What's Your Story? Why Do You Like Fish?

My story, to put it simple and short, is I inherited the love of the ocean and caring for fish, after my father. From a very young age, I have been learning about fish from what he knows, inbred angelfish with my dad, changed the water of my own tank as a kid, and I became as interested as he is. I like that fish are pretty, there's so many different kinds, and I feel accomplished taking care of them. I love my fish and wouldn't have it any other way. What can I say, the passion for the water runs in the blood! Now I'm slowly teaching my fiancé' 8 year old daughter about fish, just carrying on the tradition. She already has a male betta and I am teaching her about how to feed him. He's doing well When I have kids of my own, I will teach them everything I know about fish!

 

I love anything water related. I used to be a lifeguard/swimming instructor in my late teens early 20's. I adore travelling and have been to quite a few Caribbean islands and to some Central American countries and always went snorkelling to see the fish (except Panama & Nicaragua). My aquarium is my little piece of Caribbean in my living room. <3

 

I started fishkeeping because I'm a wildlife photographer, and I love all animals and bio-related science.

There's something fascinating about keeping an aquatic animal. I can't touch my fish, so obviously that's one communicative barrier, yet I love them just like any other pet.

Fishkeeping also gave me a way to better understand and appreciate fish, and study ethology firsthand. There's no way I could have learned so much about them without keeping them myself.

 

it started for me from fishing. I always wanted fish. But growing up my mom didn't let me. She just wasn't a pet liking parent. My dad let us have all kinds of rodents like guinea pigs, and reptiles and whatnot. They were great but idk, fish really fascinated me. I had no clue what I was doing. So at 17 I got my own place and went nuts. Started with two ten gallons. Platies etc. And then a 55, mostly community fish. And then a 75 for an Oscar. It wasn't till this point I learned of the nitrogen cycle. now I have 2.5 gallons all the way up to 180g. I think cichlids are really what got me hooked. Idk, I feel like when I'm mad or sad or whatever I can just talk to them. It's nice because they don't respond. I don't have to argue with them. Except king Midas... He well, splashes me for just about everything.

 

what a cool post idea!

Well. It started when I was born a Pisces in San Diego. Pretty much sealed the deal there. Have always loved being near water. *ignore the fact I live in a land-locked state, please*

Learned how to swim as a baby since every one has a pool in SD. Spent summers body surfing at Pacific Beach and getting my rear end handed to me by the ocean. Also, used to go to the captive mammal place (before we knew better and it made us sick to our stomachs).

Had my first 5 gallon hexagon-shaped tank when I was maybe in 5th grade. Did a horrible job.

Later had a betta for 2 years (which at the time was "forever") who passed when I was pregnant with my son. (he'll be 15 on Saturday). I used to dream that fish was like 3 feet long and would swim around in my living room.

Then nothing till I bought this house in May which came with a 450g pond with tons of minnow and a few tiny commons. Added Shubunkins in June. Tragedy struck on September 7th and now I have a 55 gallon with 3 shubs and 1 common. When spring comes the fish will move back out and I'm already planning tenants for the 55 gallon and considering adding 10 gallon betta set-up. I LOVE their personalities.

 

My uncle had fish when I was a kid. He messed with Bolivian rams and firemouths mainly. I always thought it was cool.

So when I was 5, the dog died. Parents bought me a fish tank. I loved it but it was hard for me to take care of. Parents didn't care it got all neglected. So when I was a few years older I got serious into it after I could take care of them myself.

 

My fish obsession, which it truly is, started with my dad. It really has nothing to do with the aquarium hobby at all. To say anything, I'd have to tell a family history. This may bother some people. In short, it's in my DNA.

 

My fish obsession, which it truly is, started with my dad. It really has nothing to do with the aquarium hobby at all. To say anything, I'd have to tell a family history. This may bother some people. In short, it's in my DNA.

At least hint or there will be all kinds of horrible speculations

 

Wow everyone has such neat stories. Mine is really simple. I've always loved animals ever since I was little. I've owned so many over the years. Hamsters, Guinea pigs, Rabbits, Turtles, Birds, Cats, Dogs, Ferrets, even frogs. Basically every animal under the sun. And while I've had fish in the past it just never really worked out. Lots of misinformation. It really made me not want to deal with fish at all for a long time. I honestly thought they could only live about a year in captivity. Until about one or two years ago I decided I wanted a betta. Then I started doing all kinds of research and getting into it. He didn't live through all of my mistakes, but he taught me a lot in the time that I had him.

 

My story is so much different than anyone’s. I really got the tank (10 gallon) for my grandkids mostly my granddaughter. She has high functioning autism spectrum disorder..So smart..she is 5 and remembers the types of fish and which ones they are. Absolutely sits forever and watches them ( all tetra ). She yells at me to come look because they are chasing each other. Now that I have had this little tank and found this site ,Thank God , I have actually fell in love with the fish myself so now I’m currently working on getting a 60 gallon tank up and running. Plan on adding schools of tetras because they are so active and some Cory cats Because I think the kids would love them !!!OK maybe me too

 

Mine is a rough one but ill keep it short cause its still hard to talk about. I was addicted to pain pills, not a full blown junkie, but I just took them to keep from getting sick. Lost my kids. Started having panic attacks several times a day. Went to rehab. Got pregnant but still dealt with DCS at the time. Had my baby boy (hes 10 months old now) and is the only child I have custody of. My other 3 are with my mom. Started anxiety medicine. And my small love for fish, has turned into an addiction now. I have stopping having the attacks as much. And I love my scale babies. I go to LFS daily, sometimes several times a day to purchase something...anything. And it calms me down, keeps my mind distracted so I won't think about other things.

 

I got into fish because I wanted my cats to be happy watching them when I'm at work.
But I did always enjoy watching them in other places. And also I can't have a hamster here as they are illegal in Australia, so fish it was!
Turns out I really got into fish keeping and my cats couldn't care less...

 

Mine is a rough one but ill keep it short cause its still hard to talk about. I was addicted to pain pills, not a full blown junkie, but I just took them to keep from getting sick. Lost my kids. Started having panic attacks several times a day. Went to rehab. Got pregnant but still dealt with DCS at the time. Had my baby boy (hes 10 months old now) and is the only child I have custody of. My other 3 are with my mom. Started anxiety medicine. And my small love for fish, has turned into an addiction now. I have stopping having the attacks as much. And I love my scale babies. I go to LFS daily, sometimes several times a day to purchase something...anything. And it calms me down, keeps my mind distracted so I won't think about other things.

Well done on turning a corner in your recovery Darenda. You should be very proud of yourself. Fish keeping is a wonderful healthy distraction.

My story - we kept fish as a child as my parents didn't want any furry pets. We did it all wrong (think clown loaches in a 1 foot square base tank). Didn't know about cycling, washed the filter media in untreated tap water every week, that sort of thing. It set off the passion though and as an adult I feel like I want to do it again, but do it right this time

 

My answer is a pretty simple one. I've always loved animals usually more then people Growing up we always had pets wheather it be a dog, hamster, birds and cats at one point we had them all at the same time.

Fast forward to me meeting my husband he grew up the exact opposite never any pets in the house. Don't get me wrong he likes animals just in other peoples houses So along the way we've had a few pets my beloved guinea pigs who have both since passed away. Fish just seemed like a happy compromise for him they don't shed or make a mess and they stay in their glass box as he likes to call it.

And as a kid I always wanted an aquarium but for some reason all the pets I had growing up my mom drew the line at fish I was never allowed to have them.

 

I'm supposed to be dead. If that had panned out, this would be one creepy posting!
In my later childhood, I was seriously ill, and missed a lot of school over a 3-4 year period. My fishtanks became a real fascination - caring for them didn't demand a lot of stamina, the fish were beautiful and I could try to breed my little wild type guppies for specific colours. Learning about fish by watching them, reading about them and breeding them was really stimulating. Fish and backyard insects got me curious about variation, and from there, I discovered the idea of evolution. I lived in a very fundamentalist religious community, and that curiosity got me into serious trouble by the time I was 12 - my naive questions got me shunned by the church - the best trouble I ever got into.
Whenever I see a fish, I want to know its natural history. Where does it come from? What might have made it look or act like it does? What is the natural habitat? What are its closest relatives, and how does it fit in its family of species? How can I provide it with conditions like it would find in nature?
I like fish because I can't easily answer all my own questions about them, and the quest that creates constantly renews itself, with every new species I encounter. They lead me to interesting places.

 

Awesome story NB ! Boring one for me, I just got sucked in slowly from owning a 20 litre tank about 4 years ago crammed with tetra and a GBR, they died I then started to learn and take things seriously and got obsessed with seeing my fish thrive. Then the saltwater tank came and I'm a full on addict, only have 3 tanks but I enjoy them a lot.