My thought is if you can't provide the appropriate requirements for your fish for their entire life you should not be getting that particular species.
Can/Do you house your fish for life???
- Thread starter HarleyK
- Start date
Wow this pole is such a sham
considering how unpredictable life is, only a small fraction if any will actually be keeping fish for life. This especially holds true for all the younger MFKers who have barely even experienced life yet themselves.
To answer the question, though poll choices don't let me accurately vote. Yes I can house every fish I own for life, no I don't house every fish, for numerous different or possible reasons. So I guess in some people's eyes this makes me an irresponsible fish keeper
considering how unpredictable life is, only a small fraction if any will actually be keeping fish for life. This especially holds true for all the younger MFKers who have barely even experienced life yet themselves.To answer the question, though poll choices don't let me accurately vote. Yes I can house every fish I own for life, no I don't house every fish, for numerous different or possible reasons. So I guess in some people's eyes this makes me an irresponsible fish keeper
If you think it's a sham, then that's what it is to you, no offense taken.
At a younger age I would keep only community fish, and livebearers or tetras rarely last more than a few years. Still going to school, that was very predictable for me. Not sure what curveballs life throws you, but most of us can see a little while into the future ...
HarleyK
At a younger age I would keep only community fish, and livebearers or tetras rarely last more than a few years. Still going to school, that was very predictable for me. Not sure what curveballs life throws you, but most of us can see a little while into the future ...
HarleyK
I always "plan" on keeping them for life, but, as it is life and therefore changes and evolves all the time it doesn't always work out the way I planned, so in that case I make sure they are taken care properly for whatever period of life they have left.
So I guess I'm on both sides of the vote.
So I guess I'm on both sides of the vote.
I think if people were 100% honest, the survey results would be reversed. I think many people are voting what they would like to do but not what they actually do.
I have been keeping fish for over 40 years and am responsible (unfortunately) for short life spans of hundreds of fish and have dropped off over a hundred unwanted fish at the LFS. And this is a confession from a guy who loves animals.
My latest tank addition is a 125G. Due to aggression, it currently houses just two fish (7in F. Rostratus and 6in Titanium FH with a divider between them). When I bought the tank last year; if I knew that I was about to spend ~ $1,000 on another tank set up just to house a 3in F. Rostratus and 3in TFH, I would have decided against it. BTW - I had to drop off three large cichlids (from the 125G) at the LFS because the F. Rostartus became very aggressive when he grew from 3in to 7in. My other 10in F. Rostratus is an angel in comparison to the 7in.
As much as I love the two fish in the 125G; I can't imagine maintaining the tank with the current occupants for another 10 plus years. That could only happen if nothing major changed in my life. However, if I lost my job, had to move, became ill, got tired of the work load, or didn't have the time any longer (new job or hobby), the fish would go. The chances of one of the above happening in the next ten years is very high.
I have been keeping fish for over 40 years and am responsible (unfortunately) for short life spans of hundreds of fish and have dropped off over a hundred unwanted fish at the LFS. And this is a confession from a guy who loves animals.
My latest tank addition is a 125G. Due to aggression, it currently houses just two fish (7in F. Rostratus and 6in Titanium FH with a divider between them). When I bought the tank last year; if I knew that I was about to spend ~ $1,000 on another tank set up just to house a 3in F. Rostratus and 3in TFH, I would have decided against it. BTW - I had to drop off three large cichlids (from the 125G) at the LFS because the F. Rostartus became very aggressive when he grew from 3in to 7in. My other 10in F. Rostratus is an angel in comparison to the 7in.
As much as I love the two fish in the 125G; I can't imagine maintaining the tank with the current occupants for another 10 plus years. That could only happen if nothing major changed in my life. However, if I lost my job, had to move, became ill, got tired of the work load, or didn't have the time any longer (new job or hobby), the fish would go. The chances of one of the above happening in the next ten years is very high.
Strangely enough I was just thinking about this. I have kept fish for 15+ yrs now and in the past was a habitual changer of tanks. When I was a teenager, I would buy the fish small, grow them up then take them back to the LFS and trade out for new types. Now that I am older, I have learned more about each type of fish and have grown attached. I won't get rid of my parrots, they have there own tank devoted to them. But I have been raising a large group of african cichlids and now and getting interested in the idea of oscars (large fish, great personality).
I was looking online this weekend b/c I was out of town. When I got home and checked on everybody in the 8 tanks that I have, there just wasn't anybody I would consider getting rid of.
I would like to say that I am definately going to keep all my guys but the reality is I am sure I will want a change after a couple of years and will have enough to get a really large tank that would be the best environment for oscars to grow in.
I was looking online this weekend b/c I was out of town. When I got home and checked on everybody in the 8 tanks that I have, there just wasn't anybody I would consider getting rid of.
I would like to say that I am definately going to keep all my guys but the reality is I am sure I will want a change after a couple of years and will have enough to get a really large tank that would be the best environment for oscars to grow in.
vfc;4779953; said:
At long last, some down to earth honnesty, derived from decades in the hobby.
one other thought I have to add is that personally I will buy small fish so that I can sell them to people when they get bigger.
I would also like to add the cost of keeping the two fish in the 125G for 10+ years. My electric cost averages $15/month. Factor in food, water conditioner, and equipment maintenance; the cost is around $35/month. So the total cost to house the two fish for 10 years would be ~ $4,200.
I can't image how violently my wife would have reacted if I came to her last year and said I want to spend $5,300 (tank, fish, and monthly cost) to keep two fish for ten years.
I can't image how violently my wife would have reacted if I came to her last year and said I want to spend $5,300 (tank, fish, and monthly cost) to keep two fish for ten years.
