Being accepted into the Hobby as a new fishkeeper

Hello, I've come to bring to you a question and a brief view from my experience...

What makes you a Hobbyist?

Now, it is my belief that you can own one fish and still be a hobbyist. When I was a very very very new I made mistakes and lost 3 out of 4 of my first fish (two, I believe died to swim bladder disorder) and was left with one to care for throughout it's life (I recently had to euthanize it last month. ) After my mistakes I got really really into fish keeping and did extensive research and it is now probably around half of anything I watch or look up and talk about. I was told back then, months and even over a year after I started fishkeeping, that I was not a hobbiest because I only had one fish. This of course, made me very angry because it was my passion and the only dream that at that time I had not crushed for myself. I am still told I am not a hobbiest (1 1/2 years later) because I only have two fish and a snail in one tank. For the record I have three tanks (a quarantine tank, a black kuhli Loaches tank (trying to aquire 3 more), and a 10gal that I am saving for a Betta from my LFS. However, I want your thoughts. Please note that this person was not a hobbiest, but I truly believe it is about your passion and the fact you genuinely put time into it and love it, that makes you a hobbiest and I wanted and opinion from people who were actually there because it has made me feel like I have imposter syndrome.

Sincerely,
Your passionate and concerned 1 1/2 year, self proclaimed hobbiest. (Have a lovely pic of my two black kuhli Loaches waiting to finally have three more friends.)

 

I think if you are posting to a fish forum, you are probably a hobbyist Not sure why someone would choose to argue with you on that. My advice... find better company! Adorable little noodle fish you have there! Welcome!

 

My opinion is you're a hobbyist as and when you enter the hobby of having an aquarium/tank and you enjoy it.

Have a tank with only snails? You're a hobbyist.

Have a tank with only plants? You're a hobbyist.

Have a tank with only water? Screw it, sure, you're a hobbyist!

Don't have a tank, but love looking at other peoples tanks? Still a hobbyist!

The only pre-requisite to being a hobbyist, in my opinion, is that you enjoy the hobby. What you own and how you enjoy the hobby is COMPLETELY up to you.

 

Welcome to fishlore!! Nobody’s judging you here! Never knew there was an amount of fish you needed to to a hobbiest! Did you ever find out the exact number needed .

 

Welcome to fishlore!! Nobody’s judging you here! Never knew there was an amount of fish you needed to to a hobbiest! Did you ever find out the exact number needed .

The answer is you're not a real hobbyist until you've bought a second house and filled it with at least 30 tanks, each one massively overstocked and requiring you to spend at least 8 hours a day doing constant water changes.

Otherwise you're just a n00b.

\s

 

I truly believe it is about your passion and the fact you genuinely put time into it and love it

This for me. If you play an active roll in fish(or anything)keeping you are a hobbyist.

The answer is you're not a real hobbyist until you've bought a second house and filled it with at least 30 tanks, each one massively overstocked and requiring you to spend at least 8 hours a day doing constant water changes.

Otherwise you're just a n00b.

\s

I mean we're soon going to build a house and so far my contribution has been to how much space is dedicated to large fish tanks in the living room

 

I mean we're soon going to build a house and so far my contribution has been to how much space is dedicated to large fish tanks in the living room

Isn't the only acceptable answer "all of it"?

 

It’s funny but I was just thinking if I ever buy another house I’d have to test the water first before I buy! Does that make me a hobbiest? Or crazy?

 

It’s funny but I was just thinking if I ever buy another house I’d have to test the water first before I buy! Does that make me a hobbiest? Or crazy?

Why limit yourself to just one of those things? Can't you be a crazy hobbyist?

 

Well there is a line between hobbiest and crazy hobbiest! Somewhere between 1 fish and second house with 30 tanks (especially in UK)

 

Crazy is a spectrum, though, it's not absolute! I'm sure we're all a little crazy (at least) for engaging in all the work involved needed to look after them!

I don't think about the electric/water bill....

 

If you ask me, it's research. Understanding that an aquarium is more than just a box of water with fish in it, knowing a critter's needs, and properly providing for them is the difference between a hobbyist and just some guy who dabbles on a whim.

Well, that, and actively avoiding looking at your purchase history for fishy reasons.

 

My opinion is you're a hobbyist as and when you enter the hobby of having an aquarium/tank and you enjoy it.

Have a tank with only snails? You're a hobbyist.

Have a tank with only plants? You're a hobbyist.

Have a tank with only water? Screw it, sure, you're a hobbyist!

Don't have a tank, but love looking at other peoples tanks? Still a hobbyist!

The only pre-requisite to being a hobbyist, in my opinion, is that you enjoy the hobby. What you own and how you enjoy the hobby is COMPLETELY up to you.

Welcome to fishlore!! Nobody’s judging you here! Never knew there was an amount of fish you needed to to a hobbiest! Did you ever find out the exact number needed .

Never did... Too bad

Welcome to fishlore!! Nobody’s judging you here! Never knew there was an amount of fish you needed to to a hobbiest! Did you ever find out the exact number needed .

Never got that number, but I feel like it might never be enough or they'll give up when they realize the 11 tanks are all set up with fish (it's a work in progress, I have two right now, headed to the fish store today to see if there are 3 black kuhlis and maybe checking out the Bettas, but I was going to get a Betta somewhere else)