Most 'mainstream' fishkeepers see them as a piece of furnature mine are all pets and get treated well and loved.
Are they pets or collections ?
- Thread starter redtailfool
- Start date
Originally Posted by vfc 
I think of my fish as beautiful creatures that I choose to keep in my home for my enjoyment; however, they are not pets.
I define pets as animals that are totally dependent on me for survival, but most importantly, they demonstrate complex levels of physical and emotional interaction with me and I with them.
Currently I have two dogs (Goldendoodles), a cat, and four tanks full of large African Cichlids. The fish show increased physical activity and are capable of identifying the source of food (me) when they are hungry. The only emotion I observe is fear; that varies from terror (sudden noise) to trust (virtually no fear) when they eat out of my hand or let me touch them. Those are generally categorized as basic survival instincts.
The dogs on the other hand; demonstrate a full range of two-way interaction with humans.
For example:
- They seek affection
- They enjoy playing
- They demonstrate anger and sadness
- They show happiness not related to food
- They touch and enjoy being touched
- They are sad when their owner is disappointed with them and happy when their owner is pleased
- They sense their owners negative emotions and either whimper or offer comfort by snuggling
- They will protect their owner and willingly give up their life for them
Fish are not pets.
I think that it is not the characteristics of an animal or how it behaves that determines whether it's a pet or a collectors-item, but the mindset of the owner with regards to how they feel about the animal.
Fish may not exhibit a massive range of two-way interaction with their owner, but if that owner feels a closeness, or affection to it, it definitely can be a pet.
Jazzy
I think of my fish as beautiful creatures that I choose to keep in my home for my enjoyment; however, they are not pets.
I define pets as animals that are totally dependent on me for survival, but most importantly, they demonstrate complex levels of physical and emotional interaction with me and I with them.
Currently I have two dogs (Goldendoodles), a cat, and four tanks full of large African Cichlids. The fish show increased physical activity and are capable of identifying the source of food (me) when they are hungry. The only emotion I observe is fear; that varies from terror (sudden noise) to trust (virtually no fear) when they eat out of my hand or let me touch them. Those are generally categorized as basic survival instincts.
The dogs on the other hand; demonstrate a full range of two-way interaction with humans.
For example:
- They seek affection
- They enjoy playing
- They demonstrate anger and sadness
- They show happiness not related to food
- They touch and enjoy being touched
- They are sad when their owner is disappointed with them and happy when their owner is pleased
- They sense their owners negative emotions and either whimper or offer comfort by snuggling
- They will protect their owner and willingly give up their life for them
Fish are not pets.
I think that it is not the characteristics of an animal or how it behaves that determines whether it's a pet or a collectors-item, but the mindset of the owner with regards to how they feel about the animal.
Fish may not exhibit a massive range of two-way interaction with their owner, but if that owner feels a closeness, or affection to it, it definitely can be a pet.
Jazzy
i didnt read the whole thread, but the above post says it all. i used to have two gerbils [really my sisters] and i did spend time with them, but never really connected. didnt affect me when they passed, but when i lost my spotted gar, it was a real blow. 
Onion01;2206095; said:
Im a "06" member and I havent got ban
To me every fish are consider as pet, different characteristic, behaviour and such
Gotta love them all! Depends on the fish, like many people would agree. Some of my fish are pets, others are a collection. My reef tank would probably fall into the "ornament" category.
I love the under-water world, I love biology(I could have said I love marine biology I suppose), and I love nature. My fish tanks make me feel better during the cold winters here in Ottawa, Canada.
I love the under-water world, I love biology(I could have said I love marine biology I suppose), and I love nature. My fish tanks make me feel better during the cold winters here in Ottawa, Canada.
both. mostly as a collection, but i kinda look at them more as an oportunity to be creative, artistic, and experimental with a unique canvas, water.
