I Just Don't Think Fish Keeping Is For Me

[InaneCathode]

It seems like looking at my fish tank and bowls is more stressful than relaxing.

So why is this you say??

1. A couple of days after I got my first fish they got ich. That happens sometimes, luck of the draw really
2. Most of the plants I bought had to be thrown away because they were not true aquatic plants Research before you buy (guess if its an impulse you cant, i have a terrestrial and its fine, luck of the draw)
3. My crazy cherry barb chased my boy fish around until the day he died Get rid of problem fish
4. I tried out the two female betta together thing and was tramatized by seeing two fish I was very attached to fight and rip each other up female bettas are best in /large/ groups, pairs do stuff like that, its pretty well documented
5. my boy cherry barb died the same day
6. the crazy female began to chase my other female around Barbs, just like any aggressive fish in small groups kill eachother readily, they need big groups to disperse aggression
7. I got 4 more cherry barbs so ms. crazy would leave the other fish alone
8. the first day I got those fish I watch my very red males chase and nip the girls all day Probably needed a bigger group of barbs
9. the new water wisteria I bought is dieing Water wisteria does that, its a crap aquatic plant IMO
10. ms. crazy still chases EVERYONE around Get rid of problem fish
11. she ripped half of my other original cherry barbs tail off Get rid of problem fish
12. i've spent sooo much money

What on earth is you peoples secret to the whole tranquility and peace, fish keeping is so fun thing. I really need to know.

Pppleasse share with me!!!

I dont mean to rip on you friend, just trying to help. The fish gods dont hate you, you're just making beginner mistakes that everyone makes

 

[Bozza]

Bettas arnt the best to keep together. My gf used to have heaps of bettas, males and females. And she nearly gave up on fish altogether because of the males and females fighting. I said no just change fish species. Now she loves it again. Maybe change to less aggressive fish. My 2cents


Torrens

 

[dwarfgourami]

Tbh I'm not sure any situation involving keeping living creatures could ever be about relaxation for me. Having babies was not relaxing either (though then at least they do warn you). Which is not to say that I regret it. It's just about other things than relaxation. And both with babies and with fish, it does get less stressful over the years, as you get more experience and better at judging what is normal and what is not.
I'd say the great thing about the fishkeeping hobby for me is the learning thing, beginning to understand why they behave as they do, trying to read up more about how they've adapted to their environment, seeing them doing natural behaviour like spawning.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

suzieQ and Tolak are bang on right.

it is difficult when you first start, and even though you may have cycled your tank properly it's still not mature and this can cause a lot of problems. but bigger mature tanks make things a lot easier.

we all make mistakes though so don't beat yourself up over it. I've had fish all my life as my dad's into them, had my own tanks for 5 years now, I still make some monumental cock up's. Lost one of my favourite fish a couple of months back cos I hadn't realised the tank had a mini cycle after I moved it. but for the most part I love this hobby and I love wasting hrs tinkering with my tanks!

 

[xanthianacid]

OK I can help you with one of your problems.

Female Bettas need to be kept in large groups as the old rule goes "spread the aggression" no one will get too stressed. They need a pecking order and having more girlies means that one isn't going to be picked on as much. & Barbs are known to be aggressive in a nippy kinda way.

So really it probably means spending more money if you want them to live in harmony unfortunately.

And everyone makes mistakes, its all about that learning curve as has been said many times before. And it comes with experience too. As Suzie Q mentioned, a larger tank is easier to maintain and takes better care of itself.