Do you ever want to quit this hobby?

Let me start off by saying that my tanks are cycled, and I research a lot. I try so hard to provide good homes. I put fish in way larger tanks than recommended. I do proper water changes. I have tons of live plants. I heat my tanks properly. I do all the recommended things, but it seems like I just run into problem after problem. I'm either losing a betta or I have a fish with a health problem. I know there is a lot of abuse in the system, and the fish are often inbred. I know I've probably just had bad luck lately, but I feel so guilty. I care about my pets so much, and it just feels like I'm failing them. Sometimes I want to quit. I'm done complaining now.....thanks for listening....

 

Yeah the struggle is real, but I always just change what my goal is for a new tank. Sometimes if I’m frustrated I redo the aquascape of a tank and add in more plants (I love plants been growing them for years and I know I can handle at least that haha). Or I find a new species to learn about and keep my hopes up. But yeah it’s rough just know that you’re doing everything and that this is a hobby and a hobby is supposed to be fun

 

Let me start off by saying that my tanks are cycled, and I research a lot. I try so hard to provide good homes. I put fish in way larger tanks than recommended. I do proper water changes. I have tons of live plants. I heat my tanks properly. I do all the recommended things, but it seems like I just run into problem after problem. I'm either losing a betta or I have a fish with a health problem. I know there is a lot of abuse in the system, and the fish are often inbred. I know I've probably just had bad luck lately, but I feel so guilty. I care about my pets so much, and it just feels like I'm failing them. Sometimes I want to quit. I'm done complaining now.....thanks for listening....

I totally understand. I get a majority of my fish from a Petsmart/Petco so they're obviously a mess and I will admit to not always quarantining my fish properly. This has caused two separate cases months apart of columnaris and it's always tough to lose a fish. Much less losing as many as I have because of trying to speed through things. I've taken down 2 tanks already (partially because of space since I live with family and partially because of cost) and getting into full planted tanks and scaping has punched a hole in my wallet that I can't hope to fill after losing my job a few months ago. I've thought about giving up and have definitely cut back in changing my tanks like I had been (I change scapes every few months).

But then I got in and feed my fish and watch my rainbows flare at each other. I see my betta every morning eager for his pellets. watch my guppies nip at my hand as I trim or do water changes. Then, I look at my scapes and think back to the gravel and plastic decor 10-gallon I started with. I think back to the fish I lost without knowing about the cycling process nearly 2 years ago and how far I've come. And I know that even if I were to move away from home, tear down all my tanks, and try to focus on something else.... I'll inevitably start getting fishtanks going again. I'll scape them and do my best to research things and offer the best care I can. I'll hit a few bumps along the way for sure but I'll grow from that and as long as I'm doing my best and trying, I know that I'm giving my fish the best care I can which is better than them ending up in a too-small/uncycled tank with someone who doesn't care.

So, just know that you're trying and you're doing your best for them! It will be frustrating and sad sometimes but look back at what you've done and your progress to now and think of how much those fish are thriving with you you've got this BlueRaccoon.

 

Be very selective when purchasing fish. Hand pick each & every one.
Try bulletproof fish like most Barbs, Diamond & Black Skirt Tetras. BN Plecos, YoYo Loaches. So many more to choose from. Work your way up from the easy keeps to the more exotic keeps.
Btw, Bettas aren't easy to keep. Betta health issues dominate the forums.
Many believe inbreeding is the problem & that might be true, but I believe that a large percentage of the male Bettas are "Juiced". Infused with hormones for maximum color, which potentially shortens the life span.

 

I totally understand. I get a majority of my fish from a Petsmart/Petco so they're obviously a mess and I will admit to not always quarantining my fish properly. This has caused two separate cases months apart of columnaris and it's always tough to lose a fish. Much less losing as many as I have because of trying to speed through things. I've taken down 2 tanks already (partially because of space since I live with family and partially because of cost) and getting into full planted tanks and scaping has punched a hole in my wallet that I can't hope to fill after losing my job a few months ago. I've thought about giving up and have definitely cut back in changing my tanks like I had been (I change scapes every few months).

But then I got in and feed my fish and watch my rainbows flare at each other. I see my betta every morning eager for his pellets. watch my guppies nip at my hand as I trim or do water changes. Then, I look at my scapes and think back to the gravel and plastic decor 10-gallon I started with. I think back to the fish I lost without knowing about the cycling process nearly 2 years ago and how far I've come. And I know that even if I were to move away from home, tear down all my tanks, and try to focus on something else.... I'll inevitably start getting fishtanks going again. I'll scape them and do my best to research things and offer the best care I can. I'll hit a few bumps along the way for sure but I'll grow from that and as long as I'm doing my best and trying, I know that I'm giving my fish the best care I can which is better than them ending up in a too-small/uncycled tank with someone who doesn't care.

So, just know that you're trying and you're doing your best for them! It will be frustrating and sad sometimes but look back at what you've done and your progress to now and think of how much those fish are thriving with you you've got this BlueRaccoon.

Thank you! This means a lot, and is encouraging!

Yeah the struggle is real, but I always just change what my goal is for a new tank. Sometimes if I’m frustrated I redo the aquascape of a tank and add in more plants (I love plants been growing them for years and I know I can handle at least that haha). Or I find a new species to learn about and keep my hopes up. But yeah it’s rough just know that you’re doing everything and that this is a hobby and a hobby is supposed to be fun

Thank you so much!

Be very selective when purchasing fish. Hand pick each & every one.
Try bulletproof fish like most Barbs, Diamond & Black Skirt Tetras. BN Plecos, YoYo Loaches. So many more to choose from. Work your way up from the easy keeps to the more exotic keeps.
Btw, Bettas aren't easy to keep. Betta health issues dominate the forums.
Many believe inbreeding is the problem & that might be true, but I believe that a large percentage of the male Bettas are "Juiced". Infused with hormones for maximum color, which potentially shortens the life span.

Yeah, I'm starting to think the same thing about bettas. I'm done with them. All my other fish are hardy. I haven't lost any of them, but I have a couple sudden health issues. I'm definitely getting more picky about my fish. I'm learning that! Thanks for the thoughts.

 

Where I live, even the bettas at my LFS are so beyond help that I can’t get another. I was considering looking into buying online and maybe having better luck but I don’t know what’s going on with the Bettas right now it’s so sad

 

Where I live, even the bettas at my LFS are so beyond help that I can’t get another. I was considering looking into buying online and maybe having better luck but I don’t know what’s going on with the Bettas right now it’s so sad

Oh, I know. I was at a pet store the other day, and half of them were almost dead. Horrible. I bought and expensive one online and lost it. Still don't know why.

 

Recurring disease is the one thing that would cause me to quit the hobby. Might be my imagination but I don't recall it being such an issue when I first started in the hobby.

Sadly I agree that there are some species that should just be avoided these days, like Betta's, Dwarf Gouramis & Neon Tetras.

 

Recurring disease is the one thing that would cause me to quit the hobby. Might be my imagination but I don't recall it being such an issue when I first started in the hobby.

Sadly I agree that there are some species that should just be avoided these days, like Betta's, Dwarf Gouramis & Neon Tetras.

So are you thinking that disease is more common now?

That's really sad. I've heard so many problems with those species.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

My daughter asked me for a betta the other day.. I said no. She’s a horse girl and loves all animals , but she’s had some heartbreak this year with having horses put down and I just knew that betta’s were NOT going to help that situation. There’s some fish in the hobby that are becoming weaker and weaker and unfortunately the looks and attitude of the betta’s contributed to the down fall of the gene pool.

As A202 says, there’s hardier species in the hobby that provide much more enjoyment , seeing a happy healthy tank provides so much enjoyment compared to ‘rescuing’ sick fish with issues.

A species only tank is very under rated imo. Also understanding your water and catering to the species you choose that fits goes a long way too.

pathogens/diseases becoming resistant to treatments is also an issue.

 

My daughter asked me for a betta the other day.. I said no. She’s a horse girl and loves all animals , but she’s had some heartbreak this year with having horses put down and I just knew that betta’s were NOT going to help that situation. There’s some fish in the hobby that are becoming weaker and weaker and unfortunately the looks and attitude of the betta’s contributed to the down fall of the gene pool.

As A202 says, there’s hardier species in the hobby that provide much more enjoyment , seeing a happy healthy tank provides so much enjoyment compared to ‘rescuing’ sick fish with issues.

A species only tank is very under rated imo. Also understanding your water and catering to the species you choose that fits goes a long way too.

pathogens/diseases becoming resistant to treatments is also an issue.

Thank you! That is so sad about bettas. But I won't have another one either.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

 

So are you thinking that disease is more common now?

I think so. Hard to be certain, there were no internet forums in the 70's and 80's. But I see some diseased fish in almost every LFS these days and that never used to be the case.

 

Thank you! This means a lot, and is encouraging!

Thank you so much!

Yeah, I'm starting to think the same thing about bettas. I'm done with them. All my other fish are hardy. I haven't lost any of them, but I have a couple sudden health issues. I'm definitely getting more picky about my fish. I'm learning that! Thanks for the thoughts.

I gave up on Bettas too. I had 3 from 3 different places and they all seemed to last about 6 months. 2 were different lfs's and one was Petsmart.

All of my tanks are perfect for bettas, very established, with good food and clean water. Still no go. It is sad, they are very nice fish, one of my favorites.

I started trying fish I knew nothing about. Peacock Gudgeons are now taking up most of my 55g tank. My Lfs is buying some and I get store credit. But MAN were they a pain to raise.....j/k they were a learning curve also.

I also am enjoying my Scarlet Badis. They need live foods. That was another learning curve! I am lucky and one of my lfs's sell live foods.

Explore some other kinds of fish that you cant get at a box. You learn lots of new things and it keeps it interesting!

 

It's really depressing when things are going wrong. Unlike most of my problems, I can't ignore my fish with the tank right there in the living room.

 

Yes to the boom of disease. I took a hiatus from the hobby for about 5ish years and got back into it this year and I lost a school of guppies (arguably the easiest fish) to disease so quickly. And just in general when I go to my LFS and big box stores there are so many dead fish in the tanks

 

Thank you! That is so sad about bettas. But I won't have another one either.

I’m not a betta fan but if a wild one was offered to me I couldn’t confidently say I’d turn it down personable little fishies.

I think we all go through this stage at some point. We all feel like no matter what we do we run into challenges , pour money into the hobby only to end up with another issue. It’s ultimately your choice what you do , if you feel like taking a break then do that . Just keep the tanks and equipment because it’s expensive to rebuy it all when you decide to get back into it

I adopted Khuli loaches recently , something I thought i wouldn’t enjoy but wow do I love the quirky little guys ! Also the “dull” female apistos I really enjoy . Shrimps are my main joy though , even though I’m having issues with them , I actually enjoy learning.

 

Thank you everyone. Your experience, kindness, and encouragement is super appreciated and helpful. I won't be giving up yet, because I have a 55g with cherry barbs and pristella tetras. They all seem fine. Except for two pristellas I have separated. Im crossing my fingers everyone else stays healthy, and my other two weren't contagious. Thankfully, these two species are pretty hardy. We will see. I'd rather fight my algae and plant issues than dying fish......

 

Oh well if you’re just going to throw in all three issues at once .. eesh !

fish / plant / algae issues .. they are the daily battle. Keep fighting the good fight.

 

It seems like my tank has gone through everything and anything. From the "algaecide incident" to parasites and tumors, by far parasites are more annoying to me than anything. I probably would have gone plant only because I am not into fish as I thought I was (except my ABF, he is cool).

 

Oh well if you’re just going to throw in all three issues at once .. eesh !

fish / plant / algae issues .. they are the daily battle. Keep fighting the good fight.

I know, lol. It's awful! Too many problems, haha

 

It seems like my tank has gone through everything and anything. From the "algaecide incident" to parasites and tumors, by far parasites are more annoying to me than anything. I probably would have gone plant only because I am not into fish as I thought I was (except my ABF, he is cool).

I actually started as aquatic plants only, then snails, and now lots of fish haha

 

But that time when you see a healthy fish , happily feeding , or a spawn , or a new leaf on that one plant ..

Those £1000’s we’ve spent become all worth it.

 

But that time when you see a healthy fish , happily feeding , or a spawn , or a new leaf on that one plant ..

Those £1000’s we’ve spent become all worth it.

True! I should look at the positive. My plants are covered in algae, but they're massive. I have a couple sick fish, but most seem very healthy, and some are breeding.

 

True! I should look at the positive. My plants are covered in algae, but they're massive. I have a couple sick fish, but most seem very healthy, and some are breeding.

Exactly. You may have some weak souls every now and then but the babies make you love it all over again! Baybay fishies are so cute!!!

 

True! I should look at the positive. My plants are covered in algae, but they're massive. I have a couple sick fish, but most seem very healthy, and some are breeding.

My friend , we all have algae covered plants And that one fish that doesn’t do as well as the others seem to be doing. We all have a goal , be it spawning that rare fish , or having that red plant do well .. there’s always a goal ! It’s what keeps us going.

 

My friend , we all have algae covered plants And that one fish that doesn’t do as well as the others seem to be doing. We all have a goal , be it spawning that rare fish , or having that red plant do well .. there’s always a goal ! It’s what keeps us going.

Thanks for letting me know I'm having normal problems. I agree about the goal part. I would be bored if there wasn't a new goal all the time, lol

 

I think where is got hard for me was when normal advice no longer applied.

It becomes incredibly stressful trying to keep hundreds of dollars in equipment and livestock up and running on guesswork, poor advice, and sketchy research. Especially when the guesswork was usually the most reliable.

 

Completely normal problems !!
Sometimes perspective helps. You see these perfect tanks , immaculately groomed , with perfect looking fish but truth be told that’s the rarity.

Algae is massive part of tanks. As is sick fish. As is neon pink gravel and dying plants.

Do your homework. Do your research. Don’t expect perfection. Keep what’s within expectations and reasonable and what works on your water . Saves a lot of money and stress.

 

I think where is got hard for me was when normal advice no longer applied.

It becomes incredibly stressful trying to keep hundreds of dollars in equipment and livestock up and running on guesswork, poor advice, and sketchy research. Especially when the guesswork was usually the most reliable.

Interesting. That makes sense. I often feel I don't know what research to even trust.

Completely normal problems !!
Sometimes perspective helps. You see these perfect tanks , immaculately groomed , with perfect looking fish but truth be told that’s the rarity.

Algae is massive part of tanks. As is sick fish. As is neon pink gravel and dying plants.

Do your homework. Do your research. Don’t expect perfection. Keep what’s within expectations and reasonable and what works on your water . Saves a lot of money and stress.

That's what it is. I watch all these videos of incredible tanks on YouTube.

 

Research only gets you so far. If you look at the pinned article about fish disease, you'll find it's pretty vague. The drugs for fish are crude at best and it's hard to say in many cases what's wrong.

My first betta lived a little over 2 years. When I had the second one for about 3 months, it didn't eat one evening, and the next day it died. No visible wounds or fungus or parasites. So far so good with the third one.

BlueRaccoon, thanks for starting this thread. I'm having some fish problems right now, and it's not like the other things I have going on are suddenly on hold so I can concentrate on my aquariums, this was a good chance to blow off steam.

 

I've had my share of problems. I don't have an "algae" problem, but I have this:


3 months going on 4 of a major diatom bloom. That's about as good as it gets without a 75% water change, and then it's getting like this again within a week.
The good news, this won't hurt the fish, it's an eyesore, I'd like it to be clear, but the fish are totally fine and that's what's important, not how pretty the tank should be.

I don't keep plants, too much work and I'm not good at it. I keep rocks, they are easy.

I had multiple tanks and drove myself crazy with maintenence and dead fish and as they died, stopped replacing them and shut it all down to just 1 20g tank and when the last fish died, I got two baby kissing gourami figuring "labyrinth fish and pretty peaceful and hardy let's just keep it simple" they ate and grew and I coasted with just that for 10 years, when one day I looked at things hard and thought, "dang these guys are big and can't move in there anymore, maybe I should restart the 72g for them".

10 years had gone by like that. Me a 20g and those two kissing gouramis and that's what brought me back in again. I got some 3 spot gourami to join the kissers, and 6 juvenile angelfish for the 20g to start growing out and trying to pair. That failed over like 3 years time never getting a viable spawn and the angels dying off here or there, then I tried another group of 6 angels but got different types and from different stores, 2 at a time. and that's when genetics improved as did lifespans. Yeah, mutts but good genetics. And now have my spawning pair and a tank of just about 1 year old adult male angels that I grew from eggs over the past year.

Sometimes it's just too much and you need a break or just need to make it easier and downsize and simplify. Had I sold off my tanks and equipment I might never have gotten back into it. Had I not spent 10 years coasting on easy with two fish and a small tank I may not have found an excuse to draw me back into it again.

If you loved the hobby at one point though, sometimes going back to that point is the best course of action, when it was fun and easy instead of going forward to more and difficult.

I know a guy that keeps guppies in a really large planter on the porch and doesn't do anything except top off when he needs to with some collected rain water and feeds them a bit of flake if he feels like it, and scooping out what he can and some water and moving them inside on the colder nights ( it dont get cold here often). He's got some nice guppies, not breeding for money, not breeding for a new strain, just keeping fish as simply as he can and leaving them on autopilot mostly adding some new fish here or there when he feels he has to when he loses some to cold or if he gets raided by a racoon or bird or cat, it happens sometimes. Most fish don't have huge lifespans and things happen in the wild or in a planter or in a tank. The good things I think outweigh the bad if you can just look past the bad.

Best of luck to you!

 

Research only gets you so far. If you look at the pinned article about fish disease, you'll find it's pretty vague. The drugs for fish are crude at best and it's hard to say in many cases what's wrong.

My first betta lived a little over 2 years. When I had the second one for about 3 months, it didn't eat one evening, and the next day it died. No visible wounds or fungus or parasites. So far so good with the third one.

BlueRaccoon, thanks for starting this thread. I'm having some fish problems right now, and it's not like the other things I have going on are suddenly on hold so I can concentrate on my aquariums, this was a good chance to blow off steam.

It's rough. What happened to your second betta happened to two of my bettas. So awful and confusing. I wish you luck with your aquariums.

I've had my share of problems. I don't have an "algae" problem, but I have this:
View attachment 869955
3 months going on 4 of a major diatom bloom. That's about as good as it gets without a 75% water change, and then it's getting like this again within a week.
The good news, this won't hurt the fish, it's an eyesore, I'd like it to be clear, but the fish are totally fine and that's what's important, not how pretty the tank should be.

I don't keep plants, too much work and I'm not good at it. I keep rocks, they are easy.

I had multiple tanks and drove myself crazy with maintenence and dead fish and as they died, stopped replacing them and shut it all down to just 1 20g tank and when the last fish died, I got two baby kissing gourami figuring "labyrinth fish and pretty peaceful and hardy let's just keep it simple" they ate and grew and I coasted with just that for 10 years, when one day I looked at things hard and thought, "dang these guys are big and can't move in there anymore, maybe I should restart the 72g for them".

10 years had gone by like that. Me a 20g and those two kissing gouramis and that's what brought me back in again. I got some 3 spot gourami to join the kissers, and 6 juvenile angelfish for the 20g to start growing out and trying to pair. That failed over like 3 years time never getting a viable spawn and the angels dying off here or there, then I tried another group of 6 angels but got different types and from different stores, 2 at a time. and that's when genetics improved as did lifespans. Yeah, mutts but good genetics. And now have my spawning pair and a tank of just about 1 year old adult male angels that I grew from eggs over the past year.

Sometimes it's just too much and you need a break or just need to make it easier and downsize and simplify. Had I sold off my tanks and equipment I might never have gotten back into it. Had I not spent 10 years coasting on easy with two fish and a small tank I may not have found an excuse to draw me back into it again.

If you loved the hobby at one point though, sometimes going back to that point is the best course of action, when it was fun and easy instead of going forward to more and difficult.

I know a guy that keeps guppies in a really large planter on the porch and doesn't do anything except top off when he needs to with some collected rain water and feeds them a bit of flake if he feels like it, and scooping out what he can and some water and moving them inside on the colder nights ( it dont get cold here often). He's got some nice guppies, not breeding for money, not breeding for a new strain, just keeping fish as simply as he can and leaving them on autopilot mostly adding some new fish here or there when he feels he has to when he loses some to cold or if he gets raided by a racoon or bird or cat, it happens sometimes. Most fish don't have huge lifespans and things happen in the wild or in a planter or in a tank. The good things I think outweigh the bad if you can just look past the bad.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it! You all are making me feel better for sure.