CathyG
Fishaholic
Come on, we have all been there! ā Share your experiences!
We were all new to fish-keeping once, and unless we are arrogant (or ancient in the trade) we can all still learn something daily! For many people on this board, we did not have the luxury of the internet as a resource when we started out. We often relied on old smelly library books, or poor and uneducated advice from our LFS regarding stocking levels, and compatibility...and that was if we had the half ounce of knowledge to wonder that it mattered! We were often advised to do little more than treat water for chlorine and heat it, throw the fish in, and then a bit of flake. Some have learned by their experiences over the years, many gave up, and continue to do so, because tragedy hits and there is a lack of reading material/advice, and sometimes a will to learn and grow. Some later return, because the passion is still there ā but, now, so are the resources!
Many get into the hobby independently (or even accidentally!) but then find themselves in a situation needing guidance, so *then* they do their researchā¦Whatever brought you to the hobby, caused you to leave, brought you back, caused you to seek advice etc etc, there are often common denominators ā hence such supportive communities as this one! If we all popped fish into a tank, and they loved each other, bred if we wanted them to, and cleaned up after themselves ā none of us would be here except to post pretty photos and sell fry!
Accidents are just that, they do not always involve a lack of knowledge! We have all encountered, to some degree, a failed filter or heater at some point. Troubled over rising PH levels (or falling PH levels) coped with a cracked or leaking tank, introduced a fish without the luxury of quarantine (and hoped). Encountered a sudden Ammonia spike from a previously stable tank. Did we forget to turn the heater back on after a water change? Forget to treat the water for chemicals? Overfeed, or underfeed? Or even feed the wrong food types for our fantastically varied communities?
Mistakes? Well we are human. Did we not research the adult size of our new baby? Aggression levels? Compatibility? Environmental and social requirements?
Close calls ā did you realise an error or accident in time and save your tank? As a more experienced fish-keeper, do you ever look back on an incident or a period of time whilst you were still learning (or since!!) and wonder how you got away with it?
Tragediesā¦speaks for itself. We have all lost fish, usually from one of the above causing stress or disease, sometimes for no apparent reason (mystery fish death). I donāt particularly like that phrase (mysterious fish death) but how many have lost a fish, and been unable to account for the reason? I am now talking of established fish in an established tankā¦no new additions, no obvious signs of disease, old age not being consideredā¦hardware and general tank maintenance meeting demandsā¦
My main reason for starting this thread, was not to invite people to say āI have a current case of Ich, what do I do?ā There is much to be read on the forums about Ich (et al). What I was aiming for is a sharing of experiences, one that might prove a useful learning tool for all levels of fish-keeping, as well as reassuring those new to the hobby that we are all, indeed, mortal!
I do not consider myself, in any way, above learning. We kept tropical fish at home when I was a kid, I started keeping tropicals myself some 16 years ago. I gave up because of personal circumstances at the timeā¦but do look back and wonder how I got away with a lot of what I did, considering what I have learned since is ābasic knowledgeā on re-entering the trade. Eight years ago, my kids won a couple of goldfish from a fair *rolleyes* Well we moved from a bowl, to a tank, to a larger tank etcā¦I never anticipated how much hard work cold water fish could be! (another story to be posted later) Eventually, I decided to move back into tropical fish-keeping, and what a joy!
This post turned out waayyy longer than I intended, so I should sign off for now! But you get the idea?
Please tell us your stories! Oh! And ā please!! ā constructive advice/criticism/comments only. I did not intend this as a place to rip into peoplesā techniques/confidences ā just somewhere to acknowledge we have been there!
Thanks for your patience if you got this far!
We were all new to fish-keeping once, and unless we are arrogant (or ancient in the trade) we can all still learn something daily! For many people on this board, we did not have the luxury of the internet as a resource when we started out. We often relied on old smelly library books, or poor and uneducated advice from our LFS regarding stocking levels, and compatibility...and that was if we had the half ounce of knowledge to wonder that it mattered! We were often advised to do little more than treat water for chlorine and heat it, throw the fish in, and then a bit of flake. Some have learned by their experiences over the years, many gave up, and continue to do so, because tragedy hits and there is a lack of reading material/advice, and sometimes a will to learn and grow. Some later return, because the passion is still there ā but, now, so are the resources!
Many get into the hobby independently (or even accidentally!) but then find themselves in a situation needing guidance, so *then* they do their researchā¦Whatever brought you to the hobby, caused you to leave, brought you back, caused you to seek advice etc etc, there are often common denominators ā hence such supportive communities as this one! If we all popped fish into a tank, and they loved each other, bred if we wanted them to, and cleaned up after themselves ā none of us would be here except to post pretty photos and sell fry!
Accidents are just that, they do not always involve a lack of knowledge! We have all encountered, to some degree, a failed filter or heater at some point. Troubled over rising PH levels (or falling PH levels) coped with a cracked or leaking tank, introduced a fish without the luxury of quarantine (and hoped). Encountered a sudden Ammonia spike from a previously stable tank. Did we forget to turn the heater back on after a water change? Forget to treat the water for chemicals? Overfeed, or underfeed? Or even feed the wrong food types for our fantastically varied communities?
Mistakes? Well we are human. Did we not research the adult size of our new baby? Aggression levels? Compatibility? Environmental and social requirements?
Close calls ā did you realise an error or accident in time and save your tank? As a more experienced fish-keeper, do you ever look back on an incident or a period of time whilst you were still learning (or since!!) and wonder how you got away with it?
Tragediesā¦speaks for itself. We have all lost fish, usually from one of the above causing stress or disease, sometimes for no apparent reason (mystery fish death). I donāt particularly like that phrase (mysterious fish death) but how many have lost a fish, and been unable to account for the reason? I am now talking of established fish in an established tankā¦no new additions, no obvious signs of disease, old age not being consideredā¦hardware and general tank maintenance meeting demandsā¦
My main reason for starting this thread, was not to invite people to say āI have a current case of Ich, what do I do?ā There is much to be read on the forums about Ich (et al). What I was aiming for is a sharing of experiences, one that might prove a useful learning tool for all levels of fish-keeping, as well as reassuring those new to the hobby that we are all, indeed, mortal!
I do not consider myself, in any way, above learning. We kept tropical fish at home when I was a kid, I started keeping tropicals myself some 16 years ago. I gave up because of personal circumstances at the timeā¦but do look back and wonder how I got away with a lot of what I did, considering what I have learned since is ābasic knowledgeā on re-entering the trade. Eight years ago, my kids won a couple of goldfish from a fair *rolleyes* Well we moved from a bowl, to a tank, to a larger tank etcā¦I never anticipated how much hard work cold water fish could be! (another story to be posted later) Eventually, I decided to move back into tropical fish-keeping, and what a joy!
This post turned out waayyy longer than I intended, so I should sign off for now! But you get the idea?
Please tell us your stories! Oh! And ā please!! ā constructive advice/criticism/comments only. I did not intend this as a place to rip into peoplesā techniques/confidences ā just somewhere to acknowledge we have been there!Thanks for your patience if you got this far!
my Plec. I thought the worse, scooped him up and put him back in the tank but thankfully he's OK... 
)
