Why do people buy fish without knowing enough about them?
- Thread starter AllFishAdrian
- Start date
I think part of the problem is, everyone knows dogs, cats, birds, etc. I mean, a Great Dane is big, eats a lot, etc. A Husky sheds a lot. Chihuahuas are small. Cats have long hair or short hair. They use a litter box. I mean, most people have at least an idea what's going to go on with a dog or cat.
Fish though...I doubt many "non fish keepers" have ever even seen a mature Pacu, Gar or even a fully grown Oscar. Most every single fish they have ever seen has been in Petsmart or Wal Mart. They do look cute! And run what? $3 to $5 average? Everything the non fish keeper knows about fish is they are small, pretty, cheap...and living inside a 24" X 20" X 12" box, they can't be hard to take care of, right?
A nice looking 20 gallon tank with filter and light isn't priced bad either, $50? (they don't tell you that you need a $40 heater). So I can see people getting excited that for $100 or less, they can walk out of the store with a shiny new tank, some pretty colored plants, flake food, dechlorinator, ammonia reducer, some multi-colored gravel...and 6 bags of 1" long fish that together are nearly every color of the rainbow!
It would be cool if the tank suppliers had a pamphlet on the box that at least had the basics. Briefly explain water changes, capacity, fish size, etc.
Anyway, that's my thoughts. Doubtful those 6 bags of fish made it long...
Fish though...I doubt many "non fish keepers" have ever even seen a mature Pacu, Gar or even a fully grown Oscar. Most every single fish they have ever seen has been in Petsmart or Wal Mart. They do look cute! And run what? $3 to $5 average? Everything the non fish keeper knows about fish is they are small, pretty, cheap...and living inside a 24" X 20" X 12" box, they can't be hard to take care of, right?
A nice looking 20 gallon tank with filter and light isn't priced bad either, $50? (they don't tell you that you need a $40 heater). So I can see people getting excited that for $100 or less, they can walk out of the store with a shiny new tank, some pretty colored plants, flake food, dechlorinator, ammonia reducer, some multi-colored gravel...and 6 bags of 1" long fish that together are nearly every color of the rainbow!
It would be cool if the tank suppliers had a pamphlet on the box that at least had the basics. Briefly explain water changes, capacity, fish size, etc.
Anyway, that's my thoughts. Doubtful those 6 bags of fish made it long...
The biggest problem (other than potential size of fish, obviously) is the grasp of the cycling process, and just what bad water quality does to fish. On EVERY forum I am a member of, there are dozens of threads saying "my fish is sick, whut I done Rong?!"
But when asked how long the tank has been set up, how big the tank is, and how often they change the water you see the problems right there. They end up having to not only cycle their tank, but also treat the animal for whatever secondary bacterial/protazoan infection due to stress from toxic water.
But when asked how long the tank has been set up, how big the tank is, and how often they change the water you see the problems right there. They end up having to not only cycle their tank, but also treat the animal for whatever secondary bacterial/protazoan infection due to stress from toxic water.
Yeah, it's everyone's fault, mine too. I like my LFS, but when one of the guys who works there told me I could mix african chiclids with my angels, in my 29. A few months ago another guy told me that fresh water tanks don't need to be cycled. How all their fish stay healthy I have no idea, but they almost always look good, even the discus that have lived there as long as I've shopped there.
Fifteen or so years ago when I knew less than nothing I bought a oscar for a 10g too. This month I gave some really stupid advice on goldfish.
It would be nice if the stupidity went away and I'm slowly and painfully working on my own (in fits and starts), but we are humans.
Fifteen or so years ago when I knew less than nothing I bought a oscar for a 10g too. This month I gave some really stupid advice on goldfish.
It would be nice if the stupidity went away and I'm slowly and painfully working on my own (in fits and starts), but we are humans.
