Why Did You Join Fishlore?

i'm curious as to why the majority of people joined this forum. it seems like a lot of new members join because they have a problem, like their fish is sick or dying or whatever. some stick around after their initial thread, and others don't. I figure there are some people that join because they want to learn more about the hobby or be around other fishkeepers.

and, if you want: why did you stay?

I joined because I had a problem too lol. one of my african dwarf frogs died from dropsy a month before I joined fishlore, and during the time she was sick I was doing a lot of research online. fishlore was one of the forums I got a lot of info from, and I knew there were some adf owners here. I decided to join when my other adf got sick. he didn't have dropsy, so I wanted to ask more experienced people what his problem might be. Gypsy13 was my first responder! we never did figure out what he had, exactly, but it was probably something bacterial.

all my frogs and my attempts at getting new frogs died and I decided to stick around and learn more about aquarium stuff. the members are definitely a plus!! unfortunately the forum eventually made me want to get a betta again (and take care of it the right way this time) and try to do a planted tank

 

I wanted to join because I was very lonely by myself with no one else to talk to about fish and almost every time I read something fish related, I would see Fishlore pop up and I clicked on it to see a very active community of other people like me. I would see a bunch of betta problems where I would be like "Oh I know that!" And I was hesitant in joining because I don't like social media and don't have any besides this and decided to join, but was to afriad to use it. But eventually did. I didn't understand how people are addicted to social media and thought it was stupid, but now I understand because I'm constantly checking. I'm just glad it isn't like other social media which can be more addicting. I love it though! I stay here because I feel comfortable being around others who share a common interest and I who could relate to, where I feel kinda lonely IRL. This is a very warm community that's like a second family.

 

Yes! Actually it seems almost every time I google an issue, Fishlore pops up with a forum question/answer post. Why google when I can come straight to the source?

 

Fishlore was the second fish keeping forum I joined, and I joined because there are a lot more active users here than the other forum. No shade towards to other forum or anything, there's just a lot more people here.

 

I joined because I wanted to learn the new tech and share some of the old tech.

 

I was getting bored of the forum I was using at the time, so I searched for a different forum, found fishlore and met some cool people to talk about fish.

 

I, like many I see, had an issue and needed assitance. Once I received it I left for a year or two and now I'm off and on.

I primarily stayed around as this is a great place to learn and lend a hand if you can. Even if you just skI'm through a random thread every now and then you'll likely learn of something you haven't heard of prior. I've learned of so many different species that I now have a rather long "wish list." I have also certainly advanced in my abilities to properly and efficiently preform tasks and care for aquariums that I now feel less dependent upon forums for instruction and such. Before when I was more so new and knew significantly less about the hobby, when I started learning I would pretty much exclusively use the forum for information. Now that this forum has taught me so much I feel confident in my own opinions and ideas that I don't need to ask about every little thing. I believe forums like these is what that's about, being able to give advice and guide those who need it until they can do it on their own. In my case I believe it to be successful and I've seen others who started out similar to me but are now some of our best members to ask for help!

 

I was looking for advice help after I kept loosing fish daily. Found out a lot of info, (like not to add 12 fish at once from a mail order without a quarantine). AFter my tank wipeout I kept reading stuff and found that I liked the community and the advice given

 

Uhm, I forget exactly why I joined!! Mostly for the info/tips/etc I think. Feel like a kid in school cramming for a test when I get online though. Learned so much different stuff to help out all my tanks! Just wish the wife would listen when I tell her she needs to STOP adding fish to the big tanks...

 

I joined to know why my male guppy was taking so long to give birthHelp - Long Guppy Pregnancy I was so dumb

 

I already look back on my old posts and think, “wow, how stupid I was!” And every day is like that...cuz I continue to learn.

 

I had recently started a very small aquaponic system. Was getting good advice, and still do, from experienced members of an aquaponics hobby forum but they consider a small system to be only few hundred gallons. And most of them raise fish to eat, my intention also in the beginning. But I soon decided my scale was too small for that and brought home a couple fantail goldfish as permanent residents to supply nutrients to the plants. And then I named them Sara and Maybelle. And they started to grow on me.

I still consider the whole little aquaponic ecosystem to be the pet and the hobby, but Sara and Maybelle are, without a doubt, the most important part of it. That makes my perspective on the fish closer to yours than the guys at Backyard Aquaponics. I expected to have more in common with aquatic planted tank enthusiasts here but there doesn't seem to be much overlap between them and terrestrial aquaponic folk.

So I belong to both, same username. While I've been spending more time here lately, when, inevitably, the next nutrient deficiency or plant disease puzzle pops up I'll lean on them more.

 

I had a guppy issue. I’ve had and dealt with fish most of my life. Long long time. Even had livebearers. But, never had them as a blind person. Enter husband. His descriptions of my poor Big Momma guppy were sending my blood pressure through the roof. And since I’ve got dysautonomia that’s not easy.
So I googled guppy problems. All intelligent roads led to fishlore. Lost my Big Momma (evidently 3+ is too old to be giving birth) but gained lots of friends. This is my social outlet. Some might call that sad. I don’t. I’m eternally grateful.

 

I joined cuz I'm a big dummy who had betta learn to listen and listen to learn! Oh I'm not goin anywhere for a long time! Lol

 

I joined because I had a dumb question about a colour changing goldfish. Stayed because FL is a pretty good social outlet for an introvert like me, especially since I had to drop out of unI for a year because of medical issues! Also because I need something inconspicuous to browse during boring unI lectures and seminars lol

 

I joined because when I saved the few guppies I have from being discarded, I wanted to give them everything I could and where better to go than an international forum where there are fellow amateurs and seasoned professionals all with their 2c to give! That was the original reason, it has since turned into a burning passion of wanting to know more, have more, decorate more, more, more, more

 

I wanted to join because I was very lonely by myself with no one else to talk to about fish and almost every time I read something fish related, I would see Fishlore pop up and I clicked on it to see a very active community of other people like me. I would see a bunch of betta problems where I would be like "Oh I know that!" And I was hesitant in joining because I don't like social media and don't have any besides this and decided to join, but was to afriad to use it. But eventually did. I didn't understand how people are addicted to social media and thought it was stupid, but now I understand because I'm constantly checking. I'm just glad it isn't like other social media which can be more addicting. I love it though! I stay here because I feel comfortable being around others who share a common interest and I who could relate to, where I feel kinda lonely IRL. This is a very warm community that's like a second family.

I completely agree, the same thing happened to me. My whole family and none of my friends are as interested in fish as I am, except for my aunt, but she only keeps saltwater and I only keep my betta so it's a little different and we don't discuss it much. Most everyone laughs at me when I tell them that my betta lives in a 10 gallon tank that's got REAL plants (gasp! I know, so unfathomable, right?) and how he gets fed 3 different things depending on the day of the week and my plants get ferts etc. One time my aunt was watching my betta while I was out of town and complained to my mom about how he got different things each day and how she had to soak some of them and my mom told her to "just drop some food in and go home, it's just a fish". I was furious. He could have bloated and my water could have been fouled so easily. I want to just fast him next time I go out of town but I'd worry about him getting desperate and trying to eat the snail. Gotta love fishlore, y'all actually understand me and why I take care of my fish the way I do.

 

I can't really remember too well why I came here, but was probably looking for a site that dealt with fish and their needs, problems, habitat, etc. It involves a desire to educate myself about things, and animals are at the top of my list. When I got here, I was super-excited about having found such a place where other people are as interested in fish as I am. I had no clue, honestly, that a person could love a fish and care so deeply about their health and well-being, but there you have it...people everywhere who care about the welfare of their fish! It's nice to talk to people who can educate me on issues we have in common. And hopefully, I can be of assistance to other people who are new at this hobby when I have enough experience to be of REAL help.

 

I can't really remember too well why I came here, but was probably looking for a site that dealt with fish and their needs, problems, habitat, etc. It involves a desire to educate myself about things, and animals are at the top of my list. When I got here, I was super-excited about having found such a place where other people are as interested in fish as I am. I had no clue, honestly, that a person could love a fish and care so deeply about their health and well-being, but there you have it...people everywhere who care about the welfare of their fish! It's nice to talk to people who can educate me on issues we have in common. And hopefully, I can be of assistance to other people who are new at this hobby when I have enough experience to be of REAL help.

That's the beauty of this website!

 

I ask myself that question every day...

 

I joined because I was desperate to keep my angel rams alive. The sellers told me that they were easy fish and required no special care so in my tank they went. Unfortunately I lost them to disease but I’ve learned a lot more about keeping them since. I’ve stuck around because I have no desire to lose any fish like I lost my favorite angel rams (RIP)

 

I've been following the site for over 2 years but just officially joined the forum yesterday so I can hopefully buy some fish from members here.

 

I joined several years ago, but never posted. I joined then because I was interested in the hobby and wanted to learn about it. Recently I purchased a tank and went looking for information again. I found fishlore again and realized when I tried to make an account I already had one.

 

To share knowledge and experiences international (member on several other forums of different nationalities as well).

 

To learn and share experience.. Also everyone at home is tired of talking about fish and tanks lol...

 

To learn and share experience.. Also everyone at home is tired of talking about fish and tanks lol...

I didn't even try to talk about it at hone hahaha.

 

"Help!!! Is this fin rot???"

 

Joined about 3 years ago because I had just joined the hobby, I wanted a place to ask for advice and share my fish. now I can help on some subjects, but i’m still learning tons of new stuff!

 

I didn't even try to talk about it at hone hahaha.

I'm like that now... lol

 

I didn't know anything about fish keeping ??? And fishlore helps me know something (I think).
Plus my friends would think I'm crazy with all the fish talk

 

I joined because I'd been reading it for years. I wanted to stop being a lurker...

 

I wanted to answer choosing both answers. I love the informative articles. And I saw that we can start a personal blog which I plan on doing sometime. Maybe tomorrow since cycling the tank will be the first week complete. I'm not sure.

 

I joined because I see lots of folks struggling to find answers, and other folks giving crazy off the wall answers (things such as saying anaerobic bacteria can tolerate low oxygen levels, or that seeing ammonia levels rising after adding new fish means the biofilter collapsed and a deep cleaning of the tank needs to happen immediately).

 

I joined because my partner and kids were sick of me talking about fish!

 

I was starting up my first tank and googling all sorts of stuff and every single thing I googled inevitably had a post answering it on fishlore. So I was like "seems like the place to be." I got my first tank up and running and have had plenty of questions since then which I've posted on here. Now I browse the forum reading up and just learning about fish and fish related things that seem interesting or good to know.