Aquarium fish as playing cards...but with diseases...

[jjohnwm]

On a recent trip into town I ran into an acquaintance who pretty much exemplifies a certain type of aquarist that we also see posting here on MFK; a type that causes me some concern, and I can't help but think that I'm not alone in this. This fellow was buying a half-dozen small cichlids and telling me about his plans for them. His hope was to "grow them out" and then hopefully get a pair to form, which he would then proceed to not breed successfully. Okay, maybe that's not what he said, but based upon past experience it's likely what will happen.

So far, so good, right? Typical strategy that many of us use to get a mated pair of cichlids, right? But, it's the other stuff he told me that got my goat. An arowana and a couple of catfish purchased a month ago had already been "donated" back to the store...some goldfish that he got from me only a couple weeks ago had been "re-homed" already...one of his live-bearer tanks had been decimated by Ich recently, so he just "sold" the survivors and got out of them completely...he was asking me if I wanted another catfish that he had only purchased last week, because he simply didn't have room for it...and a Flowerhorn had gone from "I gotta have that fish!" to "I am soooo tired of that fish..." status within only a couple of months and was now looking for a new home.

It was a real-life version of those threads I mentioned. "I bought an XYZ fish...dropped it into my tank at home...it killed one of my fish, so I moved it to another tank...those fish beat the crap out of it...moved it into a bucket for a couple days...but it got tail fungus, Ich and rabies all at the same time, so I brought it back to the store (!!!)....and they didn't give me a dime for it!"

I didn't ask about quarantine, because I already knew the answer: "I've never needed to quarantine!", usually stated with some level of indignation at the very idea.

He showed me a picture of the Flowerhorn; it looks like a fish that was hooked while angling and then dragged behind the boat on a stringer for the rest of the day. Still breathing, but...that's about all...

No quarantine...no thought given to compatibility or other factors that should have prevented the purchase in the first place...just fish getting sicker and sicker and eventually put back on the market for others to "enjoy".

Am I just being crabby? Okay, I know I am...but am I wrong when I say this is tiresome to see and hear? My wife was with me when my "friend" ran into us outside the LFS, and she raised an eyebrow when she heard me mutter "Oh, jeez, not this s**t again..." as he hailed us from across the parking lot and came over to chat. She didn't say much through the conversation...neither did I, actually...and when he left, she asked me "Is that the guy who had that fish he wanted to give you?"

I answered "Yeah, that was the fish in that picture he showed us". She just rolled her eyes and got into the car.

How about it? Am I the only who feels this way? Rant over.

 

[tlindsey]

On a recent trip into town I ran into an acquaintance who pretty much exemplifies a certain type of aquarist that we also see posting here on MFK; a type that causes me some concern, and I can't help but think that I'm not alone in this. This fellow was buying a half-dozen small cichlids and telling me about his plans for them. His hope was to "grow them out" and then hopefully get a pair to form, which he would then proceed to not breed successfully. Okay, maybe that's not what he said, but based upon past experience it's likely what will happen.

So far, so good, right? Typical strategy that many of us use to get a mated pair of cichlids, right? But, it's the other stuff he told me that got my goat. An arowana and a couple of catfish purchased a month ago had already been "donated" back to the store...some goldfish that he got from me only a couple weeks ago had been "re-homed" already...one of his live-bearer tanks had been decimated by Ich recently, so he just "sold" the survivors and got out of them completely...he was asking me if I wanted another catfish that he had only purchased last week, because he simply didn't have room for it...and a Flowerhorn had gone from "I gotta have that fish!" to "I am soooo tired of that fish..." status within only a couple of months and was now looking for a new home.

It was a real-life version of those threads I mentioned. "I bought an XYZ fish...dropped it into my tank at home...it killed one of my fish, so I moved it to another tank...those fish beat the crap out of it...moved it into a bucket for a couple days...but it got tail fungus, Ich and rabies all at the same time, so I brought it back to the store (!!!)....and they didn't give me a dime for it!"

I didn't ask about quarantine, because I already knew the answer: "I've never needed to quarantine!", usually stated with some level of indignation at the very idea.

He showed me a picture of the Flowerhorn; it looks like a fish that was hooked while angling and then dragged behind the boat on a stringer for the rest of the day. Still breathing, but...that's about all...

No quarantine...no thought given to compatibility or other factors that should have prevented the purchase in the first place...just fish getting sicker and sicker and eventually put back on the market for others to "enjoy".

Am I just being crabby? Okay, I know I am...but am I wrong when I say this is tiresome to see and hear? My wife was with me when my "friend" ran into us outside the LFS, and she raised an eyebrow when she heard me mutter "Oh, jeez, not this s**t again..." as he hailed us from across the parking lot and came over to chat. She didn't say much through the conversation...neither did I, actually...and when he left, she asked me "Is that the guy who had that fish he wanted to give you?"

I answered "Yeah, that was the fish in that picture he showed us". She just rolled her eyes and got into the car.

How about it? Am I the only who feels this way? Rant over.

Someone is probably doing everything you stated right now.

 

[jjohnwm]

Someone is probably doing everything you stated right now.

"Probably" ?

 

[tlindsey]

"Probably" ?

Let's change that to definitely lol.

 

[HUKIT]

I’m 51 so I feel old enough now to become the old man yelling at the clouds. You just described probably at least 90% of people currently fish.

 

[Conchonius]

I am exactly the type of keeper you described. I don't think trying out different species is such a bad thing, as long as...

1. You go in with the expectation that you're paying for the experience of keeping the fish for a time, i.e. don't try to sell them back for market price once you're done. I mostly hand them back to the store.
2. You keep a "trial" tank, separate from the fish that you keep long-term as pets. This also serves as quarantine: if you decide that you do want the fish, it will have stayed long enough to observe and treat any disease.
3. You don't slack on incompatibility or stunting issues, and return fish in good condition instead of invalids with bent spines and tattered fins.

In fact, I do have a baby fish that I've grown quite fond of in the 20g right now, and it will go to the 75g once it's finished cycling. That will also be my first true "monster" fish. Any guesses on what it is?

 

[abominus]

On a recent trip into town I ran into an acquaintance who pretty much exemplifies a certain type of aquarist that we also see posting here on MFK; a type that causes me some concern, and I can't help but think that I'm not alone in this. This fellow was buying a half-dozen small cichlids and telling me about his plans for them. His hope was to "grow them out" and then hopefully get a pair to form, which he would then proceed to not breed successfully. Okay, maybe that's not what he said, but based upon past experience it's likely what will happen.

So far, so good, right? Typical strategy that many of us use to get a mated pair of cichlids, right? But, it's the other stuff he told me that got my goat. An arowana and a couple of catfish purchased a month ago had already been "donated" back to the store...some goldfish that he got from me only a couple weeks ago had been "re-homed" already...one of his live-bearer tanks had been decimated by Ich recently, so he just "sold" the survivors and got out of them completely...he was asking me if I wanted another catfish that he had only purchased last week, because he simply didn't have room for it...and a Flowerhorn had gone from "I gotta have that fish!" to "I am soooo tired of that fish..." status within only a couple of months and was now looking for a new home.

It was a real-life version of those threads I mentioned. "I bought an XYZ fish...dropped it into my tank at home...it killed one of my fish, so I moved it to another tank...those fish beat the crap out of it...moved it into a bucket for a couple days...but it got tail fungus, Ich and rabies all at the same time, so I brought it back to the store (!!!)....and they didn't give me a dime for it!"

I didn't ask about quarantine, because I already knew the answer: "I've never needed to quarantine!", usually stated with some level of indignation at the very idea.

He showed me a picture of the Flowerhorn; it looks like a fish that was hooked while angling and then dragged behind the boat on a stringer for the rest of the day. Still breathing, but...that's about all...

No quarantine...no thought given to compatibility or other factors that should have prevented the purchase in the first place...just fish getting sicker and sicker and eventually put back on the market for others to "enjoy".

Am I just being crabby? Okay, I know I am...but am I wrong when I say this is tiresome to see and hear? My wife was with me when my "friend" ran into us outside the LFS, and she raised an eyebrow when she heard me mutter "Oh, jeez, not this s**t again..." as he hailed us from across the parking lot and came over to chat. She didn't say much through the conversation...neither did I, actually...and when he left, she asked me "Is that the guy who had that fish he wanted to give you?"

I answered "Yeah, that was the fish in that picture he showed us". She just rolled her eyes and got into the car.

How about it? Am I the only who feels this way? Rant over.

Just tell him to join a very informative website called MonsterFishKeepers.com and post his fish. The members here will take care of the rest, and you can give him the classic Joh Wick treatment you are renowned for. Poor guy will never know what hit him.

PS. It would be a dream to meet a MFKer in person, especially you jjohnwm . Getting roasted in real life has to feel better than reading it on a screen.

 

[tlindsey]

PS. It would be a dream to meet a MFKer in person, especially you .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } jjohnwm @jjohnwm . Getting roasted in real life has to feel better than reading it on a screen.

Lol

 

[danotaylor]

If/when people treat dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, goats, basically any terrestrial animal in like manner as you described jjohnwm the SPCA drop by and fine or at times, arrest them. Over crowded, underfed, poor living conditions are all environmental factors that are legislated against in most developed countries...for terrestrial pets. Its frustrating to see piscatorial animals mistreated in this way for sure, cause it's actually cruelty to animals in the same manner...

 

[abominus]

I’m 51 so I feel old enough now to become the old man yelling at the clouds. You just described probably at least 90% of people currently fish.

How about it? Am I the only who feels this way? Rant over.

I agree. I was like this at first myself but believe me, this problem is way less common here than other fishkeeping forums, to be honest. I have been (and still am) on large forums (won't mention there name due to MFK policy) but its much, much better here. Other forums are filled with so called 'experts' who not only give terrible advice, but will criticize you to death and make it seem like you are providing false info. Its useless arguing with those complete idiots. On the other hand you have MFK, where the right advice is in the majority, hence i rarely see any unethical fishkeeping here. One can freely express issues or concerns, like jjohnwm and people will listen, even if not agree with, in a normal humanly manner.

This is part of the hobby, and this forum. Someone does the exact things mentioned by jjohnwm , they post here and get opinions. Some actually listen and correct their mistakes, while others show their arrogance and we never hear from them again. But seeing those who improve and share this progress ,atleast in my opinion, is what makes this hobby better. Its a proud feeling for those who gave advice in the first place, seeing there is still hope for the hobby and how their experience paid off.