dixaisy930
I'm trying really hard to act normal
I debated with myself on whether or not to share this on here, but I've read so many posts lately about keeping fish in smaller tanks that recommended, I felt a need to post this. I would like to share something from the beginning of my fish keeping life....
As a fish newbie, I did not understand the idea of tank size and the amount/type of fish. I had two pregnant female guppies in a two gallon hex aquarium. These females soon gave birth to several fry. I soon gave the female guppies to a teacher friend for her aquarium in her classroom, and I was left with five guppy fry. I kept them is this tiny aquarium, oblivious to the cramped quarters these fish were living in. Obviously, one by one the poor things died, and I was eventually left with just one male. To this day, I still feel sick about that poor guppy. He lived for about a year, but he was in no way thriving. He was about 1/4 the size of a normal, adult guppy, and had a horribly deformed spine (he was completely bent in the middle). I can in no way, explain the biology behind this, but I truely believe if the fish was kept in the proper size aquarium, he would have had a normal development.
I share this for two reasons. One, to show that improper tank size could very well affect the health and well being of a fish. Eventhough they might be able to live in sub-par conditions, in no way are they living a healthy, thriving life. Second, is to remind the more experienced and advanced fish keepers that we all started out as newbies. Some newbies are more prepared that others, but they all have the potential to be great keepers one day, if given the proper knowledge. I was one of the poorly prepared keepers, but I believe, I have become a pretty good one. I still have lots of questions, but have gone from keeping poor guppies in a two gallon tank, to keeping a saltwater tank and seahorses. Most newbies make mistakes, but as long as they are willing to correct them when given proper information, we should help them as much as possible to become great fish keepers.
As a fish newbie, I did not understand the idea of tank size and the amount/type of fish. I had two pregnant female guppies in a two gallon hex aquarium. These females soon gave birth to several fry. I soon gave the female guppies to a teacher friend for her aquarium in her classroom, and I was left with five guppy fry. I kept them is this tiny aquarium, oblivious to the cramped quarters these fish were living in. Obviously, one by one the poor things died, and I was eventually left with just one male. To this day, I still feel sick about that poor guppy. He lived for about a year, but he was in no way thriving. He was about 1/4 the size of a normal, adult guppy, and had a horribly deformed spine (he was completely bent in the middle). I can in no way, explain the biology behind this, but I truely believe if the fish was kept in the proper size aquarium, he would have had a normal development.
I share this for two reasons. One, to show that improper tank size could very well affect the health and well being of a fish. Eventhough they might be able to live in sub-par conditions, in no way are they living a healthy, thriving life. Second, is to remind the more experienced and advanced fish keepers that we all started out as newbies. Some newbies are more prepared that others, but they all have the potential to be great keepers one day, if given the proper knowledge. I was one of the poorly prepared keepers, but I believe, I have become a pretty good one. I still have lots of questions, but have gone from keeping poor guppies in a two gallon tank, to keeping a saltwater tank and seahorses. Most newbies make mistakes, but as long as they are willing to correct them when given proper information, we should help them as much as possible to become great fish keepers.