Does anybody have friends like this?

[FishGuest5123]

My kids use to think I was nuts because I loved fish. Now they see how serious I am about it and leave me alone. I think they’re glad I have a hobby since I retired. Lol.

 

[OliveFish05]

so I have a couple of friends that have fish tanks, probably no more than 100l. But they have A couple of neon tetras a gourami, a single guppy a single clown loach, and a generic plec. No matter what I tell them from my knowledge and experience they think they know better!

I am very fortunate to have never had a friend like that! I have a friend who loves fish AND does the research to meet their needs. It is very rewarding to be able to go to each other for advice, and team up to research any problems or concerns with our tanks. Neither of my other 2 friends like fish though

 

[AbbeysDad]

Fish get no respect! I think people might learn more and become better fishkeepers sooner if fish were more highly regarded. If a beloved family pet cat or dog dies, there will be tears. But when a fish dies it's most often just a shrug and a trip to the toilet or the trash can. Sad but true. You gotta wonder how many fish die after that first tank is setup and fish are added to an uncycled tank. And those same people will blame the store for selling them bad fish.
Or the folks that buy an aquarium on impulse, but don't maintain it properly with partial water changes and filter/gravel maintenance...then eventually, fish die, and aquariums end up in the garage, basement, or on Craigs list.
Sometimes people are just plain dumb and won't admit it because nothing is their fault. The human race is doomed I tell you....doomed. LOL

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Fish get no respect! I think people might learn more and become better fishkeepers sooner if fish were more highly regarded. If a beloved family pet cat or dog dies, there will be tears.

I used to think that people wouldn't treat a dog or a cat so carelessly, that they'd do some research into care before buying one, but having spent time volunteering at both a dog and cat rescue place, there are way too many people out there who treat dogs and cats as disposable, sadly.

But way more people who are careless about fish, regarding them as "just a fish" though, you're right.

Having said all that, I don't cry over my fish losses as much I did when I lost my cat. There's still an element of "it's only a fish" to me. I care about them a lot, I do my best to give them the best environment I can, but the bond isn't the same as with the cat I'd had for 17 years.

 

[OliveFish05]

If a beloved family pet cat or dog dies, there will be tears. But when a fish dies it's most often just a shrug and a trip to the toilet or the trash can. Sad but true.

It is sad I didn't cry when my betta, Glory, died, but I was heartbroken. When our fish die, we bury them in our yard, rather than flush them down the toilet. I just cannot understand why people flush them.

I don't cry over my fish losses as much I did when I lost my cat. There's still an element of "it's only a fish" to me. I care about them a lot, I do my best to give them the best environment I can, but the bond isn't the same as with the cat I'd had for 17 years.

I agree, it just isn't the same, no matter how much you love your fish, its entirely different to lose a cat/dog/horse/rabbit

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

It is sad I didn't cry when my betta, Glory, died, but I was heartbroken. When our fish die, we bury them in our yard, rather than flush them down the toilet. I just cannot understand why people flush them.

I agree, it just isn't the same, no matter how much you love your fish, its entirely different to lose a cat/dog/horse/rabbit

I bury them too!

I wish people wouldn't flush. Not only is it disrespectful, but our aquariums harbour pathogens that shouldn't be introduced into the wild. Hopefully treatment plants manage to destroy those, but it still isn't worth the risk. Better to bury, or bin if they must, rather than flush.

Also why we should never release anything from our tanks into wild ponds, lakes or streams. Even if the fish/plant etc is a native, it risks spreading pathogens that the wild populations haven't been exposed to. And non-native fish and plants have become invasive in many places. Goldfish, plecos, even snakeheads have become pests and destroyed many non-native areas, from people dumping their pets when they got too big for them. Better to euthanise if you can't rehome rather than dumping them in the wild.

 

[OliveFish05]

I bury them too!

Yay! Im not the only one!

I wish people wouldn't flush. Not only is it disrespectful, but our aquariums harbour pathogens that shouldn't be introduced into the wild. Hopefully treatment plants manage to destroy those, but it still isn't worth the risk. Better to bury, or bin if they must, rather than flush.

Agreed! I have also heard it can be very bad for the plumbing.

Also why we should never release anything from our tanks into wild ponds, lakes or streams. Even if the fish/plant etc is a native, it risks spreading pathogens that the wild populations haven't been exposed to. And non-native fish and plants have become invasive in many places. Goldfish, plecos, even snakeheads have become pests and destroyed many non-native areas, from people dumping their pets when they got too big for them. Better to euthanise if you can't rehome rather than dumping them in the wild.

Definitely! I had a neighbor who joked that he would release his shark in our pond, still freaks me out not knowing if he did or not, although it was a few years ago by now

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I hate to say it, but I think a lot of it is economics (people tend to consider a $700 dog more important than a $3 fish, and these days even shelter dogs and cats usually cost over $100) and the rest is human-like traits (people bond more closely to dogs and cats, and even birds, than to fish, because the warm-blooded critters are more like us and interact more).

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. I don't get nearly as upset by the death of a fish as I do by the death of a dog. But I do wish people considered all living things worthy of respect and care.

 

[Sandy's fish and botia]

My fish are my friends, I'm no social butterfly, lol

I am no social butterfly either. My kids finally realize that I am truly a hermit. I have a very bizarre set up in my fish room. Won't explain, you wouldn't believe it, if I did. My collection of fishes is just as crazy. My main tank is all botia, another is a collection of platys, guppies, a pair of lyre tail mollies (orange), a pair of swordtails, and a pair of Angels. Unlikely crew but all have been together for several years and a baby tank with a "batch" of tiny swordtails born 2 days ago. These are my friends. They listen endlessly, they all eat out of my hand. When its time to gravel vacuum or any other big cleaning the botia hate it, so I always take them out. I just lay my hand, palm up, just about 3 inches and either one or two botia swim into my hand so I can take them out. These, again, are my Beatles.

I don’t even have friends that like fish. My grandmother is the only one that likes fish.

Shoot! I got the whole house lovin' fishies. Spread from my room to all over the house along with three dogs, three cats, two Greg squirrels (the third one didnt make it). Bit of a nuthouse, but we love 'em all.

 

[Dajuyu]

What are friends?

Shrimps are freinds .. not food