Giving Up the Hobby.....

[Peanut_Power]

I know I've been through some rough times, and sometimes its almost like you loose interest in the hobby. There have been a few times where I have felt like giving up and getting rid of everything, either by choice or because I needed the money. Its a very depressing feeling, and one that is not easily over come. Eventually though I manage to come back to my senses and realize that I love this hobby too much to just give it up.

Lets hear about your experieces with this, what it was like for you, and how you over came it.

 

[StIcKy~RiCe]

I gave up the hobby once before it only last 6months and i keep help myself. The more you online and in fish forums, checking out others people tank and set up it just make you want to get back in the hobby.

The best way to do it stay of internet and fish forums, that's including LFS and fish stuff. The more you see the more you want to get back. It happen to me once.

 

[Onion01]

I wanted to get out a few months back, but it was cause I burnt myself out. I put fish on the backburner, reduced stock, and after a few weeks bought a fish I always wanted. That resparked interest. I think if you start going to deep to fast in the hobby, you are prone to losing interest or motivation. Slowly and steadily is the way to do it

 

[fishoverlivingspace]

Every time one of my favorite fish dies, I think about getting out. I don't think I could ever actually quit the hobby, although every once in a while, you have a whole bunch of discouraging events happen all at once and you start to question whether it's worth it. The answer, after a couple weeks, is always "HELL YEAH IT IS!"

I had my reef tank crack a little over a year ago. I thought about just takin all my animals back to the store and giving up on it, because I had been having a few hair algae problems anyway(they probably wouldn't have taken my stuff back covered in hair algae haha), but I ended up skippin class for the day and just movin stuff into a spare 55. I called the owner of my lfs and he met me there 2 hours before they opened so I could pick up a heater and a powerhead, and put in an order for a new tank. It actually turned out for the better. The move stressed and killed most of the hair algae, and I ended up getting a tank 10 gallons larger than my old one

 

[Bllib]

To many times we put our love into material things and always at some point we find ourselves not enjoying what we have and so we decide to get rid of things or get something new. You wanting to get out is common. How many times do you get something new and then turn around and see someone with something else and then you say to yourself wouldn't that be cool to have that. In reality nothing of this world will ever satisfy you. Don't do the hobby to fulfill your life do the hobby because its a great hobby.

 

[BushFishRox]

the only time I wanted out was before I got in lol.

I just got my 150 and I was trying to do a fishless cycle, took over a month and still got nothing no only readings for ammonia and that is it...

got frustrated and drained the tank and left it for a year then I tried to sell it but wouldnt get anything close to what i paid for it it so I sad @#&! it and decided to go for it and just did a w/fish cycle doing 50% W/C's every day using ammo lock....

I guess that is my storie, oh and I started with cichlids then slowly got into oddballs. So I guess if you keep what you really like then you wont really wanna get out...

 

[eman b115]

I felt like this on several occasions; and finally realized that I was starting to get overwhelmed with all the maintenance of several tanks; since I've down sized to just my 150 and my 60 grow out/quarantine tank; and have found what fishes I finally want to keep; it is much more satisfying to me now; yes I do still sell fish but only to replace it with bigger ( I hate waiting) =) just like my bichirs; I sell some of my collection to replace it with larger bichirs. Some find it very satisfying to grow their own monsters out but not me....I want monster fish now....

eventually I will upgrade my 150 to a larger tank; as soon as I get the adequate space to do so; when this happens the 60 will go and the 150 will be my back up; 2 tanks is max for me.....

I would suggest to those that feel like quitting; do a little downsizing it helps alot.........

 

[fourty2]

The amount of money i have spent...i think my missus would batter me if i told her i was giving it all up...

 

[tothna]

I would suggest to those that feel like quitting; do a little downsizing it helps alot.........

Amen, I had two 55s and a 30 and wasn't really that thrilled with my fish. I had the same fish for a couple of years and just got tired of the maintenance. I finally decided I was done, I was going to give my fish away and sell my tanks.......then it set in that I couldn't get rid of my Butti. I really wanted to see him get huge. So I started looking on craigslist and found a good deal on a 150. Now I have all my fish in the 150 (and the Butti is remaining peaceful....for now) and I'm really glad I did. Only having to take care of one tank is much more enjoyable, and I finally got my bigger tank I've always wanted but couldn't afford in college.

 

[AttackFish]

I've tried to get out of the hobby.
Stayed of MFK for a month or two, blah blah blah.
Didnt work.

It was kinda depressing always wanting awesome fish and not having money for a big enough tank and stuff.
But now. I'm saving up more and more each day and will soon get the 180 gallon I've wanted since day one.