Issues for the aging hobbyists to address

[gwand]

The thread about the life expectancy of our fish got me thinking about my own life expectancy. Now that I’m in my mid 70s, how long can I be fully engaged in our fascinating hobby? For how many more years will I be able to lug 5 gallon tubs of water? Will my cognition remain sharp enough for me to remember when it is time for water changes? Will I outlive my fish or will my fish outlive me? If it is the latter scenario, there’s a problem since I have no one to pass the baton to. The pharaohs and Greek kings of bygone days were entombed with their horses. Maybe I can arrange to do the same with my fish.

 

[MaloK]

In this case I need to buy a 6 feet tank asap, I don't want to be cramped in a 5 gallons.

The thing I fear the most is incontinence of both me and aging aquariums.

What do you think happen to a shrimp tank once you passed ? And nobody in the family even knows what they are.

 

[Magnum Man]

best thing I've done for myself, is pumping in and out water for water changes...

 

[GaryE]

You're only as old as you feel, and the aging process makes you feel your years pretty accurately. It's an issue. I am hopefully on the right side of a recent problem (cortisone shot yesterday) that made me see how mobility can go fast with time. This was a false alarm, but it was alarming, even though I'm only 66.

You can group tanks together and develop systems with no buckets, pumping through hoses or via taps, draining in various ways, etc. It can take creativity in some houses. If I had had to carry buckets over the past 5-6 weeks, I would have lost a lot of fish.

I don't know anyone who has kept fish without help after about 90.

I could be 25, step outside and get hit by a meteor. As long as I can do this, I will. I can't predict how long that will be, so all I can do is make plans to simplify (or complicate if that's more fun) things while I'm able. I'll compensate for things I can no longer do. My bad knees? I stay away from churches, and build slightly higher tank racks.

The pharaohs and Greek kings of bygone days were entombed with their horses. Maybe I can arrange to do the same with my fish.

You could get involved in organized crime if you want to be sent to sleep with the fishes.

 

[Colin_T]

Exercise every day to keep your muscle mass up and help you stay strong enough to look after the fish. Eat plenty of protein and fruits & veges too.

 

[Magnum Man]

did he say "Eat Fish"???

 

[connorlindeman]

Once you get old enough, you can sleep with the fishes.

 

[Magnum Man]

most of my tanks, are in my bedroom... I "sleep with the fishes", every night

 

[Oldspartan]

This is a good point. Our critters depend on us. When I delved a bit deeper into the tank quantity side of the hobby I was determined to make the inevitable work end of it as simple as possible. In a few years we will likely have to give up the tanks in rooms other than what we call the dining room turned fish room. That room is well enough set up that maintenance can pretty much be accomplished from a walker. That does not negate the need for post coil planning though.

Our dog Buster will likely outlive us. Precious dog likely will not. Our cat and bird will likely be around after us too. These animals are all in our will and will go into the care of our youngest daughter who like her mother is what I call a full-fledged pet nut. The fish? That is another story, and we have not yet grappled with that. Nobody in our circle will be jumping to tackle that issue. Linda and I will continue to ponder this.

I am a young old man mentally and really physically too even with my current back and leg issues. Those will soon be corrected, I think. Linda is also a young elder lady; I dare not call her an old lady. Once her shoulder heals, she will likely be like a well-cared for sport car, past its prime but still able to race along. Then again you never know. A young neighbor was taken out by an errant driver a few weeks ago, a seemingly healthy freind left us after a heart attack. We just never know so preparation is important if we are responsible.

In a way I am glad for this thread. It has put a bit of a fire into my thought process.

 

[JuiceBox52]

I’ve have all of my animals listed in my will going to the people who I trust with them. Other than fish, I’ve decided I won’t get more animals (like my snake and dog) simple because I don’t want my family or friends to have the burden of caring for them or rehoming them once I’m gone

 

[emeraldking]

Will I outlive my fish or will my fish outlive me?

Time will tell...

You're only as old as you feel, and the aging process makes you feel your years pretty accurately.

Exactly...!

You could get involved in organized crime if you want to be sent to sleep with the fishes.

Don't get any ideas...

Once you get old enough, you can sleep with the fishes.

Well, I actually have a number of tanks in my bedroom...

I’ve have all of my animals listed in my will going to the people who I trust with them.

I've done the same...

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I hit 77 a few months ago. I have been working on retiring from MTS for a couple of years now. I have had at least 20 tanks from 5.5 to 150 gals. running from many years. In the summer that number tended to increase by 6-8 more tanks which were only up and holding fish for about 4 months. Another month was devoted to setting up and tanking down.

Of the 20 about half were dedicated to breeding and growing out the rarer B&W plecos from the big bend of the Rio Xingu. The rest f the tanks were pretty much planted communities. Today I have 11 tanks, I have sold off almost all of the breeding plecos and their offspring save were my WC group of L173 and a grow tank for their offspring. I have one 33L divided in half with 13 super white L236 offspring left to sell and then the tank likely comes down.

I knew that old age was getting to me a few years ago and I created a plan for downsizing. I started out following it but then I became nostalgic about keeping fish and having many tanks. And I have slowed the divesting process a bit. I am trying to find ways I can keep more tanks than planned to let go.

Two of my tanks (150 and and the in-wall 75) require that I use a 3 step A-frame ladder to be able to work in them. I know this cannot continue much longer without my falling off sooner of later. I am considering paying a fair amount of money to have the in-wall tank lowered and the space under it for a 30B ceasing to exits. Right now it holds a 20L for the 9 cw-111 corys (one more will arrive soon). I need to sell tanks among other things.

One of the empty tanks is a 125 gal. It and the 150 are on wooden stands I built in place and which are almost the same size. I am offering the 125 with or without the stand. If it sells without the stand I can get my carpenter to drastically cut it down so it is much lower to the ground. I would do this so I can move the 150 which holds my clown loaches onto a stand that will make the tank low enough to be able to work in it without needing a ladder. The are my favorite fish and I am trying mot to have to let them go for as long as possible.

My house does not have a basement so I have no fish room, My tanks are spread out in two buildings and 4 rooms (not counting the screened terrace where the summer tanks get set up. I have been pumping water in and out of tanks for over 20 years now. The terrace tanks required 80 feet of hose to get water for filling and refilling tanks out there. The last summer I did tanks out there was 2023.

I find that where I once could spend 8-10 \hours a day for days in a row are long gone. these days I seem to need a day off after working in tanks for only 4 or maybe 5 hours. I am also finding that I skip my normal evening feeding more than once a week because I am just to tired.

I have no problem finding new homes for any of my fish, inverts or plants when I need to rehome them either by selling or giving them away. But I am a realist, sooner or later it all must go save maybe one or two smaller tanks. Here is a list of what has gone out:

Zebra pleco breeding group + growout tank (total 2)
L236 breeding group and growout tank (total 4)
Super white L236 and growout tank (total 6)
TR breeding group of L173 + grow tank (total 8)
Altum Angels (total 9)
29 gal planted community (total 10)
20L utility tank used for an assortment of fish which changed with time (total 11)

And then I needed a Q tank so a 29 planted went back up and the cw111 had to go somewhere so I set up a planted 29L for them. (total11). I kept the WC L173 group and a grow tank for them because they are so rare and sell for so much I figured they would continue to cover all my hobby costs, But this will not last much beyond this year.

All the fish I have let go went to excellent new homes. My beloved Altums went to a member of my club who was already keeping Altums. I sold the plecos to folks whom I know want to spawn them and who have many years of experience keeping fish. So at least I know they are being properly cared for and fed. But it still hurt to let them go.

Much as I hated to have to cut back and ultimately give most or all of up, I still am unhappy having to do this. What motivates me to do so is that it is not fair to the fish to hang onto them when I cannot give them the proper care. I change water on all tanks pretty much every week for over 24 years. However recently I have been doing the work less often.

When I was unable to care for tanks in the past- once due to a heart attack, once due to hip replacement surgery and a few times due to COPD flare-ups I have been able to find help to get through those temporary situations. But I cannot find anybody to take over caring for 10 or 11 tanks full time without paying them to do so. More tanks are going to come down this year for sure.

When the plecos go, all six tanks out in the other building will be empty. And only the 150 will remain in a room which once held 4 tanks including the now empty 125.

Old age sucks!

 

[fishorama]

Before we moved, I had 10-12 tanks. I have a Python & I could use it to drain into a bathtub & fill from the kitchen sink. Very easy. Now I have 4 tanks & have to carry buckets of old water out to the lemon tree or flowers. My tanks are at or almost at grade level so draining is very slow & doesn't allow good suction w/python. I use the Python to refill if I change most tanks at once, but it's sometimes easier to just use gallon jugs for 1 or 2 tanks, I pretend it's exercise. Neither of us is as strong as we used to be, so the buckets are less full unless I don't pay attention while vacuuming. It's a team sport/hobby!

There will likely be 1 more move in our future. I'll not be moving my 5ft 110g tank, but I may keep the lovely stand a friend built for it in MA. It was meant to be for discus & built to my height. I'm not as tall as I was & 24 inches is a bit far to reach in & see what I'm doing. It also has thick glass & weighs a ton! I think we'll have at least a 75g planted "show" tank at a next house, that's my favorite size...or not, depending our health & new house layout. No more lugging buckets!

I'm not sure if either of us will want to keep tanks when the first 1 dies. It's always been a couple's hobby, often 1 more into it than the other at a given time. We will have to add fish to good homes in our wills...or if we have to move into an "old folks home". When my mother needed that option, a couple places did have tanks. I may have too strong of opinions on their fish & care choices to have that be fun...or I'll be the crabby fish know it all, lol.

 

[seangee]

Before I moved the 55G next to a window I used a powerhead attached to a hose. This worked well to pump water across the house and if the end of the hose is lower than the tank you can turn off the pump once it starts flowing. Now I'm next to the window I just use gravity.

I did buy one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DHCTVVTC?tag=ff0d01-20 when I moved all 4 tanks into the same room. My idea was to mount it on the wall with a fixed outlet hose so I could just put the inlet into whichever tank I was draining. Then I got rid of 2 tanks and the small one is only a couple of buckets so I never set it up - but I have tested and it works.

Years ago when I had a 400l tank with a canister I put a hose splitter with a tap onto the filter outlet - so I could just turn the tap and let the filter do the work. In those days I was still using mains water so attached a Gardena fitting to the tank lid so I could just plug in a hosepipe to refill.

 

[GaryE]

I don't imagine younger fishkeepers have followed this thread. When I moved here three years ago, I arrived with a van holding a six foot 120 gallon, 2 4 foot 75s, and 4 4 foot 40 gallons. I had building trades pros helping with the fishroom - electricians, a plumber - all retired guys making side money for their pensions. When they left and I'd finished painting the walls, I built my racks and was alone with those tanks. I lifted them on my own, and got them into the places I wanted.
Now, I look at that 6 foot, 2metre tank and wonder how I did that. I could still empty it and take it down, but putting it back up onto its stand? I'd likely need help, or I would be 100 times more cautious than I was.
I'm really glad I thought ahead, and planned for possible bad backs, or bad legs. I set up for maintenance to be as quick and easy as possible.
I plan to reduce with time. I don't want to. By my 70s, I hope to be down to 30 or fewer tanks. It's just that these fish are so fascinating to keep!