another atrosity of a tank

[kyle3]

So i can't get this off my mind- so i'm going to have story telling time with you guys:

this weekend i went to a friend of a friend's house

guess what was in the living room

a 55g, 1 ft of the floor (dog having a sip - no hood)

it contained 2 5" common goldfish, 2 4" ancistrus, 2 salt n' pepper corys, 2 ADF's, 3 neons, 2 zebra danios

he told me he adds a gallon of water a day and never takes water out!

it's been set up for 3 months he just got the algae undercontrol he said-

there was nothing in the tank except a few rocks on the bottom and a tall vase with an airline running in it.(heater and filter but the temp was only 70- good for some bad for others)

I started- but i couldn't begin to tell him everything that was wrong with his tank and he didn't seem to have any interest in improving it- another person in the room said who cares a fish is a fish and he nodded like "yeah, what gives?"

i feel so bad because i know those fish are going to dye of OTS after eeking out an aweful existence

and there's nothing i can do

he is otherwise a nice and thoughtful person from what i can tell- he just doesn't think of fish as anything but decoration i guess

:(

[Holly9937]

Just went to my brothers this weekend, 75g tank, 2 pretty large common plecos, 2 id sharks, 2 rainbow and one red tail shark, 3 random tetras and a gourami :sad: :eek: :mad: He is of the opinion that since hes had them for so long all is fine :cool: . But I do have to admit, I spent quite a bit of time watching the sharks and there was very little aggression, but I'm sure that is an exception to the rule

[graphicdesign_r]

I doubt OTS will kill them, what with the dog drinking water from the tank and it needing constant refills. The oversized water dish usage effects small water changes daily.

I would worry more about temperature.

As for trying to instill a sense of responsibility into an irresponsible owner, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink...

Maybe you could tell him the water is bad for his dog, but then OTS would be an issue... it's a no win situation.

[kyle3]

i think the evaporation concentration will still out way the few ounces the the dog laps up the nitrates are probably sky high already with the 2 goldies in there.

[Lauren]

A friend had a tank that was probably 55 gallons which about 10 goldfish in it, each were at least 5 inches long, probably more like 7. There was no room for them to swim. The tank had no lid on it, a filter that wasn't large enough for the tank, and just some gravel at the bottom. I'm sure they just topped off. I told him that they really had too many fish in the tank and he shrugged saying, "we're just waiting for them all to die so we can get something better" :thud:

[lucas68]

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink...
Yea, but the dog doesn't have a problem finding a drink. :OT:

[Dangerdoll]

seems for every 5 people I try to educate (i.e. cycling, false inch per gallon rule, stunting), 2 people hear me out while one really reacts with water changes, upsizing tanks etc. and listens.... at least that's how it's been with the last 5 people I've spoken to about it all...

[nursie]

I agree, Doll...there are all kinds of people around that won't listen.
Same about stocking their tanks too. Why come for "help" if you aren't going to listen??

[joephys]

I don't even bother trying to educate people that I don't know unless they ask for help. It's a shame that people are like that, it makes responsible fish keepers look bad.

[125gJoe]

.. ..., you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink... ...Now it's more like, "you can lead a dog to an aquarium on the floor, and it will drink!"

:D


_________________

[graphicdesign_r]

Or you could just leave the lid open on the toilet and he'll drink from that.

You've gotta love the crossover theme. :laugh:

[Roan Art]

seems for every 5 people I try to educate (i.e. cycling, false inch per gallon rule, stunting), 2 people hear me out while one really reacts with water changes, upsizing tanks etc. and listens.... at least that's how it's been with the last 5 people I've spoken to about it all...
True, DD, but it's that *one* person who does listen that makes a difference and worthwhile to try, isn't it?

IMO 2 out of 5 is a darn good ratio. You must have a golden touch with persuasion :)

Roan

[Dangerdoll]

True, DD, but it's that *one* person who does listen that makes a difference and worthwhile to try, isn't it?

ummm.... I think it depends on the day and the person, Roan.... :) can you believe I can be grouchy sometimes? :D


IMO 2 out of 5 is a darn good ratio. You must have a golden touch with persuasion :)

Roan
hehehe.... again, depends on who it is ;) hehehe

[Emg]

How about.....instead of trying to tell him everything that's WRONG with the tank......you can say.........

"Hey....COOL Tank ! Whatcha got in there ? Wow, hey I love aquariums, they're sooo interesting. I have a few at home that I toy around with.....you know......those goldfish look a little out of place......you sure you want to keep them in there ? They really don't go well with those neons...hhmm.......HEY, I have some great ideas for this tank.....mind if I share ?"

[hurricanejedi]

I'd be more worried about what lives in that dogs mouth that is transfered to the water... Bacteria galore.

[kyle3]

eng that's about how i went about it

but after i got thru the first few "most vital in my mind" conversational comments no one else wanted to talk about fish anymore-

they were looking at me like r-i-g-h-t the freak like fish a little too much

What can i say. . .i do like a da fish

but i'm not socially inept- i know the line where you're alienating someone, that point past which your good advise will fall on deaf ears.

[Emg]

Lol Kyle, nice try......I know how you feel when folks start looking at you funny when talking about your fish. I've learned to curb my enthusiasm when I'm anywhere near a tank outside my own home. It's pretty sad really.... :rolleyes: