Just a rant - people who are ignorant and don't want to learn

One of my friends started a 20 gallon tank in Feb. She has platy's and tetras. She also has 3 small unfiltered, unheated bowls ( less than a gallon ) of Betta's. I am pretty much a newbie here on fishkeeping but it really makes me upset that she is killing her fish ( once a month water changes on the betta bowl ) and no water changes ( just topping off on the 20 gallon )

She has no clue about the nitrogen cycle ( I just recently learned myself ) and has NO desire to. When I gently tell her to read some things that I have learned, she says that she gets her help from Petsmart...
When I asked her what she tested the water with, she told me she didn't "need to" because that's what they told her at petsmart. When I gently disagreed, she says it "different" and that it must be a regional thing because she lives on the midwest while I am on the west coast. ( um, I believe toxins are in everyones water regardless of WHERE you live )
I know, I can only lead a horse to the water and not make them drink it.

It just upsets me that someone so smart can be so ignorant and dumb at the same time!

When I learned what I was doing was wrong, I immediately went to take steps to prevent my fish from suffering..... and I like to think I have an open mind enough to take suggestions and research the info......

Okay, rant over... I just needed to get that out to folks who HAVE fish and KNOW how to take care of them......

 

Have you asked your friend if she would like some plastic fish? They don't die, don't suffer, don't need water changes, don't need food. Don't need research either, now that I think about it. Maybe she should get some to overstock her tanks with.

 

Somebody needs a hug.

 

Somebody needs a hug. View attachment 87040

Thank you

 

I know what you mean about stubborn people. She sounds like one of those people who think only the "experts" (ie work at the store) know what they are talking about and you can't possibly know a thing. While you may not be able to get her to listen, I wonder if you tell her about a site like this and suggest it has info on some fish she may like if you could get her to swing by and read it a bit. Maybe she'd learn about it "on her own" by surfing the forum.

 

I know what you mean about stubborn people. She sounds like one of those people who think only the "experts" (ie work at the store) know what they are talking about and you can't possibly know a thing. While you may not be able to get her to listen, I wonder if you tell her about a site like this and suggest it has info on some fish she may like if you could get her to swing by and read it a bit. Maybe she'd learn about it "on her own" by surfing the forum.

I sent her a link to this site but as far as I know, she hasn't looked at it
If she was closer, I would go over there with my test kit to show her what she needs to do but for now, I just try and hope she gets the message
Thanks!

 

I sent her a link to this site but as far as I know, she hasn't looked at it
If she was closer, I would go over there with my test kit to show her what she needs to do but for now, I just try and hope she gets the message
Thanks!

Ha, I can almost picture it. Stopping over, look at the tank and um.. excuse me but can I use your bathroom and discreetly go in there to secretly test the water!

 

Ha, I can almost picture it. Stopping over, look at the tank and um.. excuse me but can I use your bathroom and discreetly go in there to secretly test the water!

or it would come down to this

 

Some people....

 

I know exactly what you mean. My sister keeps a goldfish in a bowl with no filter. She does hardly any water changes to my knowledge, and only feeds the fish once per week. When the fish dies, she goes and gets another one.

She won't listen to anything I say about fish keeping, and says things like "If you weren't supposed to keep goldfish in a bowl then why do they call it a goldfish bowl", and "goldfish only grow as big as their tank will let them."

She tells me that having a fish is too much hard work, and she can't be bothered to constantly take care of it. SHE DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF IT!

So I tell her good, maybe you should give up.

 

I'm sure your sister is a wonderful person...but that is so dumb. If she thinks that having fish is such hard work, why does she take the time to get one every time it dies???

I am a research-aholic so I've been gobbling up these forums. But it angers me to go to the store (especially Petsmart/Petco) and a) know more than the person trying to sell me fish (esp. from tanks with dead fish and b) listen to the shop workers make statements with their 'superior' knowledge (because they get a paycheck, durr *sarcasm*) to other customers who are clearly trying hard to be good fish owners and making mistakes only because of ppl who have no business selling fish.

You don't get beauty without working for it. But if you do it right, you will feel a great sense of achievement...and you will feel sad if something goes wrong. Its not ok to simply shrug and go out and get another fish and put them in what could be another potential disaster.

 

I know exactly what you mean. My sister keeps a goldfish in a bowl with no filter. She does hardly any water changes to my knowledge, and only feeds the fish once per week. When the fish dies, she goes and gets another one.

She won't listen to anything I say about fish keeping, and says things like "If you weren't supposed to keep goldfish in a bowl then why do they call it a goldfish bowl", and "goldfish only grow as big as their tank will let them."

She tells me that having a fish is too much hard work, and she can't be bothered to constantly take care of it. SHE DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF IT!

So I tell her good, maybe you should give up.

....:'(.....Oh the poor fish.....