyment out of simple things like Swordtails, Mosquitofish, Firemouth Cichlids, native Sunfish and Bullheads and many, many others. I'm currently keeping goldfish for the first time, at least in a serious way. I went through tons of goldfish feeders back before I knew any better...and I had a couple in a smallish tank back when I got around on a bicycle...but I am now keeping about twenty plain ordinary common goldfish in my main tank, along with a few other cool-tolerant species. I'm loving it! Fish are cool!
Some fish will become unavailable...and others will become "new" to the hobby and available...and you just need to learn to appreciate what is available to you. Good luck with whatever plan you choose; hopefully you keep us posted on progress.
Have you looked into finding out if there’s an aquarium club local to you? Those are a good option along with mfk.
If it doesn't work, you can do what others have said.
Thanks mate. The issue is I am committing to row division 1 in college. Ive come up with a list. I just need to get ride of the misc. stuff. The not so rare fish that I can always get no issue. Thank you for everyone's input.
Yes, sorry. I am so used to being criticized for what I keep since people hear my age and instantly think I cram RTC and PACU in 10 gallons. some of these fish live in better conditions than I could've ever thought i would have been able to originally keep them. I apologize for my lashing out and defensive response. Hope this clears the air
