Shaina

Lately I have been touring houses, seeing what's available on the market. From a fish-keeping standpoint it's been quite the reality check.

First, I never realized how popular keeping a fish tank has become. Probably 75% of the houses we have gone through had a "fish tank" of some sort...from a torn down 75gal tank to a "betta bowl."

Of these there was one tank which didn't make me immediately squirm...a 29g with two tiger barbs in it. Apparently it had been for their son but he lost interest so the two tiger barbs were just living out their lives.

The worst (other than the Betta bowls) was when, yesterday, we went through a house with a 29g containing a 9" (at least) orange and white goldfish of the comet-sort. The space was so cramped that the fish couldn't turn around properly and he was disfigured by either lack of water changes or lack of space.

In all but the tiger barb case the homeowners were not there during our tours so I don't know any more than what I saw, but it really was a reality check. Hanging out on the forum or talking to knowledgeable area fish owners, one tends to get a distorted view that domestic fish are for the most part properly cared for (or at least, I did). The reality is rather appalling.


Thanks for letting me vent a bit.

Lucy

How disheartening.
Sadly, many people think that just because they're alive, they're fine.

Butterfly

Yes looking at others aquariums can be an eye opener sometimes. Sorry you had that experience. But rest in the knowledge yours are spoiled rotten
Carol

LauraMillar

i work in a pet store (where very good with our fish and treat our entire water system if one gets sick) and its amazing how many people come in who think keeping fish is just add water and go. We offer free water testing and man have i seen some terrible water conditions. i have to tell almost everyone who comes in about the nitrogin cycle.

Red1313

It's a scary thing.

Shaina

I felt a little bad about my tirade above...I normally try to avoid useless venting but I was pretty surprised and upset by the whole thing. So in an effort to make it up to you guys:


On a more humorous note...another reality check for those of us who reside fully and happily in the aquarium-keeping world...

I was perusing Craig's List and saw an ad titled:

HUGE fish tank!! $75!!

Excited at what could potentially be a nice find, I clicked on it...and saw "Huge 30 gallon fish tank for sale!!"

What's more, the picture indicated it was probably a 30" x 12" x 18" tank which is actually 29g.

First I laughed at someone thinking a 29g tank was HUGE. Then I realized that I would have thought the same at one time, but now consider my 90g a comfortable "average" sized tank, and that in reality this is probably not a healthy perspective (for my bank account and my marriage at least...my fish and I are quite happy thanks).

Red1313

Best Line EVER!

I have to say I typically hear "... You have HOW MANY tanks?..."

David C

I hear that whenever someone finds out I have 3 tanks in my living room, not to mention my bedroom. Then when I tell them about the rest of my family of pets, people no longer think I've gone off the deep end, they know it for sure.

It is sad though when I get into a conversation with someone I meet who also keeps fish to find out their setup is completely inadequate and I secretly hope the fish die a quick and painless death before they begin to suffer terribly.

Dave

Red1313

I hear you.
I am literally discribed as the crazy fish lady by my friends. And they all look at me and laugh whenever an "expert" shows up and starts going on about his tanks while I nearly bite a hole in my cheek trying not to jump and throttle them. Typically anything I have to say is completely ignored.