I realised today that I have been keeping tropical fish for about 5 years now in some capacity, since a few months after I first joined this forum. I started with a 75g and 5g, the bigger one is still running along with two 15g tanks. Have plenty of small aquaria in storage still. It is crazy how much I had to learn and still have to learn for fishkeeping. So many disciplines to work with! I have barely dabbled in breeding for example, or am stumped with anything marine.
Another large growth point is realising how much adult life can interfere with the hobby. I joined as a springy 14 year old with all the time in the world to muck about on forums (See my post count, with 4000+ on other forums). At one stage I was running 6 tanks in my bedroom and keeping all sorts of little critters. But since I went to University I have not been home much and had to downscale (Still have a bichir!) to what my family can take care of while I am away, and instead getting crested geckos to keep me company. It's that thing of having time but no money as a teen, then money but less time as a young adult. This is also noticeable in my lower forum participation. I am impressed with the dedication of members that work full time!
Being at university has impacted my fishkeeping aspirations; botany, photography, and academics fill my time now. I am living vicariously through the forum, writing in magazines (keep an eye out for Muppet, my senegal bichir, in Amazonas!) and learning some tissue culture for aquatic plants, something I hope to write about in a few months. Guess this is an update from a former poster
I am excited to see what I can do with a bit more financial freedom in a few years (probably more bichirs, duh). I am curious to hear how moving into adulthood influenced the keeping styles or freedom of other members
Another large growth point is realising how much adult life can interfere with the hobby. I joined as a springy 14 year old with all the time in the world to muck about on forums (See my post count, with 4000+ on other forums). At one stage I was running 6 tanks in my bedroom and keeping all sorts of little critters. But since I went to University I have not been home much and had to downscale (Still have a bichir!) to what my family can take care of while I am away, and instead getting crested geckos to keep me company. It's that thing of having time but no money as a teen, then money but less time as a young adult. This is also noticeable in my lower forum participation. I am impressed with the dedication of members that work full time!
Being at university has impacted my fishkeeping aspirations; botany, photography, and academics fill my time now. I am living vicariously through the forum, writing in magazines (keep an eye out for Muppet, my senegal bichir, in Amazonas!) and learning some tissue culture for aquatic plants, something I hope to write about in a few months. Guess this is an update from a former poster
I am excited to see what I can do with a bit more financial freedom in a few years (probably more bichirs, duh). I am curious to hear how moving into adulthood influenced the keeping styles or freedom of other members