Getting bored of hobby?

[xDestro]

I don't see how one could not get bored with fish keeping or any hobby from time to time. Especially when ones got a busy schedule.

I had many smaller tanks, then down to 1 large tank, and now back up to 4, all large. I find larger tanks much easier to maintain for some reason. I just hook up my 1" PVC drain system. I have all my tanks in one room, and I can drain them all before I can fill one back up. Large tanks, light stocking and light feedings. A nice sitting area to sit and chill I could stare for quite awhile on some days. Sometimes I don't sit down at all. I love my stocking though and am enjoying growing them out. I like rearranging the scape from time to time too.

That's prob the main problem with my 75.. It's in a kinda off room since it was the best place to put it so I don't get to enjoy it nearly as much. My room is completely full due to a large couch being in it ( it's my moms $4000 couch so getting rid of it isn't an option)

 

[skjl47]

Maybe how do you guys make maintenance easier or stay motivated?

hobby feels like a chore you're probably not going to enjoy it.

Hello; There have been several periods of waxing and waning of the hobby for me. Sometimes it has been a job, a residence, going to college, getting married (twice), getting divorced (twice) and so on.

What I have done is to tailor my tank(s) to fit the situation. Been down to one five gallon tank when in college and having numerous tanks when living at the right house. Lots of different setups in between.

I have a decent place now and recently the hobby took a turn of needing more attention. I had kept it down to three modest tanks for a few years. A 55, a 30 and a 20 long. Just planted display tanks and fairly easy to maintain as I keep them at very low stocking density.
About a year or so ago I picked up two young common angel cichlids to grow out and eventually keep in the 55. Turned out they were a pair and have been laying eggs. Now I have two grow out tanks set up with juvenile angel fish. The WC and other extra stuff was OK for a while but the thrill of raising a new species has waned a bit after a few broods. I will take to fry to a couple of local fish shops as I did before when they get some size.

Before Grinch chides me for another useless post let me say something on topic. I guess what I am trying to say is my activity in the hobby increases or decreases but has not yet stopped in a bit over 50 years. (I started in 1959 and have not counted it up lately.)

 

[AG458]

Well, new fish always help! Consider getting some new fish, replacing some old ones, whatever you can do that will work and benefits you best. However, like you mentioned, expenses and space can prevent you from getting the new tanks/fish you want. I'm experiencing the same issues right now, and I'll have to wait for the silver arowana I really want to keep. The other suggestions saying to re scape your tanks or add/replace your stocks...those are good ones. You can do research and read about the fish you want and how to keep them. Maybe you'll find new fish you never thought about and buy one! There's always surprises out there! You can always ask MFK for help if you need it!

 

[xDestro]

Well, new fish always help! Consider getting some new fish, replacing some old ones, whatever you can do that will work and benefits you best. However, like you mentioned, expenses and space can prevent you from getting the new tanks/fish you want. I'm experiencing the same issues right now, and I'll have to wait for the silver arowana I really want to keep. The other suggestions saying to re scape your tanks or add/replace your stocks...those are good ones. You can do research and read about the fish you want and how to keep them. Maybe you'll find new fish you never thought about and buy one! There's always surprises out there! You can always ask MFK for help if you need it!

I think that's a big problem with keeping gulpers... Nothing can go with them but I don't want to get rid of them either. When I down size my 75 stock I'll prob pick up a fish or 2 I saw a few days ago at my lfs

 

[Galantspeedz]

What I do when I feel things getting monotonous is do minor changes... sometimes 1 or 2 new fish, adding driftwood , adding some ferns...
Maybe even set up a new tank with existing fish only to break it down and resell back

I won't use the word bored...

Just yesterday noticed my blood parrot cichlid laying eggs.. i just put it with my flowerhorn a few days ago so now hopefully it bear fruit

Another new challenge if it does

 

[Rossy]

Have you thought of breeding some of the fish? its quite fun to breed some of the fish.

 

[MrsE88]

Rearranging or additions always make things really exciting for me. It doesn't need to be new fish since yours don't like tank mates. You could get some new plants or snails. For some reason snails are really exciting to me. Lol
Breeding is also a nice option. Fish or snails. Maybe even shrimp if you want a new direction to go when you redo one of your smaller tanks.
You could make a little cash doing so.

 

[Gourami Swami]

There are a million things you could do to possible re-kindle your interest, such as new plants, new scape, etc.,
Or maybe you just need to take it easy. You said you have been obsessed with the hobby for 6 months. Unless you have money and time for a large number of tanks, aquatic hobby is one that is difficult to be fully obsessed with, because if all is going well, there is no need for change. If you have the means to have many tanks and always be changing something, great, but it sounds like you don't.
If I were you, I would probably scale back a little bit and focus on something else. Keep whatever you are willing to do maintenance on once a week, sell the rest, and sit back and watch. I get a certain degree of joy knowing I have not changed anything in a particular tank for months, and the fish are just living and growing. Obsess over something else for a while, your fish aren't going anywhere. This is a long-term hobby.
Just my .02