Any one else out there like me driving their partner crazy

B

Boddington

AC Members
Feb 22, 2005
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Im mad MAD MAD on FISHTANKS!!

I have 1 150 tropical tank and a small 21 coldwater tank and a 150 pond
outside my front door ( which took me 8 hours to dig )

I think im going mad - all i can think about is fish!! Im constantly checking the water para. inside and out - cleaning watching feeding - spending money on tank upgrades - fish - selling fish buying more fish - food plants rocks
everything.

I go to the zoo and check out their aquariums and stop off on the way home and purchase plants etc and re decorate my whole tanks

Apparantly for the last 2 years fish is all i talk about!!

ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE LIKE ME?

In all otherways im normal I have a job and a life but I cannot stop fiddling with my tanks and worrying that their happy and surfing the net am I a freak?
 
Yes. you are a freak. But hey, the good news is so are most of the rest of us around here. I got my wife talked into a 125 gallon. When she asked what I was going to do with the 29 gallon when I got the new one she seemed rather put out when I said, "Just move it so I can put the 125 where it is now." :D I won't rest until every wall of the house is glass and has fish in it!
 
Sounds like the average fish keeper to me. Lately, I've been thinking about my fish while I'm at work. On the way home from work, I think about stuff to buy to try this or that. I might even just browse the LFS or local chain to unwind on the way home. When I get home, I feed the fish, check out everything, watch 'em, watch 'em, watch 'em. Fiddle with this, that... on and on. When I get everything just the way I want, I say.. ok, that's it. No more spending money on fish, plants, gadgets, etc. Pretty soon, I'm thinking... hmmm I could trade in some swordtails for some plants... and on and on. :D Then there's getting on Aquaria Central everyday. It's the same for me as reading the newspaper is for other people.
 
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Then has anyone broken the cycle

My partner says that he does not want to hear anything about fish again ever!!

Its that bad.... now if I have news in regards to the tank I have to wait till hes done something stupid so I can say - well since you did that you have to hear about.......... (Place something that happened that I saw the fish do here)

I think that I need to break the cycle its like an obsession now - I still want my tanks and enjoy looking at them and watching my little world and subjects carry out their daily meanderings but I need to also break away a little.

Anyone got any ideas? I think I seriously need help my partners very supportive and always buys me an upgraded fish tank for my birthdays BUT I think after finding out I do nothing but talk about fish for the past 2 years I have a problem.

Any Ideas would be good - but Im not willing to get rid of the fishtanks

I even had to take a different route home from work at night so i dont pass the LFS because I ALWAYS stop in and all the staff no my name!! I find that embarrassing and degrading.
 
Nah. I'd say you're a normal aquarist. Notice I added the qualifier of "aquarist" on there. Otherwise, you are not normal.

I think most of us have been there or are there. Its got a name. MTS. Multiple Tank Syndrome. It is a disease that affects the money-spending portion of the brain, as well as causing damage to the lobe that deals with enjoying time to do absolutely nothing.

Right now, I've started cutting back on tanks....and I've still got a 125g, 55g, 29g, 4 X 10g, 4X 5g, 2 X 2.5g. And I STILL want more. The fiance started getting grumpy when the kitchen had 3 5g on the counters, I've since removed those and now he doens't complain about any of it. In fact, he was more excited about the 125 than me!

EDIT: As for ways to cut back, if your fish are compatible, you can trade in all your little tanks for one big tank. It turns out to be less maintenance, ultimately takes up less space, and is easier to focus on and enjoy.
 
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chuckle. I guess you'd have to find something else to obsess about. Be glad it's something healthy. :) Relax and enjoy it while it lasts and while you can.
 
I, too, am a fish nut. I love watching them and talking about them. I must drive my boyfriend crazy because I talk about my fish so much. I am also on this forum in any free time I have. Even if it isn't really free time. Like now, I should be doing a take home test and working on a term paper... Well, I am... in between posts here... It is an addiction and an obsession. But I'd rather be addicted to this than other more dangerous things out there.
 
Oh, you're serious? Umm, maybe ask a professional Psychologist or Psychiatrist instead of some geeks on a fish board?
 
You know though, there are a lot of things that are much worse than being in love with aquariums. They teach biology and chemistry, and life cycles, and disease management, and plants and photosynthesis. They are soothing, aesthetically appealing (well, most are) and can be used like meditation. Some people seriously find it relaxing to do maintenance.

If, however, it majorly and massively begins to interfere with normal daily activities (ie you'd rather watch your fish than go out to dinner with a friend or family member) then by all means look into that. It very well may be something like obsession.
 
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