What Kind of Fish Do You Simply Not Understand Why People Keep?

This may have been said already, but I just saw balloon gouramis and think they are the dumbest thing ever.

I don't mind many of the genetically "enhanced" fish, but there are some that just look deformed (I'm looking at YOU black moors, brain-popped-out-japanese-name-goldfish, balloon gouramis). I actually like the photos I've seen of balloon gbrs, and like the cute look of my balloon platy, though, so maybe I'm just confused!

The one I can't understand (other than maybe a "this is cool" animal) are axolotls. Many look like baked mole rats with their gills hanging out. I'm not trying to offend anyone that has them, but I personally don't think that they are cute at all. I think they are COOL, but just not something I'd get... (maybe I'm biased because I couldn't have a community tank with them lol)
 

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This may have been said already, but I just saw balloon gouramis and think they are the dumbest thing ever.

I don't mind many of the genetically "enhanced" fish, but there are some that just look deformed (I'm looking at YOU black moors, brain-popped-out-japanese-name-goldfish, balloon gouramis). I actually like the photos I've seen of balloon gbrs, and like the cute look of my balloon platy, though, so maybe I'm just confused!

The one I can't understand (other than maybe a "this is cool" animal) are axolotls. Many look like baked mole rats with their gills hanging out. I'm not trying to offend anyone that has them, but I personally don't think that they are cute at all. I think they are COOL, but just not something I'd get... (maybe I'm biased because I couldn't have a community tank with them lol)
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I think many people, myself included, find axolotls ADORABLE!!! They have lil smiley faces and they come out to greet you when you walk past them. It's also kinda cool, for me at least, to see an aquatic animal with legs. I actually wanted an axolotl long before I wanted fish. They're both cute AND cool. They also don't need heaters, which is nice.
 

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I think axolotls are cute, they look like lizards with fluffy ears. The ones that I've seen IRL were kind of boring because they were just kind of sitting there, but those were kept in terribly small tank, so I have no idea what their normal behaviour is.
 
I think many people, myself included, find axolotls ADORABLE!!! They have lil smiley faces and they come out to greet you when you walk past them. It's also kinda cool, for me at least, to see an aquatic animal with legs. I actually wanted an axolotl long before I wanted fish. They're both cute AND cool. They also don't need heaters, which is nice.
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I didn't know about them coming out to greet you... I kind of want one now... lol
 
I think many people, myself included, find axolotls ADORABLE!!! They have lil smiley faces and they come out to greet you when you walk past them. It's also kinda cool, for me at least, to see an aquatic animal with legs. I actually wanted an axolotl long before I wanted fish. They're both cute AND cool. They also don't need heaters, which is nice.
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I can definitely see why some might find them ‘cool’ and interesting. Keeping them can also be especially educational for children given their amazing biology and their place on the evolutionary tree of life.
 
I didn't know about them coming out to greet you... I kind of want one now... lol
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Well, depends on the axolotl, but many do. They're very food motivated, so as long as they associate you with food, they'll likely come out and beg.
I think axolotls are cute, they look like lizards with fluffy ears. The ones that I've seen IRL were kind of boring because they were just kind of sitting there, but those were kept in terribly small tank, so I have no idea what their normal behaviour is.
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They aren't super active, but they definitely don't just sit there. The more places they have to explore and the bigger the tank, the more I see them moving around.
 

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For me it’s probably, and I know this is insane and no one has said this already, glo fish. As for the things other people have said I just this there are so many other types of cool fish you can get.
 
For me it’s probably, and I know this is insane and no one has said this already, glo fish. As for the things other people have said I just this there are so many other types of cool fish you can get.
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It was said a lot on the first page of this thread.
 
Saltwater species in general. I could easily start a small saltwater aquarium, but I'm just not that interested.
 

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For me it’s probably, and I know this is insane and no one has said this already, glo fish. As for the things other people have said I just this there are so many other types of cool fish you can get.
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It was said a lot on the first page of this thread.
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Lol I'm pretty sure they were joking/sarcasm.
 
Here's another perspective on size. Most of the "monster fish" sold in the hobby aren't really monster-sized, so that word gets thrown around too liberally. Common plecos, Oscars, and Red Devils are relatively large in the context of fishkeeping, but still not unmanageable or financially unattainable to properly keep for many people. I don't even consider koi to be "monsters." The only fish you mentioned that constitute as a true monster is the Arapaima.

Now to answer your question, I don't get bubble-eyed goldfish. Because of line-breeding, they're delicate, short-lived, and come with a myriad of genetic issues; but because they're supposedly "cute," it's okay. Another fish I don't get are bettas. I can understand having one or two, but I don't find them that alluring to occupy as much space and real estate that some people give them. I would never split a 10g or 20g in half for a single fish.
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I don't get any kind of goldfish unless you just like doing water changes. As for Bettas, I have 2. Either can go into the community tank (not at the same time) and a 3g for the guy in solitary. My sister in law keeps 3 in one of those Betta Falls, basically 6" squares. I think that is cruel. But I wouldn't split a big tank for a betta. Big tanks are for lots of flash and movement lol.
 
I have some in cattle troughs to control algae and mosquito larvae. Is that okay?
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Dont ask me. I said I dont get it. I'm not going to say what you can or can't do. I was just playing the game
 
Fancy deformed goldfish and Flowerhorns......Sorry owners of those fish just not my cup of tea.
 
It’s funny this list comes up a lot. Something nobody ever mentions is discus. Glo-fish flowerhorns but never discus. You do realize you’ll never find discus in these colors in the wild. They’ve all been bred into these colors. But everybody excepts that as ok. I find it funny and wonder why?
 
It’s funny this list comes up a lot. Something nobody ever mentions is discus. Glo-fish flowerhorns but never discus. You do realize you’ll never find discus in these colors in the wild. They’ve all been bred into these colors. But everybody excepts that as ok. I find it funny and wonder why?
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I mentioned them in the "Unpopular Opinions" thread. I called them over glorified panfish. No offense to you or anyone, but I've caught and pan fried prettier fish. I didn't mention Discus here, because I do get why people like them, and I'd want them myself in the future, but not for aesthetics.
 
Fish intentionally bred with deformed bodies. Would you want to live with your body deformed like that?
 
The one I can't understand (other than maybe a "this is cool" animal) are axolotls. Many look like baked mole rats with their gills hanging out. I'm not trying to offend anyone that has them, but I personally don't think that they are cute at all. I think they are COOL, but just not something I'd get... (maybe I'm biased because I couldn't have a community tank with them lol)
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Part of why I love my axolotl is because it's extremely easy to care for. It's probably one of the easiest pets I've ever owned, aside from crayfish. The care and maintenance is completely uncomplicated and you don't even feed em every day.

The other reason is because they have a sort of dumb charm around them. They're cute in an utterly useless kind of way- they have fat bodies, tiny limbs, vacant expressions, and they are absolutely terrible at eating. It's kind of like one of those deformed goldfish breeds that can barely swim, except an axolotl's doofy appearance is natural and healthy, not some manmade crime against nature. They also will swim up to you if they notice you nearby, boop their noses on the glass and beg for food like a slow and weird pufferfish.

... I totally understand why you might not be charmed by them though. I've met a lot of people who're creeped out by their beady eyes and wrinkly skin.
 
Part of why I love my axolotl is because it's extremely easy to care for. It's probably one of the easiest pets I've ever owned, aside from crayfish. The care and maintenance is completely uncomplicated and you don't even feed em every day.

The other reason is because they have a sort of dumb charm around them. They're cute in an utterly useless kind of way- they have fat bodies, tiny limbs, vacant expressions, and they are absolutely terrible at eating. It's kind of like one of those deformed goldfish breeds that can barely swim, except an axolotl's doofy appearance is natural and healthy, not some manmade crime against nature. They also will swim up to you if they notice you nearby, boop their noses on the glass and beg for food like a slow and weird pufferfish.

... I totally understand why you might not be charmed by them though. I've met a lot of people who're creeped out by their beady eyes and wrinkly skin.
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Omg you described it PERFECTLY! They’re adorable in the most stupid way possible, but they’re naturally that way.
 

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Lol I'm pretty sure they were joking/sarcasm.
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I'm pretty vocal anti-glofish and I don't think the others that said they don't get them are of a much different opinion.
 
There are a couple of natives that are part of the Australian hobby that should not be in it.
I fully understand how a young country boy would want to have an Australian icon. Strangely the Rainbowfish is considered a good live bait and nothing more by many country folk. Our own breed of young redneck kid is feed our own flavour of country and western music. Along with this goes stories of the good old days etc. Exactly what any young kid thinks he is going to do with an 8 plus foot fish is beyond me. Unfortunately many country chain stores sell our Murray cod to kids along with a 4 foot fresh water barramundi that needs salt water as it ages.

As a recreational fishing person I realise many small river Murray cod grow much smaller than 8 feet. Now days 4 feet is a trophy fish that is often released.
 
I grew up with fancy goldfish, but after a while, I realized they are one of the worst fish to keep in the aquarium. This is mainly due to the fact that they are overzealous eater and they have almost no personality.
 
It’s funny this list comes up a lot. Something nobody ever mentions is discus. Glo-fish flowerhorns but never discus. You do realize you’ll never find discus in these colors in the wild. They’ve all been bred into these colors. But everybody excepts that as ok. I find it funny and wonder why?
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Personally I'm not concerned about unnatural colours as much as I'd be about unnatural anatomy. It doesn't hurt a fish. I don't mind glofish for the same reason, I actually thought they're cool in sort of a sci-fi way, but was disappointed to find out you need special lights for them to glow. Anyway, what I don't get about discus is - are they really worth the trouble? Other that a challenge to overcome, I see no point, aesthetically they go to the same category as angelfish for me, which is a nice no-nonsense fish as far as I know.
 
What exactly is the species pictured? My LFS was Monster Aquariums in Queens, NY. I saw everything from Giant gouramie, Platinum Alligator gar, to even Arapaima and Goonch catfish being sold I said in my first post above, I don't consider Oscars and plecos as monsters.
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Those are Goonch.
Locally an old LFS had arapaima, goliath tiger fish, sturgeon, RTCs, gar, etc. The only 2-3 fresh water monsters I can think of off the top of my head I never saw there would be mekong cat, bull shark, and Nile perch. Not so sure about the mekong. I'd say the tiger fish probably need the most space because they like to move fast.
The current one has stingrays which can get huge, Arrowana, and the occasional tank buster like goonch. I think things like the goonch will be "one time" because the owner wants to have carried them, like the platinum sturgeon that ended up with a commercial aquarium. There are some adonis there now, which can get pretty meaty if you have the years. The only RTCs he has had in store IIRC were his and NFS in a large pool build out of lumber. IIRC he had something big that shouldn't have ever come in come in with a shipment of something else, snakehead maybe? Whatever it was was gone in minutes. It isn't like a snake head can live in the wild here.
Even big box stores carry "bad plan" fish like arrowana, koi, and the occasional RTC... and bettas in shot glasses.
 
Really? I think they are great! They are shy but their social behaviour is very interesting. One time one was sitting near the glass so I put my finger up to it and he tried to feel it with his feelers.
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Most people think they're great, I really don't get why. I can only assume its because they haven't kept more interesting fish for comparison.

My silver dollars play catch and snatch algae wafers off each other. My severum and angelfish follow my hand and will let me hand feed them. My convict is hilariously moody. My pictus race eachother and sit in the mouth of their caves defending them from anything near the entrance (including non suspecting food that floats by) my denisons shoot around the tank like bullets and weave inbetween the decor

My honey gouramis swim over there... then over here. Leisurely.

In fairness to them its not specifically HGs its lots of little tropical fish that bore me (unless they're nice schoolers like cardinals)
 
Roseline sharks, rainbowfish, and a lot of barbs. I don’t really like the look of those type of fish, idk why.
 
Roseline sharks, rainbowfish, and a lot of barbs. I don’t really like the look of those type of fish, idk why.
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Huh, to me the denison barb/roseline shark is probably the prettiest of the barbs. The only reason I got rosy barbs instead is because denisons are too big . But then again, I think barbs in general are nice if somewhat simple-looking fish, so my standards are different...
 
Barbs are too closely related to carp and goldfish for my liking. But many of them are hardy and colourful and I can understand why they would appeal.
 

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  • Thread Starter
  • #82
I don't get why people buy fish like the iridescent shark. They get too big. They're sensitive too.
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Its due to the ornamental fish trade labeling a catfish as a 'shark' makes for amazing amounts of sales. I am going to admit- when I was 6 and it said shark I had to have it. Then I bragged to my classmates I had sharks. (Though I had bala sharks, not iridescent, same concept applies). It is probably the largest issue in the aquarium trade- bad names for fish that produce sales instead of good homes.
 
I was listening to a podcast recently, and the interviewer asked the interviewee what fish they simply don't understand why people keep it, and that got me thinking. What kind of fish do others out there simply not understand why others want it?

So here is mine and my reasoning.

1) Monster fish.
Pretty obvious why, but just going to throw it out there, I do own a Mbu Puffer, but he was a rescue. I actually decided against getting one a while ago due to the size. My ultimate reason for this is why would your average person want a fish that grows 4ft or bigger. Being honest, the demographic of people who want them compared to those who can actually have a place for them is so off. I can walk into almost any shop and say 'I want a red-tailed catfish' and next week I pay $14.99 for one whom I can then keep in a 10 gallon like many others- let alone, in 4 months you're feeding it whole frozen shrimp, and in a year its like a pound a day and it just keeps growing. I am not going to limit this to just those either, I include things like oscars, red devils, Dovii, common pleco, god forbid if anybody gets an arapaima. I am not here to state these fish are not cool/pretty, but just stating that the majority of them who have them, probably shouldn't, and the retail industry sells them like mad. In addition to this, normal people think something like a 29 gallon is a 'big' tank and a 55 is 'huge'.

My second one, I hardly understand, but think is ridiculous is glo-fish.
There's all these other options out there to have a slice of nature with silk plants or fake plants with nice pea gravel, and you choose to get the neon pink gravel and have blue rainbow sharks and that bright green betta as a display tank. Sure? I guess.

This might just be my complaints with the retail fish industry in general, but I know there are some people who just don't understand getting a certain fish for the amount of work it is. Thank you for reading!
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Betta fish!
Betta’s need a super quiet environment and all the owners of betta’s I’ve met can’t keep it quiet, they betta’s die from stress and at a young age, it’s horrible
 
I don’t understand why anyone would decide to get a common pleco or sail fin when they get so unbelievably large when you can just get a bristlenose or a rubber lip, or even a clown pleco.
Here's another perspective on size. Most of the "monster fish" sold in the hobby aren't really monster-sized, so that word gets thrown around too liberally. Common plecos, Oscars, and Red Devils are relatively large in the context of fishkeeping, but still not unmanageable or financially unattainable to properly keep for many people. I don't even consider koi to be "monsters." The only fish you mentioned that constitute as a true monster is the Arapaima.

Now to answer your question, I don't get bubble-eyed goldfish. Because of line-breeding, they're delicate, short-lived, and come with a myriad of genetic issues; but because they're supposedly "cute," it's okay. Another fish I don't get are bettas. I can understand having one or two, but I don't find them that alluring to occupy as much space and real estate that some people give them. I would never split a 10g or 20g in half for a single fish.
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I agree on the betta thing. I think bettas in general are overrated tbh. I love my betta boy but he doesn’t really do much.
 
I love all fish but some people think it is weird to keep crayfish but I keep them and love them
 
Melanochromis auratus

Well, I have kept them and I learned a great deal. But the male is the meanest deadliest of aquarium fish. Females are fine.

Problem is I had a tank of all females (yellow). One turned male (blue) and killed everything in sight. That's what they do.

I gave him his own tank. He would stalk ME and chase me away when I cam close to feed him!

Meanest most territorial fish.

Really does not belong in a tank. Needs a huge lake!
 
I gave him his own tank. He would stalk ME and chase me away when I cam close to feed him!

Meanest most territorial fish.
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i would love to own a plucky fish with this kind of attitude
 
The one I can't understand (other than maybe a "this is cool" animal) are axolotls. Many look like baked mole rats with their gills hanging out. I'm not trying to offend anyone that has them, but I personally don't think that they are cute at all. I think they are COOL, but just not something I'd get... (maybe I'm biased because I couldn't have a community tank with them lol)
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I’ll grant that the albino/ leucistic ones sorta resemble a hairless rat. (I can only see it b/c you said it, I think they look closer to blind cave salamanders.)
But the wild types and melanistic axolotls don’t. I personally think they’re all cute, but the black ones in particular look like a night fury dragon if you pretend the gills are ear flaps.
1613535831095.jpeg
I have some in cattle troughs to control algae and mosquito larvae. Is that okay?
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We tried that in 50 gal stock tanks for our goats one summer. I’m not sure how effective they may have been, because within a few days the chickens found them and ate them. It was both a sad end to the fish, and strangely funny to see the chickens overcome their hatred of being wet to get free sushi. I caught one bird in the act, but it was the last fish.

What do you do with the goldfish in the winter?
 
I’ll grant that the albino/ leucistic ones sorta resemble a hairless rat. (I can only see it b/c you said it, I think they look closer to blind cave salamanders.)
But the wild types and melanistic axolotls don’t. I personally think they’re all cute, but the black ones in particular look like a night fury dragon if you pretend the gills are ear flaps.
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We tried that in 50 gal stock tanks for our goats one summer. I’m not sure how effective they may have been, because within a few days the chickens found them and ate them. It was both a sad end to the fish, and strangely funny to see the chickens overcome their hatred of being wet to get free sushi. I caught one bird in the act, but it was the last fish.

What do you do with the goldfish in the winter?
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Ok, NOW I want one. Just from that picture!

Also, to totally derail the thread, the fish I can't believe more stores don't carry, is a leopard moray eel. Just saw one on an online store, and now I want a 300g tank and another $150 for the eel. A FRESHWATER MORAY! Why aren't these sold in petsmart? People would buy them, and then HAVE to come back and upgrade their tanks!
 
Also, to totally derail the thread, the fish I can't believe more stores don't carry, is a leopard moray eel. Just saw one on an online store, and now I want a 300g tank and another $150 for the eel. A FRESHWATER MORAY! Why aren't these sold in petsmart? People would buy them, and then HAVE to come back and upgrade their tanks!
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Why? Because the species has not yet been bred in captivity, so all are wild caught. Combine this with the fact that they haven't been really evaluated by the IUCN since 2012, they might be already endangered in the wild.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #91
Ok, NOW I want one. Just from that picture!

Also, to totally derail the thread, the fish I can't believe more stores don't carry, is a leopard moray eel. Just saw one on an online store, and now I want a 300g tank and another $150 for the eel. A FRESHWATER MORAY! Why aren't these sold in petsmart? People would buy them, and then HAVE to come back and upgrade their tanks!
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Freshwater Moray Eel? No such thing. Just do about 1 google search and the first thread says they need brackish/marine to live. It is true.

Also, 150$??? I saw them for $11.99 at a store near me, about 12-15" long. Pretty sure all of them died because they were kept in freshwater. Was quite a shame, but what are you going to do...
 

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Freshwater Moray Eel? No such thing. Just do about 1 google search and the first thread says they need brackish/marine to live. It is true.

Also, 150$??? I saw them for $11.99 at a store near me, about 12-15" long. Pretty sure all of them died because they were kept in freshwater. Was quite a shame, but what are you going to do...
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It's a bit more complicated. The importer I linked has the most reliable info usually. I find the articles quite interesting.
Du hast nach gymnothorax gesucht - Aquarium Glaser GmbH

The ones you saw may well have been dying off because (as so often with species that move between the habitats) the adults tend more towards freshwater, while juveniles live in the sea.
 
It’s funny this list comes up a lot. Something nobody ever mentions is discus. Glo-fish flowerhorns but never discus. You do realize you’ll never find discus in these colors in the wild. They’ve all been bred into these colors. But everybody excepts that as ok. I find it funny and wonder why?
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I think it is because only the colors are altered from the wild type (like many angelfish). Their bodies are not deformed, and the colours are somehow not as artificial-looking as glo-fish..
 
I think it is because only the colors are altered from the wild type (like many angelfish). Their bodies are not deformed, and the colours are somehow not as artificial-looking as glo-fish..
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I here ya. But do you think this would be found anywhere else but a fish tank .14C3E801-D29F-41B6-A94E-738696A4AE7C.jpeg23AF69CC-06F4-479E-B3F3-2FA258E344A8.jpeg
 
I was listening to a podcast recently, and the interviewer asked the interviewee what fish they simply don't understand why people keep it, and that got me thinking. What kind of fish do others out there simply not understand why others want it?

So here is mine and my reasoning.

1) Monster fish.
Pretty obvious why, but just going to throw it out there, I do own a Mbu Puffer, but he was a rescue. I actually decided against getting one a while ago due to the size. My ultimate reason for this is why would your average person want a fish that grows 4ft or bigger. Being honest, the demographic of people who want them compared to those who can actually have a place for them is so off. I can walk into almost any shop and say 'I want a red-tailed catfish' and next week I pay $14.99 for one whom I can then keep in a 10 gallon like many others- let alone, in 4 months you're feeding it whole frozen shrimp, and in a year its like a pound a day and it just keeps growing. I am not going to limit this to just those either, I include things like oscars, red devils, Dovii, common pleco, god forbid if anybody gets an arapaima. I am not here to state these fish are not cool/pretty, but just stating that the majority of them who have them, probably shouldn't, and the retail industry sells them like mad. In addition to this, normal people think something like a 29 gallon is a 'big' tank and a 55 is 'huge'.

My second one, I hardly understand, but think is ridiculous is glo-fish.
There's all these other options out there to have a slice of nature with silk plants or fake plants with nice pea gravel, and you choose to get the neon pink gravel and have blue rainbow sharks and that bright green betta as a display tank. Sure? I guess.

This might just be my complaints with the retail fish industry in general, but I know there are some people who just don't understand getting a certain fish for the amount of work it is. Thank you for reading!
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Why do people put paranas in their tanks. They do nothing just swim around.
Also why flowerhorns. I get why people like them but you cant have anything else in the tank not even gravle because its gonna bonk itself and pop its head.
My third is goldfish in a bowl. Do I really have to explain it.
 
My thing is Glo fish!!! Every fish tank with them has everything fake. Plastic plastic plastic!! It kills me aghghhh!

Don't get me started on goldfish in bags/bowls.
 
bubble eye gold fish for sure. I feel so bad for those poor fish
 
My thing is Glo fish!!! Every fish tank with them has everything fake. Plastic plastic plastic!! It kills me aghghhh!
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I hate plastic plants. But that's not a fish flaw, it's a flaw of people who tend to keep them. Same can be said about bettas, goldfish or any other typical child's aquarium fish.
 
Yeah, that's fair. It is just 90% of the time they have fake fake fake and I don't dig that unnatural glowing neon look.
 

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