Well, what can I say? I go through "phases" like I go through underwear...
I spent most of this afternoon draining, cleaning, and disassembling my 120g and I've had mixed emotions about it for the past few days. I bought the setup with the best intentions. In my mind, I knew what fish I wanted to keep. Getting them was the only hurdle. Initially, there were no questions, just patient waiting and saving. Note "initially".
One fish I absolutely had my heart set on was an Asian Arowana. Call me dumb, call me stupid, call my reckless, I don't care. I know they are illegal. Since that day I got my tank, my quest began to find one. I used every available contact I had at my disposal and managed to track down and visit a few. However, it never worked out. It was always a matter of the seller demanding way more than the fish was worth, poor quality, and just an all around shady feeling. Read "F&W". It was clear that there was no way I could afford the caliber fish I wanted on a 17 year old's part time job. That dream ended quickly and that thought of giving up was born.
A few weeks later, I really got into rays. I bought my first Motoro and fell in love. Rays were awesome, everything I've ever thought they would be---EVERYTHING. They were cool to watch, active, but ate and **** alot. Read "maintanence". More time goes by and I've since acquired a trio of awesome dats. Hell, I even got another ray. Nothing could fill that void.
What triggered my decision to leave the hobby? I don't think it was one thing. It was a combination of the lack of Asian Arowanas, incessant and unforgiving maintanence routine, $$$ spent on fish and feeding, and time. I'm 17. It's bad enough I work 20-30 hours a week, but coming home to another job doesn't appeal to me like I thought it would. 120g is a decent sized tank-the biggest I've owned. I got tired of it real quick.
So I sit in my now empty living room and think "what's next"? Well, I'm going to pursue something I've been dreaming of since I was a kid. Tomorrow morning at 10AM, I'm picking up a gorgeous Green Tree Python. If all goes well, which I presume should, I'll have a breeding pair around Christmas. I got started with herps and should have realized that's where my heart is.
The tank is gone. The fish are gone. All I've got is a sole Motoro in a bucket with an Aquaclear on it until tomorrow night. Then I'm gone from the Monster Fish game. I'm going to get another tank. Most likely it will be a planted 40g breeder and I will get some Rams or Apistos to breed. Snakes are going to fill that void. You'll see me with a big tank again once Asian Arowanas are legal in the states.
If you read this entire rant, thanks. If not, I don't blame you. It's a jumble of thoughts and mixed emotions..
This is Tainted Glory signing out...
I spent most of this afternoon draining, cleaning, and disassembling my 120g and I've had mixed emotions about it for the past few days. I bought the setup with the best intentions. In my mind, I knew what fish I wanted to keep. Getting them was the only hurdle. Initially, there were no questions, just patient waiting and saving. Note "initially".
One fish I absolutely had my heart set on was an Asian Arowana. Call me dumb, call me stupid, call my reckless, I don't care. I know they are illegal. Since that day I got my tank, my quest began to find one. I used every available contact I had at my disposal and managed to track down and visit a few. However, it never worked out. It was always a matter of the seller demanding way more than the fish was worth, poor quality, and just an all around shady feeling. Read "F&W". It was clear that there was no way I could afford the caliber fish I wanted on a 17 year old's part time job. That dream ended quickly and that thought of giving up was born.
A few weeks later, I really got into rays. I bought my first Motoro and fell in love. Rays were awesome, everything I've ever thought they would be---EVERYTHING. They were cool to watch, active, but ate and **** alot. Read "maintanence". More time goes by and I've since acquired a trio of awesome dats. Hell, I even got another ray. Nothing could fill that void.
What triggered my decision to leave the hobby? I don't think it was one thing. It was a combination of the lack of Asian Arowanas, incessant and unforgiving maintanence routine, $$$ spent on fish and feeding, and time. I'm 17. It's bad enough I work 20-30 hours a week, but coming home to another job doesn't appeal to me like I thought it would. 120g is a decent sized tank-the biggest I've owned. I got tired of it real quick.
So I sit in my now empty living room and think "what's next"? Well, I'm going to pursue something I've been dreaming of since I was a kid. Tomorrow morning at 10AM, I'm picking up a gorgeous Green Tree Python. If all goes well, which I presume should, I'll have a breeding pair around Christmas. I got started with herps and should have realized that's where my heart is.
The tank is gone. The fish are gone. All I've got is a sole Motoro in a bucket with an Aquaclear on it until tomorrow night. Then I'm gone from the Monster Fish game. I'm going to get another tank. Most likely it will be a planted 40g breeder and I will get some Rams or Apistos to breed. Snakes are going to fill that void. You'll see me with a big tank again once Asian Arowanas are legal in the states.
If you read this entire rant, thanks. If not, I don't blame you. It's a jumble of thoughts and mixed emotions..
This is Tainted Glory signing out...
On to the next chapter....
