Copycats: Fish Edition

No... this isn't about copycat fish. Sorry! But does anyone else have a copycat in their family or friend group?

I decided to get fish a while back and have been planning my tank and researching for quite a while and then my aunt got a tank, ran it a week and got fish before I even set up my tank. No big deal but she didn't do any research. She went with different fish to me, thankfully, but my sis and I mentioned to her about in the future getting a community tank with tetras (maybe neons) and now she's decided to she wants to add tetras (without any research about them) to her 15 gallon with two guppies and two mollies. Fair enough. Tetras are pretty standard and popular. BUT then we were in our LFS today and I mentioned in the future, when I upgrade my 5 gallon that I would like to get some kuhlI loaches and now she's saying she might get some of them too. Again, no research or anything. What's more frustrating is she then asked the dude in the LFS if she could keep kuhlI loaches with her guppies, mollies and future tetras and he said 'probably'... :/ He didn't even inquire about her set up or anything (typical really...) I'm just glad that she's not getting a betta. She seemed really interested in them at the store and even though I've said loads of times that males must be housed on their own, she still asked the LFS dude. Lol.

I feel like as bad as it is that she so blindly has gone into everything, it feels worse when they are fish that you really want yourself and have researched and stuff.

So yeah, does anyone else have a copycat that seems to want the fish they do? Haha.

 

Knock it if you want, but you are inspiring her to get into the aquarium hobby. Instead of chastising her for not doing research, maybe you could be like "hey, since you're interested in kuhlI loaches, here's some information about them".

Yeah, she's copy-catting you. So what? Let her. If she enjoys this tank enough, she'll start paving her own path. I think she's following your lead right now because she doesn't have the knowledge to make her own stocking choices.

Encourage her to sign up for an account here so she can talk to other hobbyists and learn from us.

 

No, but at least you have people that won't be bored by your fish talk!
I can tell my friends aren't into it, so I have to come on Fishlore to geek out with other fish people

 

No, but at least you have people that won't be bored by your fish talk!
I can tell my friends aren't into it, so I have to come on Fishlore to geek out with other fish people

Me too!!!!! I talk about stuff and they all look at me like I'm crazy and I know even when I explain things they still don't get it lol

 

Why must males be kept alone? You just need a correctly sized tank. I never had that problem since most people are scared off by anything bigger than a 20 gallon tank.

 

Knock it if you want, but you are inspiring her to get into the aquarium hobby. Instead of chastising her for not doing research, maybe you could be like "hey, since you're interested in kuhlI loaches, here's some information about them".

Yeah, she's copy-catting you. So what? Let her. If she enjoys this tank enough, she'll start paving her own path. I think she's following your lead right now because she doesn't have the knowledge to make her own stocking choices.

Encourage her to sign up for an account here so she can talk to other hobbyists and learn from us.

I do encourage her and advise her but it doesn't make it any less frustrating when people don't learn from previous mistakes that have resulted in dead fish. Or when you try to advise someone and they don't seem to want/trust/listen to your advice and double check with people that have already steered them wrong. I guess maybe I have less patience than you. Haha.

She's isn't really an online/forum type of person but I have been encouraging her to check things online etc. Thankfully she's done that a couple of times.

No, but at least you have people that won't be bored by your fish talk!
I can tell my friends aren't into it, so I have to come on Fishlore to geek out with other fish people

Haha! You would think but sadly that's not the case. My family are kinda weird in that even if we share the same interests, they find me 'fanatical' and usually zone out or laugh at me when I talk about things, including my fish talk. Which is probably why, despite me talking constantly about why I wasn't getting fish and about doing a fishless cycle etc, she hadn't heard of the nitrogen cycle until an ammonia spike killed two of her guppies.

Tbf, I would zone out listening to myself too.

 

Well, my parents (mainly my mom) doesn’t really understand why I do things, and she’ll often question what I am doing, and the point of it. I just say what I am doing, and ignore anything else, and go about my business.

My brothers have all gotten their own tanks (and more) but they did do the research, and they did understand how to take care of the fish they were buying. I was the first to start off the fishkeeping trend in the house.

I even passed on hermit crabs to my brother, which is why we both have some.

 

Well, my parents (mainly my mom) doesn’t really understand why I do things, and she’ll often question what I am doing, and the point of it. I just say what I am doing, and ignore anything else, and go about my business.

My brothers have all gotten their own tanks (and more) but they did do the research, and they did understand how to take care of the fish they were buying. I was the first to start off the fishkeeping trend in the house.

I even passed on hermit crabs to my brother, which is why we both have some.

That's awesome that you all have a shared interest. I mean my sister wants fish too and I'm excited for her to get a community tank in the future cos we feel the same in regards to research and pet care (tho we live together so I mean... that's probably cheating haha) and like I said, I wouldn't mind her using my ideas at all if my aunt did research etc. Hopefully as time goes on she will start to and it'll stress me out less. Lol.

 

Honestly, I think it's something that happens in the entire fishkeeping hobby and as a result, here at Fishlore as well. A"new" fish makes an appearance and nearly everyone wants to get their hands on that fish species. At FL, Electric blue acara and shelldwellers in general, to mention a few, have received attention and admiration from members and currently, a particular line of EBA was/is being bred and distributed per request among members.
It's almost like the domino effect, one member gets their hands on a cool fish and goes "Hey! I should show it off on Fishlore!" And not long after they post a picture studded thread, the same fish starts to show up in everyone's tanks. Quite funny I think, I don't mind it at all.

I do understand your main point though: don't go off following one of these trends unless you are capable of doing so responsibly and have done adequate research.

 

Yeah, I can see that being a thing. I mean I guess that happens in every hobby and in life in general.

But yeah, that is my point and why I find it particularly frustrating. I mean my sister and I have a lot of the same pets and I've never had an issue with it (though you might have to ask her if she does haha) but it's just like.. in this day and age there's really no excuse not to do at least some research. I don't want to inspire someone if they're going to half things but hopefully she'll prove me wrong!