Seriously How many of you guys believe this......

Its commonly said that fish keeping is compared to plants. Either you have it or you don't... meaning the green thumb. Some people say they can not keep a plant (not a fish tank plant but a plant plant) alive no matter what they do or do not do they die. I have also heard the same thing about this hobby. "I use to have fish but it was so much work and my fish kept dying no matter what I did or didn't do I just couldn't keep them alive so I gave up)

Now honestly how many of you guys and gals believe there is any truth to this? It is a fact that many people can not keep fish. They just have no luck and everything seems to go wrong for them. What are your thoughts on this?

 

It's not a fact that many people can't keep fish because things "just go wrong" for them.... it's a fact that people who don't learn how to keep fish properly have issues keeping fish alive. Which frankly isn't surprising.

I can't keep plants alive. I have the thumb of death. I always do something wrong. I don't think it's a fluke or bad luck, I know it's me. Either forgetting to water them, or over watering, or leaving them in the sun too long, or having the wrong soil... I'm sure the list goes on.

My fish are, for the most part, healthy and happy.

 

I believe it is more of a matter of what you enjoy and want to dedicate you life to. For example, before I was married I had an orchid. It grew great, healthy, I divided it every year or so, flowers lasted about 9 months, it was great. Once I got married my wife decided orchids are beautiful, we got some more, but all of my routines changed. We lost every orchid we had, including the many pots of the one I had been carefully cultivating.
Same me, different world (as it were).

I think that everything in life is this way. Sometimes out habits and environment naturally work well with certain activities, other times we have to work really hard to make those things work, and some times even with so much effort our lives and health begins to suffer we cannot make certain things work. If we really want those things, we have to change something - our environment, our habits, or what we want.

Our world can be what we make of it, we just have to be willing to make it.

p.s. right now I have a betta tank in a terrarium, in an effort to sustain humidity for the last couple of orchids we got. It doesn't look like it's going well for the orchids, but the idea has really awesome visual potential. I may be putting some more design work into combined aquarium in a terrarium (not quite riparium, but close) and see if we can get orchids to stay alive again. Trying to change environment to suit my habits. Probably be end of the year before I get free time to work on it. Maybe I will ask everyone for 3/8 inch plate glass for gifts this year.

 

p.s. right now I have a betta tank in a terrarium, in an effort to sustain humidity for the last couple of orchids we got. It doesn't look like it's going well for the orchids, but the idea has really awesome visual potential. I may be putting some more design work into combined aquarium in a terrarium (not quite riparium, but close) and see if we can get orchids to stay alive again. Trying to change environment to suit my habits. Probably be end of the year before I get free time to work on it. Maybe I will ask everyone for 3/8 inch plate glass for gifts this year.

Must have photos!

 

It's not a fact that many people can't keep fish because things "just go wrong" for them.... it's a fact that people who don't learn how to keep fish properly have issues keeping fish alive. Which frankly isn't surprising.

Totally agree. Keeping anything alive takes a bit of desire and effort.

 

I'll have to get some photos later - apparently all I have right now is poor attempts to get a shot of the betta. Which I will show.


None of the visible plants are in the tank.

 

I don't believe in "luck"
Its a concerted effort between science and knowledge. Anyone can keep fish if they learned what keeps them healthy and alive.
I have a great example: My friend and I both bought our fishes over a year and a half ago. She claims she has bad luck because almost every fish she has had since then has died.
She does NOT want to be bothered with learning the basics ( no knowledge of the Nitrogen cycle ) and keeps fish in bowls, unheated, etc
She claims its just "the circle of life"
While I can disagree and argue with her, I have found that she will not listen so be it.......

 

I use to say the exact same thing about house and outdoor plants. Until my neighbor graciously took me under her wing and helped teach me some plant basics (she went out with us on Mothers Day to help me pick out tons of plants for a newb). I haven't killed any of them yet!!

Having said that.... I now believe that if you have the knowledge you should be able to keep plants alive and have them flourish. That goes for fish as well.

 

I think it applies to anything is life really and not just limited to fish keeping or keeping something alive. Like Cygnus said, it takes a bit of desire and effort as well.

The lesson here, is to learn from your problems, mistakes, educate yourself and most importantly, never ever GIVEUP! Anything's achievable if you're willing to.

 

Their are many variables when it comes to success. Things like location can affect plant growth as well as tap water parameters, time available for watering vs proper care of your aquarium, and prior knowledge is very important.

Last summer I spent hours researching tactics to keep plants and fish alive and healthy easily, which made the rest easy. Now that school has started I barely remember to feed my fish, lol. I havn't done a water change in a couple weeks (don't worry, my water is fine, haha), which makes me grateful for doing it right the first time.

In any case, as long as you utilize the internet you can learn the trick of the trade and accomplish anything.

 

Lots of good points I must say! It is all interesting to me. It seems in many cases when people try to hard is when it hurts more than helps. I have mentioned many times that I rarely do water changes, I never test my water... I just do not get all bent out of shape over it. With this said I never lose a fish. However the next person test their water, does weekly water changes on a schedule etc etc yet they get diseases, their fish die etc... many people let the water sit for hours to warm up or get to room temp. while doing water changes, they make sure and use prime or whatever to remove the elements from the tap water and really put a lot of time into doing these things. I fill up my buckets based on the finger test for the right temp lol... I don't treat it and I dump it in the tank. After all my water is added back in I may put in some stress coat in the sump and that's that. I do not always even treat the water going in from the tap. I never have problems. So I don't know what it is but there seems to be a natural skill to it I think and I do think not everyone has that natural skill but this is all theory of course.

Long story short I see people really going by the book and doing everything right putting a lot of time and effort into this yet their stock dies or becomes ill. Its just interesting to me I guess. One of those things. I do appreciate you guys giving some feedback on the topic. I thought it would be a interesting topic to bring up to collect your thoughts.

 

I think keeping plants is vastly different from keeping fish so don't get where someone would relate them like that. And I also think that's it's like with any other hobby you might take up. If your heart is truly in it and you're willing to do the work (a/k/a research), you'll end up with satisfying results.

People fail for lack of trying, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. They're screaming "uncle" before the first curveballs even been thrown at them. Those are the people who say "I can't do this".

 

About three weeks ago, I gave in to the persistant pestering that only a ten year old is capable of attaining and purchased an Axolotl at my LFS. Having never kept them and with only a little knowledge, I asked how well they do in the tropics. I'm on first name terms with the owners of my LFS and they truthfully let me know that most people in this part of the world don't do very well with them.

Instead of just accepting that most people don't do well with them, I spent a couple of days reading everything and anything about them. Then having spent $15.00 for the animal, proceded to spend almost another $100 to buy a load of plumbing supplies and yet another pump so that I could provide a low flow environment and now have the whole family invovled with replacing the frozen 2L bottles of water every 4-6 hours that keep the water chilled down to 20 C. I'm currently on the lookout for a small second hand bar fridge that I can turn into a full blown chiller.

Here's where the difference between "Oh they just die" and "I don't have any problems" comes in. When I tell people I spent $750 to take the dog that was adopted from a shelter to the vet because of a paralysis tick, they agree it was expensive but needed to be done. When you tell them you've spent $100 to build a life support system for a species that's critically endangered in the wild and only the aquarium trade is likely to prevent its extinction, they tell you you're mad.

We live in a mammalcentric world. People can immediately see the need for decent food, shelter and general care for something furry. They're pretty much the same as their own needs. When you move to a completely different (aquatic) environment they're at a loss. People have problems relating to the fact that other species have just as much value as say a dog or cat.

The only answer is education and we all know how much you can teach someone who doesn't want to learn.

 

I'll have to get some photos later - apparently all I have right now is poor attempts to get a shot of the betta. Which I will show.View attachment 125051

None of the visible plants are in the tank.

Omg... is that an Aquadene Thermometer? I have the same one!

 

About three weeks ago, I gave in to the persistant pestering that only a ten year old is capable of attaining and purchased an Axolotl at my LFS. Having never kept them and with only a little knowledge, I asked how well they do in the tropics. I'm on first name terms with the owners of my LFS and they truthfully let me know that most people in this part of the world don't do very well with them.

Instead of just accepting that most people don't do well with them, I spent a couple of days reading everything and anything about them. Then having spent $15.00 for the animal, proceded to spend almost another $100 to buy a load of plumbing supplies and yet another pump so that I could provide a low flow environment and now have the whole family invovled with replacing the frozen 2L bottles of water every 4-6 hours that keep the water chilled down to 20 C. I'm currently on the lookout for a small second hand bar fridge that I can turn into a full blown chiller.

Here's where the difference between "Oh they just die" and "I don't have any problems" comes in. When I tell people I spent $750 to take the dog that was adopted from a shelter to the vet because of a paralysis tick, they agree it was expensive but needed to be done. When you tell them you've spent $100 to build a life support system for a species that's critically endangered in the wild and only the aquarium trade is likely to prevent its extinction, they tell you you're mad.

We live in a mammalcentric world. People can immediately see the need for decent food, shelter and general care for something furry. They're pretty much the same as their own needs. When you move to a completely different (aquatic) environment they're at a loss. People have problems relating to the fact that other species have just as much value as say a dog or cat.

The only answer is education and we all know how much you can teach someone who doesn't want to learn.

Agreed. People around me think I am crazy for having 280 gallons of water in a glass tank in my house. I think its awesome! I do not go into what I spend with these people or they really would fall over with a heart attack. They just do not get the passion over fish. I love the hobby and will always be in the hobby as long as I can be. I have spent a lot of money just in the past 6 months and I mean thousands but its what I enjoy so I don't sweat it. I work for a reason and I believe in life that we live one life so fill it with what you enjoy and makes you smile. This could be the case with anything. I literally did a order on amazon for just shy of $500 on Saturday. Granted it wasn't all for my wet friends but a portion of it is. I may be a little nutty with putting something over 3000 pounds on a second story of my house that if busted or leaked could cause me thousands of dollars but hey. I checked it all out and felt comfortable with it so that's all that matters. If disaster strikes... which could very well happen then I will deal with that when it comes. (knock on wood) I have never had a tank bust or leak. My tank came from a place called "glasscages.com" and if you get some down time check out this site. These people make the most amazing tanks and I am talking quality. You can design and pick and choose everything about your tank. Its a neat site and when I spoke to the owner some time back he told me then that he was one of the largest suppliers of custom tanks in the country. He does not do pet stores or any of that but he does the tanks like you see in vegas, restaurants, doctors offices and all that sort of environment. He also sells a lot to the consumer. Nevertheless! I encourage everyone to take a look at that site.

 

I believe what everyone else is saying, its the WORK involved. Research, water changes, feedings, algae scraping, plant trimming is all work. Most people start out with good intentions but then school activities start, and you have to do an extra report for work and the tire on the car went flat and next thing you know you have a dead fish, or plant, or a hyper dog because he never got walked, or a child with diaper rash because you didn't get right on it (extreme example, I know).

I keep fish, have grown roses in the past, have a sleepy dog and raised kids and enjoyed every minute of it. When people come over they are amazed. And I just say its easy. And it is because I enjoy it and make time for it and am proud when people sit there and watch my tank in amazement while petting my dog as my daughter works on her homework. Of course I have a VERY supportive wife, couldn't do it without her. But the work we put into our (really my) passions is nothing compared to the joy we get out of them. I think that is the difference.