Newbies ask yourself this Question before Starting the Hobby

tornangel012

tornangel012

Melancholy Dreamer
Feb 12, 2005
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I just want to Address Newbies starting the Hobby to think hard about how they view it. Is it even a Hobby? I personally think it is not.

In regards to that the Real question that needs to be asked is are you a Fish Collector or Fish Keeper?

What is the difference?
To be a Fish collector is no different then being a Card collecter or any other type of collector. You are getting fish that you think are PRETTY and will look GOOD as a sort of Decoration or addition to your life. Doing all the basic to care for them but yet they are still just a part of the collections.

To be a fish Keeper is to CARE for the fish, you name them, you love them, you tenderly feed the sick with your own tweezers. Mostly it's to make WISE decisions based on research and questions for the better of ALL your fish not just the pretty ones or your favorite. Fish keeping is far more difficult then collecting because flushing is the LAST resort. Also keepers never just throw in the towel they keep trying for the love of the fish.

So please when you post keep in mind many of us here are fish keepers and don't view them as disposable displays or a HEY I gave it a shot type of deal like Pokemon (just an example). We ask all those questions in regards to water parameters, tank sizes, tank mates, filteration, etc because we really CARE about the enviroment that our lil pets live in. Fish are no different then Cats and dogs they have personalities of their own and can be just as fickle eaters.
 
the only thing is, the 'preaching to the choir' phenomenon: people who are new won't read this until after they have an overstocked uncycled tank in an ammonia spike. Very good points, not to be a downer, but the people who research their first tank in depth are definitely a minority.
 
There's already a sticky on this, so more repetition?

Telling people what to do is a royal waste of time.
Whether due to ignorance, stupidity, or they just don't want to listen to you...maybe you'll change some people's minds, maybe you won't.
I wouldn't hold my breath.

From http://www.dictionary.com/

hob·by1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hb)
n. pl. hob·bies
An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

By that definition, collecting / keeping aquarium fish IS a "hobby".
I don't think it's a question of being a hobby...I think you should question yourself as being a "fanatical" hobbist?
 
Are you saying that you can't be both?

I collect certain species of fish because i am fascinated by how they are. I also try take darn good care of them at the same time.

But, i don't name them, i don't love them, i will hospitalize and treat for illness when necessary.

For the fish i keep, i view them more as captives for my viewing pleasure. I do provide for them (good diet, relatively large tank, clean water, medication if needed), but i also don't give them the "perfect" environment. I have modified a few things that are quite unnatural to them, but have made things much easier for me
 
spartan said:
Are you saying that you can't be both?

I collect certain species of fish because i am fascinated by how they are. I also try take darn good care of them at the same time.

But, i don't name them, i don't love them, i will hospitalize and treat for illness when necessary.
Click to expand...

:bowing:


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