Sometimes this hobby drives me crazy. Am I alone?

[crazysteve]

"not an obsession"? wash your keyboard out with soap for relaying such things!

I know of at least one ex-wife who disagrees with you.

My GF would say the same. Right now for sure I have working on a 300 for weeks now.

 

[Kanta]

^ african tiger fish

I guess I have a right to obsess over my fish hobby. Its the only thing that centers me and just lets me be in my own world. Is like when a mechanic works on a car. I work on my tanks. Next to my gf and my best friend and cat, my fish are my best friends/life.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Yes, it occasionally drives me crazy. Everyone gets different things out of it too. I really enjoy learning about new fish, habitats, etc. Also really enjoy setting up different kinds of tanks like planted tanks, etc. I like growing a small fish out and watching him get big. some people enjoy just watching their fish, not worrying too much about the things I obsess about.

 

[impala]

My tanks/fish make me forget the aches and pains of life.

Observing my fish puts a smile on my face every time.

Tank maintenance is therapy I look forward to.

25+ year addict........

 

[jlennon]

I do get a good amount of enjoyment from it. Just bugs the hell out of me sometimes.

I love my tanks they are like my kids and the only kids I will have. They drive me crazy from time to time but in the end I love to sit back an watch my tanks.

Something I remember when I was starting out in the hobby. I went to a LFS and the guy in the store told me,"it's like being GOD, being able to control another things environment."

That is a little extreme because the guy obviously didn't control anything else in his life. I am not that kinda of hobbyist they are my babies and yes they can run my life. Something my girlfriend has learned very fast.

 

[DCOWBOYS]

My fish help me escape my wife's nags my 4 sons squabbles and my dogs constant barking,all i ever have to do for them is water changes and feed them.

 

[JteSchertz]

My fish help me escape my wife's nags my 4 sons squabbles and my dogs constant barking,all i ever have to do for them is water changes and feed them.

I completely agree with you. Having four boys myself (2 8yr olds, 2 5 yr olds) I need an escape sometimes!! My wife doesn't understand why I like to clean out the tanks each week and can just sit for hours watching each tank. I have gotten lucky because my two older boys have caught the bug and just bought there own tank and stand for their room. Just a 10 gal to get started. It is nice having allies because before all of this my wife said no more tanks...period!!(we have about 8 in the house now). But now she has agreed to as big as I want in the garage as soon as it is cleaned out!!!

I find the fish tanks are like my tattoos, once you get one you keep wanting more!!

 

[felixxx]

fish.. more expensive and addictive than cars drugs or women!

 

[NCStateFisher]

more expensive than women? I want to know where you're finding your women... haha

 

[rup_pilot]

I get a bit frustrated when a coral or fish dies or equipment malfunctions but luckily these events are rare and overall it's more fun than frustrating. Don't worry about messed up scales. These are common in big fish from running into things!