Cost too high

[Tempestuousfury]

I went to Petsmart two days ago and am now really discouraged. The testing kits are close to $20. The fish are cheap. The stands are $35. I've got a counter that'll do. Filters are $15. Thank God the temperature in that room stays at 80. No one will buy my fish. They will take them, though. My fish are sick and medicine is over $20. My allowance? $5 a week, and no job.

There really was no point in talking about this stuff other than to vent. But if you guys can come up w/ cheaper sources for fish products, I'm all ears.

 

[kev]

I know I've said it before but I got my whole set up on ebay for £20. Just had to buy fish and extra heater and some algea tablets.

you could try and guilt trip a local fish shop into letting you borrow some of thier medicines (obviously not someone like walmart) but i'm sure someone local might be willing to help.

 

[guppymonkey]

I know how frustrating it can be to see all the high prices. The fish are usually cheap its everything else that is expensive. Pet stores make all their money on supplies rather than selling fish. Thats why tanks, stands and medicines cost so much. If you do a lot of water changes you hardly need any medicines. Tests are a must but they usually last a year if you do them once a week. It can be frustrating as heck but its a worthwhile hobby.

 

[rsz]

i never used to use a test kit - and i only use one occasionally now cos i had a bit of trouble

 

[CFC]

The bottom line is that fish keeping is a expensive hobby and when it comes to the hardwear it dosent pay to try and go cheap, like with many other things in life you get what you pay for.

There are ways of saving a little cash here and there, in the summer i cultivate and harvest some live food (buckets of water left out for mosquitos to breed in and plastic tanks with daphia (waterfleas) in, and many people make there own high protein prepared foods. I also make my own melafix by using 100% pure tea tree oil and distilled water by mixing 5ml of tea tree oil with 100ml of the distilled water in lidded container and shaking it vigorously.
I also use houshold flouresent tubes for tank lighting rather than the expensive ones from the fish store which is much cheaper.

 

[gadazobe]

Get friendly with your local fish shop - if you give them a sample of water, they will test it for you for a fraction of the cost of a test kit. Also if you upkeep your tank regularly by cleaning and changing water, you won't get diseases - 99% of fish diseases are caused through bad upkeep. Try scouring your local papers for items for sale - you can often get good bargains there. Find a part time job. I don't know how old you are, but if you're underage for a job, then ask your parents if you can do different jobs around the house for an increase in your pocket money.

 

[FanOFish]

Since you get an allowance and don't have a job I will make the assumption you are a teenager. Having two myself I understand the need for instant gradification and limited financial resourses.

My suggestion for you would be to simplify. This hobby can be very inexpensive as well. You may try to get down to one tank, either one you have or somehow get a 20gl. instead of a 5 and 10. That's one less filter, light, etc.

You don't really need a test kit, many online here will tell you they have never tested their water. BUT....you need to take it slow, and don't over stock or overfeed your fish. You might also want to get away from breeding fish...that just means more fish that you may not be able to afford.

Christmas is coming, ask for fish stuff, aquarium heaters, filters, etc. but keep your hobby within your budget....there are some beautiful small tank pictures in the members pictures section.

Good Luck

 

[kev]

If he is breeding fish couldn't it be a possiblity that he could take them to the local fish shop for credit on other items. I know platys wouldn't earn much but its worth ago.

How about trying to get a job at the fish shop. You obvoiusly are doing this hobby on your own making all the decision so you know a fair deal about fish. They might let you work just saturdays and give you discount on items. It worth a try!!

 

[poindexter]

Hi, I just thought i would let you know that I was in Petsmart the other day and they do water testing for free, all u need to do is bring them in a sample of your water. That'll mean you dont need to buy a test kit, which you're right, is really expensive! Are you old enough for a job, cuz working at the lfs would be awesome, i wish i worked there! ~dex

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I'm sixteen. I applied at Petsmart, one LFS, asked at another LFS, and Walmart under hardline (fish dep.) but no response. I just might work at a store that has nothing whatsoever to do with fish so I don't have to wait. Don't get a newspaper, but that's easy enough to get. Water tests at LFS is a good idea.

no one here is willing to buy somewhat expensive fish like iridescent sharks, let alone platies. I can probably give away the fry when they get close to 1/4" though. And if anyone at this forum is interested in taking them from me...

Thanks for all your help (though, unfortunately, I can't make use of it as of right now...). Help is still welcome though.

 

[Moe]

My daughter only gets $1.00 a week for allowance, but I'll give her extra $$ for doing odd jobs like cleaning out the basement or sweeping the steps to the house. See if your 'rents will buck up for extra jobs. If you explain to your parents the benefits to keeping fish as pets and how children learn responsibility from caring for another living creature, maybe they will help with some of the upkeep. Parents love it when kids talk about responsibility and stuff. It gets them every time. Good luck.

 

[MAM]

My daughter only gets $1.00 a week for allowance, but I'll give her extra $$ for doing odd jobs like cleaning out the basement or sweeping the steps to the house. See if your 'rents will buck up for extra jobs. If you explain to your parents the benefits to keeping fish as pets and how children learn responsibility from caring for another living creature, maybe they will help with some of the upkeep. Parents love it when kids talk about responsibility and stuff. It gets them every time. Good luck.

to add on to what moe said, what my folks used to do was they'd agree to buy something for me but i had to work it off by doing certain things (like mowing our 2 acres of property every week, fixing dinner every night during the week, cleaning the house, man i was a little slave wasn't i ). maybe you could talk them into something like that. although at 16, you could probably get a decent part time job somewhere. i lived out in the middle of nowhere and had no way of getting to a job so i was stuck. (good thing i didn't get into fish until i was on my own )

 

[Moe]

... and the holidays are coming up.

 

[jay_]

second hand stuff would be my bet, radio shows or newspapers - i found my 55 gallon at a yard sale for 30$ and a 100 watt heater for 15, so there are well priced stuff out there

 

[pondfreak4365]

The hobby does get expensive, my electricity bills alone run between $60 and $100 more than they did before I got MTS!