So ever since I started fishkeeping seriously, it's lead me into other things. Other interests, and new views on things. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had the same experience. Personally, here's what Fishkeeping has lead to in terms of my interests, and even personal view points:
Aquatic Botany. Keeping plants alive in my fish tanks has made me really love learning about Aquatic plants, and everyday when I get home, I work on my aquatic gardening.
Conservation. I used to think "That's so far away, why do I care?" and now I think "Wow, that's such a beautiful habitat, and it's made my hobby possible. Is there anything I can do to help save it?" and things like that.
Before fishkeeping, Hybrids of any sort didn't really bother me. I thought, "So it's not natural. Who cares, really?" and now I see any alteration or attempted improvement in Nature on part of Humans is a negative alteration. Any by 'alterations', I don't mean color varietys in fish like an EBJD, or 'designer discus'. I mean dyeing fish, "creating" new fish, or otherwise altering a fish. Because color variation are essentially using nature's own blue prints to change something, I don't see it as a negative thing. However, something like a Parrot cichlid, which is a hybrid, and sometimes even further altered by dyeing, as a very negative thing.
More connection to nature. I used to never really enjoy the outdoors. And to this day, I don't go camping or anything, but in all of my workspaces, there's something to remind me of Nature. A carefully manicured Bonsai tree, or a poster of the Rio Negro, a 'Wabi Kusa'.. something that connects me to, or atleast reminds me of, nature's beauty.
Respect of life. As silly as it sounds, Fishkeeping has made me respect all life, regardless of how little it is. Before, I wouldn't hesitate to kill a bug in my house. Now, I always pick the bug up and release it outside. I've found it's really none of my business to kill things, even if they are just a small creature. I refuse to kill anything. I don't think a single bug has been killed (with me knowing. I'm sure things have been killed just by me walking, or mowing the lawn, etc) by me in 3 years. On many occasions, people have tried to kill bugs in my school, and I've stopped them. I'm actually quite proud of it, tell you the truth.
So, has fishkeeping lead you to anything, or changed any view points of yours like it has for me?
Aquatic Botany. Keeping plants alive in my fish tanks has made me really love learning about Aquatic plants, and everyday when I get home, I work on my aquatic gardening.
Conservation. I used to think "That's so far away, why do I care?" and now I think "Wow, that's such a beautiful habitat, and it's made my hobby possible. Is there anything I can do to help save it?" and things like that.
Before fishkeeping, Hybrids of any sort didn't really bother me. I thought, "So it's not natural. Who cares, really?" and now I see any alteration or attempted improvement in Nature on part of Humans is a negative alteration. Any by 'alterations', I don't mean color varietys in fish like an EBJD, or 'designer discus'. I mean dyeing fish, "creating" new fish, or otherwise altering a fish. Because color variation are essentially using nature's own blue prints to change something, I don't see it as a negative thing. However, something like a Parrot cichlid, which is a hybrid, and sometimes even further altered by dyeing, as a very negative thing.
More connection to nature. I used to never really enjoy the outdoors. And to this day, I don't go camping or anything, but in all of my workspaces, there's something to remind me of Nature. A carefully manicured Bonsai tree, or a poster of the Rio Negro, a 'Wabi Kusa'.. something that connects me to, or atleast reminds me of, nature's beauty.
Respect of life. As silly as it sounds, Fishkeeping has made me respect all life, regardless of how little it is. Before, I wouldn't hesitate to kill a bug in my house. Now, I always pick the bug up and release it outside. I've found it's really none of my business to kill things, even if they are just a small creature. I refuse to kill anything. I don't think a single bug has been killed (with me knowing. I'm sure things have been killed just by me walking, or mowing the lawn, etc) by me in 3 years. On many occasions, people have tried to kill bugs in my school, and I've stopped them. I'm actually quite proud of it, tell you the truth.
So, has fishkeeping lead you to anything, or changed any view points of yours like it has for me?
But.. hey, its my hobby.. i LOVE it and can't stop! 
