Love Hate Relationship

Sometimes I feel that way too

A long time ago I gave up the hobby for a while - I had read lots of books and was, TMK, doing everything right. Problem was, my fish were all dying. Eventually I got fed up with losing fish and returned the last few to my LFS and just cleaned out the tank and put it away.

One day the bug bit me again and I wanted my tank up and running. I set it up, cycled it, bought two baby oscars (I know, I know - I wouldn't do it now, I was pretty young and silly then) and thought everything was great.
A year later I came home to one oscar swimming around in the tank, and one dead on the floor. I was heartbroken. I hadn't realized that my 45g tank wasn't big enough for two 5" oscars, and lost one through my own ignorance. So I almost gave up again. Instead, I decided that I'd treat the remaining oscar like a pet and do my darndest to keep him happy. He lived for a long time (we had him for years), but eventually he contracted a disease (I believe from the research I've done since he died that he had TB, but I'm still not sure) that I just couldn't cure. I had to euthanize him, and I cried and cried, and thought 'why did I ever get into this hobby?'

I tore the tank apart, sterilized everything, and started from scratch. This time I bought many small fish, not wanting to become attached to one large 'pet' fish again. Everything was fabulous until the blackout last year - we were without power for 88 hours. I lost many of my fish (neon tetras and harlequin rasboras) during and right after the blackout, to an outbreak of NTD. Once again, I questioned myself. I considered shutting the tank down again; seeing so many fish die and being powerless to prevent it felt terrible.

I still have tanks full of little, brightly coloured fish (no more 'pet' fish for me), and I still lose a fish on occasion.

I'll probably always have a tank. Yes, there are days I wonder why I started and if it's all worth it, but even though the hobby can have some negative aspects, in the end (at least for me), the good stuff far outweighs the bad.

The day I resent having to do maintenance on my tanks is the day I remove every last one of them. This goes for any hobby of mine. I like to keep life simple.

I just love my fish and do not consider maintenance a chore but part of the experience and fun of fishkeeping.

Just my two cents worth

I enjoy maintenance on my tanks--it's a low stress, relaxation thing for me. I don't spend more than an hour or two on any of it (around 400 gallons of tanks), so it's no more work than caring for my dogs, and much less than caring for horses. Heck, sometimes after a really bad day at work, I go home and do some extra water changes, just to cool off and feel better. Better for the fish, better for me.

When things are going wrong, I'm stressed because I don't want my fish to suffer, but I also treat it as a chance to learn more.

I just got into the hobby and am learning fast. My first partial water change I couldn't get the gravel cleaner to work and then it started an I was happily cleaning away and thinking..wow...this is easy. I looked down and noticed the end was not in the bucket and water was spewing all over!!!! I thought, what have I gotten myself into! But now I know how to do it right and its easy and it make me happy to see all the clean substrate and happy fishes.
My daughter asked me if I added new plants and I said nope I think they're just growing. Its getting nicer and nicer each day. I think you shouldn't buy all your fish at once either, cause then you can look around and choose more. And research them a bit, to learn more, and it gives you something to keep looking forward to in planning. :troll:

I don't mind it at all- I spend maybe fifteen minutes a week on two water changes. My new 25 gallon SeaClear is coming today, and I've been looking forward to it since I got my first betta.

Sure there's frustrations- I lost an entire tank of tetras to Neon Tetra Disease [the ones at the LFS had it too shortly after], and had to stand by and watch them suffer, knowing there was very little I could do. That was difficult, but I get so much enjoyment from this, it can't even compare. I'd be so burnt out from stress if I didn't have my paradise fish. It'll be a late night of work, and I'll look over and they're both in the corner of the tank staring at me with their little googly fish eyes, and I can't help but laugh.

The giddy excitement of the cycle... Planning a tank for months... Working hard to scrape up the cash... Then it all comes together- and you have your tank.

I dont think I have ever regretted it. I do get very panicky when I see the slightest difference in a fish, like a mark I didnt think was there before and I worry that my whole tank is going to go down with something, so the temp goes up immediatly and the salt comes out! (even if its nothing) Im just a worryer! I hate losing a fish ever, and every day when I get home from work the first thing I do is check my tanks are okay. Dont know why I do this I have never even really had any problems!

great topic!
I've kept tanks off and on for years and as weird as this sounds I would feel too guilty when a fish would die. Since I've educated myself as much as possible with my last purchase(120 gallon) I've realized though I am doing everything I can to give the fish what they need to thrive, they will die.
As far as maintenance, I love how active the fish get after a water change,they seem so happy I look forward to it.


Shar

Drakerizzo said:

I just love my fish and do not consider maintenance a chore but part of the experience and fun of fishkeeping.

Just my two cents worth

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Just to be clear, I think there is a difference between a chore and a hassle. I have never resented my chores, but yes - I do see this as a chore. Most hobbies are chores. Heck, life is a chore!