Seeing as how I am a Psychology major earning my Doctoral degree I am interested in everyone's thoughts on the causes of what we as fish keepers have coined MTS (multiple tank syndrome). So let's hear it AC what causes MTS?
Your thoughts on the causes of Multiple Tank Syndrome (MTS)
- Thread starter petluvr
- Start date
The inability to control one's impulses.
No self-discipline.
No self-control.
...glad I don't have this problem... I only have 7 tanks. I can quit whenever I want to.
Mark
No self-discipline.
No self-control.
...glad I don't have this problem... I only have 7 tanks. I can quit whenever I want to.
Mark
Same here, I don't tend to do things half-assed. I've tried to get more balance in my life. When it was a particular sports season that was pretty much all I would do. When I had horses I was at the barn in all my spare time. Same thing with dog agility (resulted in a well trained dog though). Problem is you hit burnout. I hit it with the fish every now and then, and I'll downsize. It always reverts and I end up with more tanks than previously.
I also think that the more you learn about fish the more species you want to try and keep. Since many fish are not compatible you need more tanks. Before you know it you have a ton of tanks set up.
Sometimes having someone that enables one to not exhibit control can be a factor.
No self discipline or self control is more of a manic disorder and usually resonates itself in all aspects of life not simply one specific area. I have wondered if it isn't the wide variety of species but that isn't necessarily the case as there are many different species of dogs, cats, birds, etc.
I've always wanted mts but I have parents who stop me at 2.5 tanks. I wish I could have a bunch of 40 breeders to stock up.
For me, I look at fish differently than dogs or cats. They're not really pets in the sense that I have no problem taking fish to auction, rehoming them, or trading them in to the LFS if they're not working out. I could never do that with my dog or cat. Now I do have some fish I'm more attached to, but I would never think of them like my dog or cat. I will always properly care for them and never want to see a fish kept improperly, and abuse of them really bothers me, so don't take that as I don't care for my fish because I do. It's just different for me than my other animals.
I am sure you care for your fish no doubt there. My question is what causes fish keepers to want to continually increase the amount of tanks they have to the point that some people have 50 or more tanks? I personally have ten, not to mention the reptile and rodent tanks, and wonder on a daily basis how to rearrange furnishings to accommodate more tanks.
