What is the most rewarding things

[Tokis-Phoenix]

After having a philosophical moment over some words i wrote on the livebearer section the other day which basically explained that although this hobby isn't the most exciting one at times, it is what you make it and with the right amount of time and care can be very rewarding hobby, i was wondering what kinds of things do you guys find the most rewarding about fish keeping?
Some of the things i find realy rewarding about this hobby is when you raise a tiny female livebearer from day one of a fry and watch her blossom into a realy beuatiful fish and are expecting her very first batch of fry, or maybe that male livebearer and you watch him grow all his beutiful vibrant and metallic colors as he grows into a handsome good breeding quality male .
I also find it realy rewarding when you bring a fish back from almost certain death from a deadly desease and watch them grow back into a healthy and active little fish again .
How about you guys? What are some of the things you find realy rewarding in this hobby?

 

[john5748]

I suppose my favourite bit is when I have one of my guppy's give birth to thirty or forty young fry.

The main reason is that I can do exactly what you said in your post but on top of that I also get to wet ALL of the baby's heads down the pub

I really am going to have to get some fish that don't give birth quite so often - this is no good for my health

 

[Whitey]

I think the most rewarding thing in fishkeeping is when you lay back on your bed/sofa and watch all your hard work, time and money transformed into a thriving mini underwater world full of character and nature. Its the most calming and relaxing thing in the world.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yeah i love having my own little peices of tropical river in my home, nothing better than watching you tank mature into a realy heavily planted natural style setup with all your fish swimming in and out of the plants

 

[Dragonscales]

Personally, I get alot of enjoyment out of doing water changes (seriously). It might be partly because of the effort I have to go through hauling a 10 litre watering can halfway across the joint 20+ times but mostly because I feel good knowing my fish have fresh, clean water afterwards and I get a real sense of achievement once finished and looking in the tanks.

I agree with raising fry as well though. Nothing beats the feeling of having fish breed (especially harder to breed species) and the fry grow out, thanks partly to the care we give (admittedly the fish do a good chunk of the work too!).

 

[BettaMomma]

I also find it realy rewarding when you bring a fish back from almost certain death from a deadly desease and watch them grow back into a healthy and active little fish again .

That's my fuel right there.
Sometimes they don't make it through, and those times are even rewarding because you know you did everything you could for them, and made them comfortable in the end.

But that first trip they take around the tank where they are swimming pain free, or don't flop over anymore or dart around the tank anymore, or you wake up one morning and see something growing back in nicely that was damaged or injured, those are the times that make it all worth while.

That's what does it for me.

 

[eudielynn]

I have always enjoyed the peace and tranquility of lounging on my couch and watching my babies swiming and playing, but I have to agree that it is seeing a sick fish regain it's health. The most rewarding experience I have had yet was to see the fungus litterally dropping off of Vince and to see the beautiful little guy that was hiding under all that scum.

 

[Jen21]

I really enjoy just watching my fish. I always look at each ones personality and how they interact with each other. I also love raising fry.

My least favorite part probably would be waterchanges, just because Im so messy and get water everywhere.

 

[mandi]

There's so much that's rewarding about fish-keeping!

As others said, raising fry is wonderful. I'm extremely attached to one of my twinbar platy fry that has a "moustache" on her face (haha).

I also enjoy the water changes and work strangely enough -- sometimes it can be annoying, but really it's kind of theraputic for me. Kind of a "whistle while you work" sort of job, haha.

I think what I love most of all is the time spent researching and then sharing my hobby & knowledge with others. I'm always learning things through talking with people online, at the LFS, etc.

I really enjoy it when people come over to my house and go into my fishroom, and just go, "WOW!" -- Especially people who aren't really interested in fish to start with, but after looking around, become interested and start asking lots of questions and/or ask for help in starting a tank for themselves. That makes me really happy!

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i love convincing my skittish fish that no, really, i'm cool. and feeding pufferfish never gets old )

 

[dwarfgourami]

Water changes are good.

Nursing Smudge back to health and seeing her beautiful tail grow back was even better.

But the very best thing has got to be feeding my livebearers peas. It is the nearest I'm ever going to come to a David Attenboroughesque feeding frenzy, and I love it. I just can't bear to take my eyes off the tank, it is such fun. This morning Silverdot, my biggest female grabbed whole of a big chunk of pea and just would not let it go, she couldn't chew it for fear of dropping it and having it pinched by someone else, so she just swam round and round the tank with it. I love that fish- she is big and middle-aged and greedy and full of joie de vivre- what a soulmate!

Come to think of it, perhaps the best aspect of fishkeeping is that it is now and not 30 years ago, when I did hardly any water changes, was never able to nurse anyone back to health and had not yet discovered the entertainment value of frozen pea!

 

[abstract]

watching the planted aquarium evolve is great...

but by far the most rewarding part for me is watching a fish develop its colors in my tank - not because it is young when i buy them, but because i can see it finally has a proper diet!

 

[freddyk]

I think the most rewarding thing in fishkeeping is when you lay back on your bed/sofa and watch all your hard work, time and money transformed into a thriving mini underwater world full of character and nature. Its the most calming and relaxing thing in the world.

Yep. Many rewarding aspects, but at the heart of it this is why..

 

[Dwarfs]

Most rewarding thing...I'd say raising a 3 inch fish into a 7" pet My severum doesn't act like a traditional fish, he gets excited when he sees food, swims around in circles, etc. He reminds me of my dog

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Most rewarding thing...I'd say raising a 3 inch fish into a 7" pet My severum doesn't act like a traditional fish, he gets excited when he sees food, swims around in circles, etc. He reminds me of my dog

My smallest plec reminds me of a little dog somtimes, when i reach for the packet of algae wafers he starts paceing up and down the tank excitedly, when he gets hold of the algae wafer he'll then move it to his favorite eating area in the tank- he's very cute and i am glad i saved him long ago; when i first got him he was almost starved to death and on the brink of death and now he is the fattest fish in the tank .