JohnnyOcean

Hi everybody,

I was wondering, with the current economic situtation, has this had any effect in anybody's fish keeping hobby? If so, how?

MeGustaUnaPez926

Not really for me, but I'm still just a kid. My parents won't buy me any more tanks though, but I'm not sure if its because of the economy or that they don't want any more fish. I'm guessing the latter.

Iron waffle

I guess it doesn't affect me, i'm usually looking for the best bargain, so fishkeeping doesn't really empty my wallet too much.

agabr123

not so much the economy, just that i'm in college and have to be broke by default

Dozey

I can honestly answer Yes and No.

No I can’t say that the economy has affected my hobby. When I consider taking on pets (including fish) I accept the financial responsibility to provide them quality care. If my finances were some how effecting my care and responsibility to my pets I would re-home them and live without them. I eat quality food and likewise my cat and fish do as well.

Yes, if the economy was better I would likely have a bigger home and therefore would have more space to keep bigger tanks and/or more of them.

Mike

I definitely think twice before buying corals nowadays. Do I really want to drop that $40 when I could be out of a job next week? There are folks losing jobs left and right - friends, family, co-workers. We are in scary times right now.

CHoffman

It really hasn't effected us. I'm very thankful for that. I do however see people selling tanks left and right and saying "need the money, our loss your gain". That's how I got my 125 so cheap. So I know it has effected the hobby for others.

jgon_

Bingo! Between food, gas, rent and fish, I'm just about breaking even lol.

coffeebean

fortunately the current economic state hasnt effected us...yet. fingers crossed. good thing too, cus i just dropped a lot of money setting up this 55 gallon tank

FL CommunityFans

It's affected us, but we try to ignore it for the most part. Thinking about it is depressing. We're not saving like we should be maybe, but still buying some bigger ticket items so doing our part to truly stimulate the economy (screw that stimulus package - worst idea ever). Keeps us happy and enjoying life and not worrying about the next day.

CWO4GUNNER

Most people that keep fish beyond 10 gals are probubly establish in the middle class are able and willing to keep their favorite hobby. If you do see a change it will most likely be drastic and dramatic. Fish hobby one day, out looking where to get food the next. Something we haven't experienced in 80 years but like my grandma would say, its coming.

capekate

What I do is a trade off. I know that if I am going to spend a lot of money on the tanks, fish etc, then I am not going to be shopping for luxury items like clothing etc. I cant have both, so I pick which thing I want to spend my money on and what makes me the happiest and that is my fish hobby. I drive around in a 1984 Toyota that just will not die (thank goodness). I know that with our tax return money I could have added another grand to it and found my self a real nice used car for around 6 grand. But.. instead we put out a bit more than a grand on my new tank and set up. Its all just a trade off!

Amanda

Yeah....money is real tight in my house.
I'm constantly shopping around for the best prices on fish & am stocking my tanks according to prices of fish. It's just how it is.

prairielilly

The state of the worldwide economy determines the state of the oil industry which determines...whether or not I have a job. So yes, it affects me in the sense that I am currently not making large purchases (not buying a new 55g) but not in the sense that I'm getting rid of current pets or skimping whatsoever on their care (furry or finny). I've always been a cautious person but right now it just seems prudent to spend less - on everything - until it's over.

Angela_96

Its not hurting my fishkeeping hobby however, its hurt my fish sales greatly. I was making a couple hundred at least a week now its very sporadic. And thats not from bad feedback (check it on aquabid). Plus I was making local sales.

Now our household we are tighter with money. Our electric bill has doubled. However, my husband and I work in the medical feild so our jobs are secure. I am extremely greatful for our financial shape it makes me comfortable knowing I am having a baby in the summer.

My mother on the other hand is suffering greatly. Her electric, etc has been cut on and off several times in the past few months. Her resturant is feeling the effects, and my stepdads work (at a factory) has been effected. His weekly income is 200$.

My mother and father in law are the hardest hit in our family. Her job has cut back hours greatly. My father in law is disable, and now on oxygen all the time (looking at possibly a chest surgery sooN)
So things are rough for them.

They have helped us through tough times while we were going to college, etc I am sure we will soon get the chance to help them back.

Angela_96

I will have to say I am cutting back on tanks, but not because of money, because of my being pregnant right now and wanting the time to properly care for the fish I have.

MissMTS

The economy is really affecting my fish keeping hobby. I own my own business (a dance studio) and with the economic situation, I don't know what my economic situation will be from month to month. We lost a handful of students after the new year; however, in the last week, we have had four new ones sign up. Luckily we own our business in an affluent community where money is not much of an issue for most people, but many of our clients are still not spending money like they were. I just can't justify spending more money on my tanks at this point. My husband and I are just trying to be very careful with our spending right now. Luckily, all of my tanks are fully stocked and the plants are doing well so I don't really need to add anything at this point. I am also buying less frozen and freeze dried food and buying more high quality flake/pellet food since it lasts longer. I have been wanting to replace my tetras in my 80g with a school of Rummy Nose Tetras, but I have been holding off since a large school of them will probably cost around 60 dollars.

pinkfloydpuffer

I am a college student, so of course tuition/books steals a huge chunk of my money. But I decided to move back home after living in the dorms for a year and it's saving me lots of money. (and I can have big fish tanks, all we could have in the dorms was one 5g)
It's definitely affecting my family though, with my dad being in the automotive industry, which is not doing well at all, we don't know if he'll still have a job tomorrow and we may need to move out to a small apartment and then I don't know what I'll do with my precious puffs But I keep praying that my dad will keep his job and I'll get to keep my puffs.
I've also cut down my personal spending to purely fish stuff. I don't buy clothes for myself anymore like I used to, and usually with friends we opt to rent movies or watch ones we already have rather than go to the theater, etc...

DE88ROX

Not really for me either. I had most of what I needed when I got back into it. Just had to buy new gravel and a heater. Im am still employed, as is my Wife (knock on wood)

The start up cost is what gets you the most. Once your up and running, it really isn't that expensive.

DE88ROX

Well than maybe I should stock my tank with some Blue Gills and some Lake Perch! ( is that even possible?) Than I can kill two birds with one stone!

Or would that be having your fish and eating them too? lol

Nick G

Opposite for me, my job is secure and I actually have more money now than before the recession, as petrol and food prices have come down a lot here. This doesn't mean I like it though, as I know it has affected millions of people in a bad way.

JohnnyOcean

It seems everybody is affected one way or another. Weather it is good or bad. In my situtation, I want to always upgrade my tank, equipment wise. In fact I want to set up a nano SPS coral tank for my wife and get some collector's specimens for her. But as you all know this will take some money and time.

Angela_96

If you want a smaller good tasting and pretty fish get some crappie to stock... (very tempting if times get tough)

jen.chris

With my husband working, me going to school and working part time, were makeing it ok, but with a mortgage and many monthly bills, it's scary to think how quickly things could get bad.
My Dad has been out of a job for almost a year now, but my parents own their own business and are doing fine. It's just a matter of lowering your spending standards and saving less.
We've bought our 3 tanks in the last month in a half and put a lot of money into it. We used some savings for that, as it is something we're really enjoying, and as it has been said- once it's set up it doesnt cost much to maintain.
Our main worry is those crazy one time bills- like the vet and new winter tires; things that come up unexpected.
So even in the bad times, we just got started with all the aquarist flings. But, that said, we search high & low and wait out good deals on equipment. We got great deals on craigs list for the aquariums.
Our cat & dog recently got an upgrade in food (they now each get a little canned food with their dry food). Only because the pregnant cat we're fostering gets canned meat & they were SOOO jealous.
Things will be much easier & less of a worry come this Spring when I graduate and can start working as a nurse.
So yes the economic situation is always on our minds and guides our actions, but it's not keeping us from doing what we enjoy (we are pretty frugal in most areas of our spending, actually all areas- no need for new fancy clothes or going to the theater every week-those are things to do spareingly) . And we would never get into a situation were we couldn't provide for our furred and finned family members, if something did happen, we would find them good homes and miss them.