I think the best option is to find fish that you think are beautiful, aren't too hard to take care of, and that aren't too expensive. I don't know about you, but for me that would be widebar silver dollars, bichirs and geos. I also have datnoids. With expensive fish like black aros or stingrays, you'll always stress about them and you lose some of the fun in keeping them. but I don't really stress about my geos too much because they only cost me like $15 each and they're big already and pretty tough too. Same thing with bichirs. I try to buy fish that cost less than or around $30 that I know are tough and that I think are really nice to look at. If you keep buying bigger fish just to impress or one-up your friends, then it never ends and you can never sit back and enjoy the fish you already have.
Monster Fish collection change of heart
- Thread starter JayJardini
- Start date
Just keep any fish you want and don't worry about the critics. I have kept big predatory fish, have had planted tanks, native fish, small peaceful fish etc. Each one of these has its pros and cons. Personally I think fish keeping is a personal thing that you enjoy and have passion for, it shouldn't be to impress others. Too many people on this site with this mentality. They get into fish keeping for the wrong reasons and really aren't passionate about fish. Finding beauty and enjoyment with all fish is passion. If keeping fish feels like a job that is stressing you out then you need to do something different. You need to think really why you are keeping fish in the first place. Don't be like some of these people that want to fit in, and then once that feeling wears off you get rid of everything and move onto something else.
Go simple with it, you don't need huge tanks and rare fish all the time. If you truly admire fish you would find pleasure with variety, rather than keeping only monster fish and monster tanks. I only keep 2 tanks right now, 20 gallon native tank with small native fish, and a 29 gallon planted tank with some small and medium community fish. I loved that I downgraded. Less work, money, and maintenance for me and most important of all it gives ME enjoyment.
Go simple with it, you don't need huge tanks and rare fish all the time. If you truly admire fish you would find pleasure with variety, rather than keeping only monster fish and monster tanks. I only keep 2 tanks right now, 20 gallon native tank with small native fish, and a 29 gallon planted tank with some small and medium community fish. I loved that I downgraded. Less work, money, and maintenance for me and most important of all it gives ME enjoyment.
