Researching Fish

[JenJ]

Now I know that obviously before you buy any living creature you should research properly to know what it is you're buying and how you should care for it, but in my 4 months of fishkeeping, I've found that the main thing research won't tell you is whether or not you will actually like a fish.

Disclaimer: Combined with reading fish books, I have been avidly following the majority of posts on this forum for 4 months, and as such have picked up a lot of knowledge about types of fish/sizes/compatibility etc, so would like to think that if I make an impulse purchase it's still with a little background knowledge behind it.

My favourite fish so far, have mostly been the impulse buys, for example my albino cories, blue tetra and cupid cichlids.

Conversely, the ones I have heard about, researched properly and wanted, such as the guppies and harlequins, I've not taken to at all. Diamond tetra are my current disappointment - I've wanted them for months, waited until my tanks were established, kept asking at my lfs, had to get them ordered in, and now I've had them a few weeks I can't stand them.

I think the main problem is that a photo and description can't convey to you how a fish will be in *your* tank, you have to experience this to know it.

Has anyone else been really disappointed with a fish, or am I the only heartless owner on here...?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I've been very happy with all the fish I've gotten, but I would add that one of the things that is good practice for fishkeeping is to browse MANY stores. I stop in local fish stores all the time, just to have a look around and see the different fish. I'll also chat it up with some employees and other patrons. Generally, the patrons are the most fun to talk to... Sometimes I can help a newbie keeper from making a big mistake, and sometimes I run into a veteran with some very interesting stories to share about their tanks.


Joining up with local fish clubs is also another great idea. You can really get a sense for fish from the members there and might be able to find some hard to find fish at reasonable prices there as well.

 

[leighton_87]

I haven't had that experience as such - however today I went to purchase some fish which I had spent around 2 months researching and deciding on then when I got to the fish shop (despite seeing them before) they just didn't take my fancy and I ended up with something completely different.

Luckily I had my iPhone on me so spent 10 minutes in the shop doing some checks before making my impulse purchase.

Got them in the tank this afternoon and loving them so far.

 

[Flute]

I haven't, but I know my dad has in the past. Especially after buying fish from ebay- the problem is that a lot of the time photos of the fish for sale on the internet are often photoshopped to look as appealing as possible. The other thing is that juveniles or younger fish often don't look anywhere near as impressive as mature specimens. I have seen smaller diamond tetra in shops and not thought much of them, and then saw a huge display tank in the Green Machine in Wrexham with mature adults and they are one of the most impressive shoaling species I have ever seen.