On My Soapbox!

[lozronz]

I'm sure this has been asked alot but its kind of hard to do a forum search on it...

Why is it, if people ask questions about a fish that will outgrow the tank they have in mind, do other people talk to them as if that tank is the last tank they are ever buying and that they are commiting the fish to a cramped watery premature demise?

It could well be that I am ignorant to a factor that I haven't thought of, but we live in an age where everything gets upgraded all the time- do we really believe our mobiles NEED to be updated every 12 months?... but we still do it.

Aside from if the stocking was inappropriate, If someone was talking about putting a couple clown loach or a knife fish, a plec, a rope fish, a firemouth etc in a 40g or so tank (obviously not together) usually at the size bought from a LFS they will be fine for a while.

If reading a thread about that, I would assume that when the time comes a bigger tank would be bought in... Thats half the fun, surely? maybe i'm being naive?

I'm not talking about when people say- first time tank 20g - 6 ghost knife, and a lungfish should I get a gib or a plec for my "clean up fish"! But if its someone who sounds like they have a clue.

This isn't a pop at anyone particular or who has said anything to me, I'v just been reading though other threads and it just seems like it happens a bit.

Off my soap box now!

Just a thought.

 

[stang1]

I'm inclined to agree to a degree. The troubke is a lot of people set up tanks for the first time but get bad advice from their lfs. We've been lucky in finding someone at our lfs who knows what he's talking about but we've been to some places and had really bad advice.
I know its perhaps uo to the individual to do some research but to be honest you expect your lfs to know what they are on about.
But you are right about people pointing out wrong size tanks but on the whole it's done in a friendly and helpful manner. Unfortunately, there are one or two people who perhaps phrase it wrong and make the other person feel awful.
Hopefully though, new members will continue joining the forum and learn as they go along!

 

[raptorrex]

I'm sure this has been asked alot but its kind of hard to do a forum search on it...

Why is it, if people ask questions about a fish that will outgrow the tank they have in mind, do other people talk to them as if that tank is the last tank they are ever buying and that they are commiting the fish to a cramped watery premature demise?

It could well be that I am ignorant to a factor that I haven't thought of, but we live in an age where everything gets upgraded all the time- do we really believe our mobiles NEED to be updated every 12 months?... but we still do it.

Aside from if the stocking was inappropriate, If someone was talking about putting a couple clown loach or a knife fish, a plec, a rope fish, a firemouth etc in a 40g or so tank (obviously not together) usually at the size bought from a LFS they will be fine for a while.

If reading a thread about that, I would assume that when the time comes a bigger tank would be bought in... Thats half the fun, surely? maybe i'm being naive?

I'm not talking about when people say- first time tank 20g - 6 ghost knife, and a lungfish should I get a gib or a plec for my "clean up fish"! But if its someone who sounds like they have a clue.

This isn't a pop at anyone particular or who has said anything to me, I'v just been reading though other threads and it just seems like it happens a bit.

Off my soap box now!

Just a thought.

Good point. I suppose, if people read three Bala sharks in a 50ukg tank, they see three full grown fish, in their minds, and it rings alarm bells. its something that happens a lot on any forum. but there is a valid point here, often people have bought fish in the LFS, they look really good, but not everyone realises that their cute little fish will grow into a monster! i have lost count of the times i've talked to people with a FWT, and the look of amazement on their faces when you tell them, their prize Plec, will grow to 18-24 inches.

 

[andywg]

Why is it, if people ask questions about a fish that will outgrow the tank they have in mind, do other people talk to them as if that tank is the last tank they are ever buying and that they are commiting the fish to a cramped watery premature demise?

But surely if someone asks if the fish will outgrow the tank they are in, and the fish will outgrow the tank they are in, what is wrong with stating that the fish will outgrow that tank?

 

[Underwurlde]

Look at it this way:

1) We are all strangers to each other. A person responding to a thread does not know what someone else either knows or will or won't do in the future.

2) We are all animal lovers and would not like to see fish unnecessarily suffer.

So the fact that a particular fish or group or collection of fish may be inappropriate for a certain setup get mentioned I think automatically because everyone is defaulting to the side of caution (for caution read happy, healthy fish).

You could inadvertently look at it as being condescended to by another person's concientious response, but that is a fact of life on all forums.

Andy

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hmmm while I agree and it can be frustrating unfortunately it's the minority of cases where people are planning to upgrade the tank, if I have a fish and I know it will outgrow the tank it's in and plan to upgrade then I will say so if I make a post about it.

IMO it's better to err on the side of caution and say that the fish will outgrow the tank, as a lot of the time people simply don't know. even if you know the person posting and you know that they will know the problem you have to remember there may be newbies reading the thread who will go, oh 5 bala sharks in a 50g tank, great i love them if he can do it, so can I. If I think a tank is badly stocked I will always comment if only for the sake of other people reading it.

 

[themissingelf]

My Red Tail Catfish is fine in my 20g - he's quite bendy so just needs a bit of squishing.

To "assume" an upgrade is naive. To state that an upgrade will be required in X weeks/months/years time would be most helpful.

I'm sorta talking about hitting the middle ground here, although I can't say I'm particularly concerned about someone saying that a tank is too small of the intended occupant/s - the person asking the question would be kinda stupid not to realise that a bigger tank would be required in the future.

Are you planning on upgrading your soap box?

 

[lozronz]

Ha! My soax box gets upgraded everytime I have a few beers and decide to let loose (as is what happened on this thread I'm afraid).

These are all valid points, and I put my point across badly when I said "if people ask questions about a fish that will outgrow the tank..."

I didn't mean- "Will my Jewel Cichlid outgrow my 35g?"

I meant- "I Have a baby Jewel Cichlid in my 35g would he tear up plants if it were planted"

Why will there be a dozen responses - " Dude, you can't keep that in there, they need at least 40g to keep these " - Not even answering the question.

and 2 responses - " Its pretty hard finding plants that he won't tear up when he is bigger but should be fine while juvenile, beautiful fish! " (This is a really bad example and I don't know alot about Jewel Ciclids!)

You guys are right, it is best to be on the side of caution, but most of the people on here you would have hoped will be animal lovers to and be able to see when a fish is getting too big and it could take years.

I would hate to get a 100g tank and put in 5 fish that in 6 years time would mean it would be at its capacity cos the tank would look crap and empty for 3 years, I would upgrade!

I think the point I was rather drunkly trying to make was that alot of people are quick to jump at the chance to correct someone and "flex their intellectual prowess!" Like on the Photo forum critisism often outweights compliments. and often the crit is trivial!

Anyhow! I sort of started this post in a way to concede to you guys but got a bit carried away, I'm new to forums, in fact this is my first ever, so, if it is forum etiquette to take it on the chin thats how it should be, I just think a lot of people are more condescending sat behind their computer than they would be in real life!
(He says slating people sat behind his computer that he never would in real life!)

See I can upgrade my soapbox!

 

[Underwurlde]

Actually I agree with the essence of what you are saying so...

Yep, take it on the chin (yeah, right ) OR

Chuck it back at any condescendees with a 'no sh1t Sherlock' response..

Andy