What got you into fish keeping?

[Cheese Specialist]

I got a little 8.5UK/10US set up when I finished college and put about 10 goldfish and a weather loach in

Anyway, I then started wanting a bigger tank so I got my 35UK/41US but then started learning. And, that's when I got hooked. Strange that learning how much it takes to look after fish properly made me want more!!

 

[Phantom Thief]

Well, i had a 10g tank with terrapins before that. Then they grew too big, and i passed them to my friend. So my mum wanted to put goldfish in there. And now, i have a 65g .

P.T.

 

[Bol]

When I was a child, my uncle used to keep an aquarium. I always liked it.

I'd often thought of how nice it would be to have a tank, but thought the maintenance would be too much (I often have fairly long spurts when I'm barely home).

Then, a year or so ago, the wife and I were visiting some old friends of hers, and among their menagerie of pets, they had a couple of tanks, and I learned something that shocked me ...

The days of undergravel filters and complete emptying of the tank to clean and change water were gone! You could keep a healthy tank merely by doing regular partial water changes!

That was it. The deal was sealed.

 

[freshmike]

Fish keeping? Wazzat?

 

[totally_tonto]

I always wanted a pet but work crap hours so dogs and cats were not a good idea. it wouldnt be fair to them if I'm never there.
My uncle had a Huge tank with loads of stuff in and I decicided to give it a go.

Had a few small tanks several years ago but, after a 2 uear break from fish, I've started again with bigger one. Getting a second tank very soon hopefully .

Probably wont start it until I get the hang of this one though!

 

[diVer]

There are a number of reasons:
-my uncle used to have an aquarium
-I do a lot of snorkeling, freediving, and recently SCUBA diving so I love looking at fish
-I plan on going in marine biology and am fascinated with fish

 

[guppygirly]

My husband got me a tank for Christmas. I have always liked fish and been facinated with them. I did so well with my betta I thought I'd try other tropicals. Besides that they're great pets, not messy like cats and dogs, but just as much personality. And I think they're a great learning/ teaching tool. I know I learn more all the time and I like to teach my 3 year old about them.

 

[bkk_group]

my wife got me into bettas. she was very familiar with them and even caught wild ones as a kid in thailand. i don't know if she regrets getting me into them now as i've become rather crazy about them

 

[mariojoshi]

i have never been allowed to get a pet becuase my sis is completely alergic to anything with fur..!

i wanted fish for this reason, and the relaxing nature of a tank for a few years, but couldnt afford it.. now im at college and haev a part time job.. guess what popped back into my head!

proud owner of a 6gallon.. and wanting an enormous tank all the time!

josh

 

[smileandnod]

My ex girlfriend.
She had a goldfish in a bowl, which I knew was cruel, so I bought a tank, and read up on how to take care of them.
Then when we spilt up, she left the fish behind, and I now have the tanks in my sig, as well as a pond with about 40 goldfish in it.

Ian.

 

[MartinB]

My X girlfriend left me and I keep her 13 UK Gallon tank.

 

[EddieW]

Kept goldies and had a pond in the garden which I took care of as a kid.

Left home and spent fifteen years moving around various places so couldn't really have a tank.

A couple of years ago I was a bit down and happened to walk past a pet shop with a Hexafun in the front window. Decided to set up a tank to cheer myself up. Made a lot of the usual newbie mistakes - mostly based on bad advice from the pet shop.

At one point the hexafun was about ten times over stocked!!!

After finding some good books I realised what I was doing to the poor fish and went out and bought a reasonable sized tank.

I now have a 60l community tank, a 72l nano reef and a 170l cichlid tank at home. I also have a 50l community and a new 40l nano reef at work.

Eddie

 

[FanOFish]

That's really a good question.....I had a 20 gal. long maybe 12 years ago so I had a little experience. I think I just got a wild hair that I wanted another tank and to my surprise my wife agreed to let me put one in the living room corner.

I measured the area and realized it would have to be a small tank or a tall tank which led me to the 42 gal. hex style. Prior to buying the tank I found this forum and learned a few things and am still holding strong 6 months without a single death in the aquarium.....FYI, I didn't have the same experience years ago with the 20 long.