Quitting.

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Eupterus

Eupterus

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 11, 2006
934
2
16
Bennington, VT
How do you feel about quitting fish keeping?.

Some people quit when they move away, no matter what the distance.
Some quit when they lose interest.
Some quit after a disaster has stuck resulting in many losses.
Some quit when they fall on hard times financially.

What would make you quit?...Are you willing to tough out some hard times?. Sometimes things get better and sometimes there's no hope in sight. Sometimes one does not know when things will get better so you take your chances. If you decide to quit...will you possibly be back when things get better?...Or is it permanent?.
Will you sell everything?...Or just re-home fish and store the equipment until later?.

I know I would have quit several times over when I moved out of my parents house to go to college and then when I moved out of state.
The only thing that prevented me from quitting was the people who were going to adopt my fish as I was moving away flaked out on me.
So my choice turned into have the fish destroyed or board them.

I've seen many folks quit for various reasons. Some of which seem like far more serious fish-keepers then myself. Which covers most MFK keepers anyhow.
I've decided quitting can be a very good thing...toughing it out in hard times has it's rewards too.

I know if I get an oppertunity to move to another country, I'm gone..
Fish would go back up for adoption and half of the equipment would go on the market, the rest into storage just in case for later.
Until then I know I will tough out most everything else. Been through so many times that poverty was right around the corner due to the job market and or my health issues...I think I can handle it:).
 
If I go abroad, my fish are sold, but I would start again anyday!
Howevah, I would never keep a community tank again, species tanks all the way!
 
I would probably have to become handicapped and unable to care for my fish. Sad to think about. :(
 
I quit and sold a 300 gallon and a 280 because I had to move up here to Sacramento to lead a 2 yr long job. I figured I was over it and would consider starting when I came back home.But I was very wrong. I had a 15 gallon set up the first week. Then a 20 then a 55 now a 90 and still upgrading. I regret selling my equipment (multiple fluvals and sumps ) Fish keeping is something I have done since I was 6 with one of my dads spare 55's I set up a turtle tank then found I liked feeding the goldfish and watching them grow. Pretty soon I was 10 and that tank was a home for two jaguar cichlids which obviously needed rehoming... Kept on moving from there.

I really dont know what would cause me to quit thats a good question I have suffered everything you listed up there and pursued on.
 
Sometimes I want to quit just because of the limitations that are always present. Such as not enough space for tanks, not enough money, not enough time to properly care for all the tanks, etc. However, at the same time, I don't think I could fully quit unless I had to move or something.
 
I have had fish for the last 8 years and I really don't know what it would take for me to get out of fishkeeping.

If we didn't have our fish in the living room, it would seem like a void in the room.

I'm so used to having the fish there, the constant movement etc.


Also, my upkeep costs aren't very high.

I don't know what the 125 gallon costs me in electricity, but I'm sure it's probably not that much. Lights, two heaters, fluval 404.

Food...I know people are going to flame me for this...but I feed my fish goldfish pellets ( I buy the cheap 10lbs bag). So food lasts a long time and doesn't cost much.

So money really isn't very much of an issue when it comes to my fish because it is so cheap. Definitely cheaper than a cat or a dog :nilly:
 
It was a tuff decision for me, but it had to be done. I would have preferred to sell just my fish and put the tanks aside for a later date, but financially, i had to get rid of it all. Taking care of over 1000 gallons of fish tanks with no money, job, or car is a little difficult. And on top of that I am trying to get back into school. And my housing situation is unstable. I didnt want to be stuck with the chance of haveing 24 hours to move everything I own plus 1000 gallons of tanks and fish. And with on car or job, or anywhere to move it.

It was the right thing to do.

Most all of you that know me, know that I truly love this hobby and it will be missed.

Mark my words I will be back, I WILL be back.
 
I doubt I'd ever quit, I've always kept things but now it's getting out of hand. I could see me reducing the tanks at some point but never quitting
 
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