Your thoughts on the causes of Multiple Tank Syndrome (MTS)

[FISHSHROD]

So for you it was/is purely aesthetic?

Not exactly ( I spelled syndrome worng by the way) I have kept fish tanks off and on since around 1960. I enjoy the setup part , to imagine what I could create, I created an amazing 120 gal built into the wall hard coral reef that was an enormous project and then after several years completely dismatled it . I guess a good part of it was "CREATE", the fun part of my day (pbs)
I enjoy my one tank at home now and do my weekly maint on Sundays along with my weekend chores . I also enjoy the one tank more when I can watch it at the end of the night as I'm watching tv (in between the commercials) . I also have controlled myself to not rearrange this latest scape for a good many months :hypnotized:

Also to mention, there are many different Multiple Syndromes.

I gotta go , time to watch LIE TOE ME:topic:

My boss has MBS (Multiple BOAT Syndrome) He works on his boats and boat stuff constantly . He has 5 boats.:hypnotized:

He also has MGS (Multiple GUITAR Syndrome) and guitar stuff. I lost count on that stuff :hypnotized:

 

[petluvr]

For me to be honest I wonder if it isn't some type of a creator complex as well. I very much enjoy creating "new" ecosystems for my fish to live in. Sort of like creating a whole new world.

 

[stephcps]

For me it has several elements. At first it was "all these different kinds of fish" and they are all so pretty and neat. Then I discovered the plant aspect of the hobby. Then I got Discus and it became exteremly challenging (and frustrating!!). Now, however, I find the creating aspect very appealing. I think my new tanks out very carefully. I also have a very stressful job and work a lot of hours most weeks. I definitely find it soothing and therapeutic. Both to watch and observe, as well as to care for. I find when I am cleaning tanks and doing water chnages I am all consumed which helps to shut down that stressed out side of my brain and helps me to relax.

So, I guess it is threefold for me...creative, interesting and relaxing.

 

[platytudes]

I'm not sure what it was for me but one reason that I had MTS was for decoration. I wanted to have tanks spread all through the condo so there was light , fish, and plant life all around. 2 tanks bedroom , 2 -3 tanks kitchen, 1 tank foyer, and 1 in the living room. Also I have the need for one at work in the office.
I need to keep busy on my time off from work and this hobby of MTS kept me going for most of my weekends. Alot of you also noticed that I had the need to always change my setups alot.
Well here is the thing, I have controlled my MTS and am down to just 2 tanks now, 1 at home and 1 at work .
I am using house plants in place of the fish tanks now so it's MPS (multiple plant sindrome) .

This is the biggest one for me as well :thumbsup: For me, aquariums are like living art...I love coming home to a house with not a single extra light on, but it's well lit with the soft light from 8 glowing fish tanks!

As some have said, fish are a different sort of "pet" - except for my two black moors, the only fish I have actually named. They are probably the only fish that would devastate me if they died.

I can't keep a tank looking purely functional for very long. I could never do a bare bottom tank - except maybe as a hospital tank (and even then, I would want to add a ceramic pot, and some plants for comfort). If I add on a huge heater or filter temporarily, I look forward to when it is removed. I could never have a tank permanently set up with a breeder net, egg crate divider or anything like that. If I couldn't hide a sponge filter, I wouldn't use it.

Mostly, I want my aquariums to be as attractive as possible, and the fish are a complement to the aquascape I want to make, not the other way around.

In that way, keeping aquariums is a lot like gardening to me...especially container gardening, where a lot of emphasis is on the pot you choose. Almost as much as the plant(s) in it! Keeping ponds seems more like regular gardening to me. More rewarding in a way, but also more work in a way, and it requires you to be outside a lot - and much of the time, the hot FL weather makes me want to be inside in the AC, enjoying the aquaria

 

[user_name]

fish have always been a way for me to vent and calm down after a long day. (I'm pretty easily agitated due to a lot of RL stuff going on right now) The other reason, is because its something intellectual for me to do. I really like hobbys where I create something, like scratchbuilding or creating maps in games like halo and roller coaster tycoon. I need a way to express my creativity, and my mind has issues with doing the same thing day in day out.

Fish are one of my current hobbies because I love animals, and fish are my exception to the NO PETS rule. To be honest, my Dojo(try to take him Wildlife department), Trotsky my old JD (RIP) and Durant my honey gourami (RIP) were like any other intelligent pet I've ever cared for. I didn't get as much interaction as I used to with my old mouse, but they still act like normal pets.

As for MTS, the need for quantity (but not quality) in most of my hobbys is apparent. Rather then fix something broken, I would rather move on and not worry.

 

[Fishfriend1]

Fish are just too cool to resist. Once you get 1 fish, your hooked for all eternity.

 

[platytudes]

So it looks like we've established the following...

The desire to keep multiple aquariums stems from 5 things (in no particular order)

1. The desire to keep multiple species, which are not compatible.
2. An extension of the basic hobby - breeding, growout, QT tanks.
3. Aesthetics (wanting every room in the house to have an aquarium, etc.)
4. For therapeutic reasons - as a creative outlet, for relaxation purposes.
5. Rescue, rehab of fish that have been neglected or abused.

What am I missing?

Anyone have any other reasons that do not fall into these five caterogies?

 

[Fishfriend1]

So it looks like we've established the following...

The desire to keep multiple aquariums stems from 5 things (in no particular order)

1. The desire to keep multiple species, which are not compatible.
2. An extension of the basic hobby - breeding, growout, QT tanks.
3. Aesthetics (wanting every room in the house to have an aquarium, etc.)
4. For therapeutic reasons - as a creative outlet, for relaxation purposes.
5. Rescue, rehab of fish that have been neglected or abused.

What am I missing?

Anyone have any other reasons that do not fall into these five caterogies?

You get hooked. XD Other then that, i think you got everything.

 

[coach_z]

It is this website. Seriously.

This site brings us to view and hear about hundreds of other peoples tanks. We then want more and more. Before I was a member here all I ever had and wanted was one tank....after about 3 months here that all changed very drastically.

 

[wesleydnunder]

So it looks like we've established the following...

The desire to keep multiple aquariums stems from 5 things (in no particular order)

1. The desire to keep multiple species, which are not compatible.
2. An extension of the basic hobby - breeding, growout, QT tanks.
3. Aesthetics (wanting every room in the house to have an aquarium, etc.)
4. For therapeutic reasons - as a creative outlet, for relaxation purposes.
5. Rescue, rehab of fish that have been neglected or abused.

What am I missing?



Anyone have any other reasons that do not fall into these five caterogies?

Pretty much sums it up for me. I got my first fish in 1968 and have kept tanks ever since. I've had as many as 40 when I was breeding and selling angels and have had as few as 1 when I was in the Navy.

Mark