Whats so good about common fish?

I don't see the point of this thread.

Can't people get the fish that THEY want to enjoy? I haven't kept neon tetras in over a DECADE, but I recently bought a dozen of them to add color to my tank. does that make my tank generic or common? no. does it make my other tanks special because I have monos, archers, puffers, gobies or bichirs? NO. I setup tanks that give me pleasure and keeps my fish happy/healthy.

and I will also wear clothes from k-mart. they are all made of a poly cotton blend after all... but I don't keep the tags on my nikes either... :rolleyes:

since when does more expensive = better? that is basically what all of your examples comes down to.
 
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Common fish have their place in home aquariums. Remember not everybody can even keep fish alive long at home. To have a tank with healthy looking fish no matter how common they are can be a beautiful natural site in the home. Some people may not be able to afford the more expensive, rarer type fish too. Also as someone mentioned many of the common fish are easier to care for, easier to aquire which is an advantage to many people. Some are in a position where they can spend more and may have more tallent in caring for fish and can buy the rarer and more expensive fish. Good for you.

To me the most important thing to achieve with an aquarium would be to have very healthy looking big specimens of whatever species you want to take care of in an environment where the mix of fish get along to a reaonable degree and to have a nice natural looking aquarium. People like different types of fish of different sizes. For an example take the cardinal tetra. For me this fish is pretty but I am not into small fish. I once visited someone with 3 cardinal tetras in a ten gallon tank and they looked so big and healthy that I was quite impressed with this aquarium. I had not seen healthier cardinals ever so he was giving them the perfect environment. His talent was impressive and exciting.
 
Originally posted by JamisonBWolsh
This is my Opinion. Is it Fact, no. There is nothing wrong with common fish at all. They can be very colorfull and have a nice attitude as well. My point is this. Once you understand the ideas behind fishkeeping, wouldnt you want to house more expensive, harder to keep fish? On top of that, wouldnt you want people who view your aquarium not even know the fish you have and say "wow, I never seen those fish before"? I would.
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it's the simple fact that, 'common' fish are the easiest to care for, are a good starter fish, and the fact that people can buy them at wal - mart. It takes a while to learn everything you need to know before going out and adding a $60.00 Discus in a 10 gallon... Some people don't know any better. if it were up to me, food stores would not sell fish... Especially Oscars...

Many people like common fish, and thats it, because you have to be entirely dedicated to your tank to have 'hard to find' fish...

Plus, it's the fact of money... People today are cheap, and want what they can get for less than a dollar... that's just the way it is bud... :rolleyes:
 
To be common or not to be common...

In a way i can see what your saying. I'll just pick on the goldfish part.
I have a plain ol (6-7in) goldfish named Aoi in a 20gal with a gorgeous (5-6in) Sarasa comet (red, white). Personally, they have more personality than any other fish i've met. Yeah of course you can get them just about anywhere, but the fish i have are real treats to have. I intend on moving Aoi into a larger tank and getting some weather loaches and other oddball fish. Unlike most people, i tend to pick out the real oddballs or the one's other people don't have. I myself don't see anything wrong with neon tetras, but i like a challenge and something that sticks out. Now newbies, i say go get em cuz they are easy to take care of and give you a peek into the fish world. When your ready, bite off a bigger piece, or further explore the fish you already have like trying to breed them. Or in betta sense, try developing ur own strain.
Personally i agree with most of what you are saying except when it comes to (most) goldfish. Sorry i sometimes don't make sense.:D
 
different people perfer different fish. That is a hands down statement, theres not much you can put at that to make it change. Realize it, and Deal with it instead of starting these threads that are begging for a flame war.

Just my .02
 
It sounds like people don't make enough fuss over your rare fish and it pisses you off ;) Just kidding. But I noticed you flipped out a bit when somebody mentioned your albino tinfoils were available at Walmart. Wouldn't you still love them if it's true?

Whether something is common or rare may be your primary criteria, but you're confused if you think everyone uses the same criteria. Common or rare may not enter into it for a lot of people.

I'm one of those simple-minded people who gets a fish because:

I think it's beautiful/interesting/has personality.
It suits the kind of tank I want.
It stays a manageable size.
I can afford it.
I fall in love with its little fish eyes!
It matches the drapes ;)

Rare fish don't have any edge over common fish for people like me. I almost thought this post was a troll. Well, maybe it is... :)
 
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No troll Here. Just wanted to know why people spent their time buying "common" fish. Most of my fish are hard to get fish including those Albino tinfoils. I did not buy the reg tinfoils because of that reason. When people see my tanks, I want them to say "Wow, thats an amazing tank! Fish i never seen before". Yes, you can have a nice tank with common fish. But will that person tell their friends about it? Doubtfull. Would they tell their friends if they saw something they never seen before and it trully amazed them? Most likely. Would IT inspire them? Yes.
Would the common fish inspire them? NO WAY!
 
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I like neons:)
Besides, if everyone got the "hard to get", unique fish, wouldnt that make them "common"?...hmmm
 
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Well, as an old fogey who has been keeping fish significantly longer than most folk on this board have been alive, and who has had multiple tanks for most of the period, the question is valid but the answers may not be those wanted by the original poster.

This is not a race to see who can get the coolest or newest or most expensive. If you want to play those games, then clothes, cars, houses, golf clubs, and art are the areas you might find more challenging.

These are pets and creatures which are in themselves interesting and which may be beautiful. Yes, I do tend to have several tanks of oldballs, some quite expensive vis-a-vis "common" LFS fish, other not at all. But I have them because they interest me - they may be a species of a genus or fanily I like but have never seen before, or just a fish that has that have proven their worth for years. One of those tanks is the one I see when I glance up from this computer. It is only a 29, heavily landscaped entirely with species of the genus Anubias, and the fish are a school of green-eyed Rasboras. Just a single school of small small fish, gliding around the tank. Not expensive(although the plants would be), not rare, just mind-blowingly beautiful and serene. Similarly the only tank in the living room is a 65 witha school of Rasbora heteromorpha, well landscaped to show off these beauties - which are both common and inexpensive, but I'd bet this tank is better looking and more impressive than 99% of the tanks of the folk on this forum. It is also well-maintained, healthy, and an asset in my life . This is not about rarity, or expense - it is about quality, and health, and interest, and than rarely seen word, beauty.

All JME, & JMHO
 
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