Beginner or expert, what have you learned about the hobby so far?
What have you learned so far about aquarium keeping?
- Thread starter eon aquatics
- Start date
The number one thing regarding our hobby which I have learnt over the years is that no matter how good you think you are, there is always something around the corner that can potentially bring your fish keeping world come crashing down. You need to be on your toes constantly, never become complacent in your approach.
this, never let yourself feel like you've got it because, you don't. Keeping fish tanks alive is rolling a ball up a hill, never may you let go, you are Sisyphus.
Keep things simple. An aquarium should be easy to handle and to keep running. There may be times in life where you will be only able to feed and change the water and nothing more. And sometimes you may even have to transfer these tasks to somebody else for a while. So keep things simple.
I learned to never consider yourself an expert, there's too many fish and too many variables to ever be knowledgeable about all of them. As such always be open to learning and humble enough to acknowledge when you made a mistake or when you need to ask for help.
Water Chemistry, tank size, aggression, disease and fish size are large parts of the equation but they're not the only parts.
Water Chemistry, tank size, aggression, disease and fish size are large parts of the equation but they're not the only parts.
I've learned that research is critical. Makes keeping fish less challenging.
Don’t get comfortable doing the absolute minimum. Especially when it comes to things like tank size or your maintenance schedule. I know I’ve been guilty of this early on. This could probably be applied to more things but these are the biggest I can think of.
NEVER RELY ON STORE EMPLOYEE ADVICE.
ALWAYS. And I mean ALWAYS do your own research FIRST. And not just take a quick look at one site out of thousands that tells you what you want to hear/read. Check many reliable sources and take away the general "average" of the info. If 12 sites say you can't keep a midas cichlid in a 30 gallon tank but 1 obscure site says yes you can - don't be a dolt.
Always put the best interests of your fish - living creatures who don't deserve to be abused - ahead of your wants. Obviously we all have more to learn no matter how long you've been doing this, and mistakes are bound to happen now and then, but make it the exception rather than the rule in your hobby.
ALWAYS. And I mean ALWAYS do your own research FIRST. And not just take a quick look at one site out of thousands that tells you what you want to hear/read. Check many reliable sources and take away the general "average" of the info. If 12 sites say you can't keep a midas cichlid in a 30 gallon tank but 1 obscure site says yes you can - don't be a dolt.
Always put the best interests of your fish - living creatures who don't deserve to be abused - ahead of your wants. Obviously we all have more to learn no matter how long you've been doing this, and mistakes are bound to happen now and then, but make it the exception rather than the rule in your hobby.