Opinion Thread: Are Fish-Specific Websites and Blogs Good for the Hobby?

[AnomalocarisAquatics]

What is y'all's opinion on this?

Some good, some bad, a lot of bad. Once I found a fishkeeping website that had great information on bettas, but recommended a 1 gallon "tank". A lot of websites have tank sizes that are not accurate, on one thread on MFK a person asked for the largest fish this person could keep in a 50 gallon and I said GT cichlid. Many websites say a GT could go in a 55, and I believed it. That's why fishkeeping forum sites such as MFK are so great, you can directly talk to experienced fish keepers for help.

 

[AnomalocarisAquatics]

I agree; some of these websites have ridiculous ideas for stocking and tank sizes. I mean, it's where I got the infamous "Green Terror in a 55-gallon" idea, lol.

Yoo, that's what I believe once, when I was replying to that "Biggest fish for 200l" thread

 

[Caperguy99]

There’s so much information out that there is incredibly conflicting. You essentially need to work to make sure that whoever you’re getting your information from has direct experience and significant time in the hobby.

You can get YouTubers who shoot videos in front of a wall of tanks, but who say things like an Oscar in a 55 is fine. Tank size is one of the work offenders, if you simply Google around.

It took me stumbling upon these found to finally find in-depth explanations of keeping Frontosa, for example, despite dozens of videos on YouTube asserting that they have all the info you’d need.

 

[jjohnwm]

People manage to find the answers that they hope are correct, and to disregard the advice that doesn't quite fit with their view of what should be true or what they wish is true.

I especially enjoy the threads in which the poster asks if he/she can do a particular something. A dozen or more experienced posters will say "No, you can't, and here's why..."

The original poster then asserts that they have read the exact opposite thing "somewhere", and that they now intend to do it to see what happens.

In a world where literally anybody can post literally anything...and where a million gullible saps will read even the most outlandish and ridiculous crap and assume that it must be true, 'cuz it's on the internet...no, sorry, I think that all this misinformation and disinformation is, on the whole, more negative than positive.

 

[esoxlucius]

I think that all this misinformation and disinformation is, on the whole, more negative than positive.

You're probably right but I was thinking about this and I'm not so sure. Imagine the opposite of what we have currently.

Yes, you'd have an abundance of pure factual content on every website, you tube video and forum post. Imagine that. Nothing to ponder over, question or contest.

We all know how greatly entertaining things are as they stand. Forum life would be pretty uneventful without all the back and forth that goes on as a result of a seemingly innocuous question which just erupts into chaos.

I think I prefer things as they are. Lol.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Its great, dont you know if you look hard enough you can always find someone agreeing with what you are asking about?