Im Hopeless

[laurasmithuk]

i used to have an seriously over stocked tank due to "i cant stop buying fish syndrome" you seriously have to get over this because it causes soooooo many problems! i saw the light! and am so glad that i did! i took ALL my fish to be re-homed and am now re-cycling my tank

 

[GSD]

it is a little irrisponsible.But often more fish=more tanks no more fish until you can move the overstocked ones!

 

[pseud]

Aye, I agree with the statement my protocessor has stated.

(Did I word that right?)

[snapback]878791[/snapback]​

Close! "Predecessor".
I agree with my predecessor.

 

[Weaver]

Well I think you are very honest and I bet there are a hell of a lot of people in these forums who are more overstocked than they say. Ive ended up with 4 community tanks.Each time I thought I was reaching overstocking level I went out and bought a new tank
Anyway must dash--I have to feed my 4 budgies and 50 pigeons!

 

[ScoutCarcer]

I don't think you're hopeless.
I think you're irresponsible.

[snapback]878710[/snapback]​

AGREED! Poor fish. You have said you have an overstocked tank already........ I understand the impulsive need to buy more fish but you have to think of their health and happiness in the long run and be sensible.

[snapback]878797[/snapback]​

Im so evil






I just had to do that. Ok go ahead and scold me for being imature and cruel to fish.

 

[Ethos]

Im so evil
I just had to do that. Ok go ahead and scold me for being imature and cruel to fish.

I do have to give you points for not fighting the scolding and such....

But then again, think about it. If you were stuck in a large broom closet with 3 other people. It'd feel alittle crowded, but as long as there was no....excrament...lying around, and you were fed 3 meals a day, you'd be fine for quiet a while....

 

[GSD]

Well I think you are very honest and I bet there are a hell of a lot of people in these forums who are more overstocked than they say.
Anyway must dash--I have to feed my 4 budgies and 50 pigeons!

[snapback]878908[/snapback]​

true!
i have ben pverstocked before im not now though....................

 

[Synirr]

Thank goodness that my "I can't resist buying more fish" syndrome takes the stocking of my tanks into consideration first!
When I see a fish I want, the questions I ask myself are:
"Will it eat my fish?"
"Will my fish eat it?"
"Do I have a place to put it?"

Maybe adding that last question in when you see a fish you want will help break you of the habit

 

[ScoutCarcer]

"Do I have a place to put it?"

Maybe adding that last question in when you see a fish you want will help break you of the habit

[snapback]879419[/snapback]​

Well that does come to mind but when you think about it it means do I have a tank with the room for it without the tank becoming overstocked. To me it ends up being can I fit it in my tank. And the word overstocked doesnt come to mind until I come on here.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

here's how i counteract this peice of logic...

1 ) EVERYTIME you decide to make a purchase say "Ok, I think I'll come back and get it. But let me go home and think about it first." Once you get away from the store, its a lot easier to pass things over.

2 ) If you just have to buy something, get a plant. Its hard to overstock plants.

Its good to see you recognizing that this is impractical behavior Scout. Some other things that will help are:
--Not going to a petstore/fishstore unless you have a Purpose to be there, like "if i don't buy more fishfood soon, my tanks will starve"
--Remember how diseased Walmart tanks typically are and that you don't have a quarantine tank. What's the point of "rescuing" fish if they wind up killing off all your current babies?
--Refuse to purchase fish from stores that won't restock returns. Make that an ethical protest that it is inhumane to refuse live fish returned from unsuitable homes (which is something I do find immoral and unethical)

 

[ScoutCarcer]

here's how i counteract this peice of logic...

1 ) EVERYTIME you decide to make a purchase say "Ok, I think I'll come back and get it. But let me go home and think about it first." Once you get away from the store, its a lot easier to pass things over.

2 ) If you just have to buy something, get a plant. Its hard to overstock plants.

Its good to see you recognizing that this is impractical behavior Scout. Some other things that will help are:
--Not going to a petstore/fishstore unless you have a Purpose to be there, like "if i don't buy more fishfood soon, my tanks will starve"
--Remember how diseased Walmart tanks typically are and that you don't have a quarantine tank. What's the point of "rescuing" fish if they wind up killing off all your current babies?
--Refuse to purchase fish from stores that won't restock returns. Make that an ethical protest that it is inhumane to refuse live fish returned from unsuitable homes (which is something I do find immoral and unethical)

[snapback]879920[/snapback]​

1. I usually forget about the fish when I get home.
2. The places I go only sell dead plants or they dont sell plants.
3. I got the Killi and Swordie from Walmart and I have to go there anyway. I went to a small petstore I just went to see the big Pacu and came home with the molly.
4. All 3 of the fish where in perfect condition when I got them and they still are.
5. If I bought fish from places that would that it back I wouldnt be on this forum because every fish I have ever owned has come from a place that wont take it back.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

1. I usually forget about the fish when I get home.
2. The places I go only sell dead plants or they dont sell plants.
3. I got the Killi and Swordie from Walmart and I have to go there anyway. I went to a small petstore I just went to see the big Pacu and came home with the molly.
4. All 3 of the fish where in perfect condition when I got them and they still are.
5. If I bought fish from places that would that it back I wouldnt be on this forum because every fish I have ever owned has come from a place that wont take it back.

[snapback]879941[/snapback]​

1. Ah, but that's the secret! The plan is to not purchase more fish; its a rare fish that you will bother to go back and get.

2. You'd be surprised how many "dead" plants you can nurse back to health

3. Going to a small LFS to "see the big pacu" isn't going for a Purpose. Unless you have an intense need to go to a place devoted to selling fish, Don't Go! By going to the LFS when you don't have to, you are placing yourself into a known situation where you will be tempted to do things you shouldn't. Recovering alcholic should avoid liquor stores; compulsive fish-buyers should avoid fish stores.

4, 5--EXACTLY!! Remember, desire is a mental attitude; in order to control your desires, you must control the thinking behind them. Instead of thinking "oh it looks healthy, it must be fine" or "oh it looks horrible, i must rescue it" --thoughts that* fuel your desire-- you should think "it might look ok now, but what if its just not visibly sick yet" and "i don't have a quarantine tank so i better not get this and risk my fish". Focus on the negative aspects of buying fish from Walmart and it will be easier to stop yourself from doing it.

I sympathize with the pressing desire to purchase unsuitable fish; the above techniques are part of what I use to control my urges. The big "secret" is to control your exposure and your attitude towards that exposure. If you sincerely want to stop making abusive purchases, you will. But you can't give things up without making changes and making sacrifices. And you can't give things up by making excuses.

 

[ScoutCarcer]

1. Ah, but that's the secret! The plan is to not purchase more fish; its a rare fish that you will bother to go back and get.

2. You'd be surprised how many "dead" plants you can nurse back to health

3. Going to a small LFS to "see the big pacu" isn't going for a Purpose. Unless you have an intense need to go to a place devoted to selling fish, Don't Go! By going to the LFS when you don't have to, you are placing yourself into a known situation where you will be tempted to do things you shouldn't. Recovering alcholic should avoid liquor stores; compulsive fish-buyers should avoid fish stores.

4, 5--EXACTLY!! Remember, desire is a mental attitude; in order to control your desires, you must control the thinking behind them. Instead of thinking "oh it looks healthy, it must be fine" or "oh it looks horrible, i must rescue it" --thoughts that* fuel your desire-- you should think "it might look ok now, but what if its just not visibly sick yet" and "i don't have a quarantine tank so i better not get this and risk my fish". Focus on the negative aspects of buying fish from Walmart and it will be easier to stop yourself from doing it.

I sympathize with the pressing desire to purchase unsuitable fish; the above techniques are part of what I use to control my urges. The big "secret" is to control your exposure and your attitude towards that exposure. If you sincerely want to stop making abusive purchases, you will. But you can't give things up without making changes and making sacrifices. And you can't give things up by making excuses.

[snapback]880054[/snapback]​

I have no idea what you just sayed All I think I read was something about a secret and that I wasnt really looking at the Pacu.