Ever Lost Interest?

[Fintastic!]

I figure that the fact that I'm posting this is a positive sign. I haven't been on here in a long time because I have simply lost interest. I've seriously thought about selling my tank. I have gone from doing weekly water changes to every 3-4 weeks, sometimes longer I'm embarrassed to say.
Amazingly all fish seem healthy despite this, lovely colours, swimming and eating well. Water looks clear though I have a nice bit of algae now. 
It's pure laziness and disinterest on my part and that's not fair on my fish. I look guiltily at my tank several times a day, I'd have it cleaned out in a half hour and I'd have a clear conscience.
Has this happened to any of you and if so, how do you get your fishkeeping mojo back

  

 

[LyraGuppi]

Well, if you aren't interested, I'd just say leave the hobby. If you don't find any enjoyment in it, perhaps a different one would be better.

That post was not supposed to sound negative, if it does to you!

 

[Fintastic!]

It didn't sound negative LyraGuppi, it sounds sensible.

 I'm sitting here looking at it now and I can't quite bring myself to give it up. I love watching the fish but I've been avoiding watching them much because I feel guilty, because I'm lazy lately when it comes to cleaning it. I know I can add a new fish to spice things up but I don't want to do that, it's not the wise thing to do.
A good kick in the jerk is what I need!

   

 

[Meeresstille]

I sometimes get bored with the tanks too...I then start planning a change. Move things around in the tank to create a different lay-out, do some exchanges from my other tanks, or going out to get new plants, decorative stones or a new piece of root/wood. Sometimes getting some new foods for them, trying to find better quality even, or better lighting, or finding a new location for the tank (if it is a small tank) this all helps spice things up again for me.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

A nice way to rekindle the flames might be a bit of a rescape.  Do a big cleaning (sounds like it needs it with the algae) and try to do a bit of a different scape.  You don't even need to buy new stuff, just rearrange the stuff you already have.  Or maybe have a look at some other scapes and try to make a knock-off of one you really like.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I can appreciate the fact that interest in anything can wane -- I played saxophone for seven years but haven't touched it in a year -- but in the case of fish-keeping, you are dealing with live animals. I have rabbits and guinea pigs and sometimes I think it's a bit cold to go and clean them out, but I do it anyway because they rely on me, I took them on and I have a responsibility for their healthcare. My dog is the same, I'm comfy and warm and the dog wants to go out but the dog's needs come first.
 
If you want to give up on fish then that's what you should do but rehome them, don't let them die because you are bored, it's not humane; for heaven's sake it's not a huge tank, it can't take that long to sort out.
 
You asked for a kick up the jerk (that's not what I wrote but the forum has spoken), and here it is...
 
...get off your bum and sort your fish out, either rehome them or give them a good clean and then keep it up. The third option is to feel all guilty as you watch your fish slowly poison themselves with their own poo; not nice.
 
So get a grip, get up and get some nuts! Do it now!

 

[Hunterprey]

Go bare bottom with the tank. It will make cleaning so much easier. It takes me 20 mins every 2 weeks to vacuum and fill up my 125 gallon tank (30 % water change) I do overfilter my tank tho(10X water turnover) And I don't overfeed. I clean the filter every 6 weeks. Bare bottom tanks are not very appealing but I painted the outer bottom part of my tank flat black and it turned out pretty nice

 
 
U will lose interest in the hobby sometimes but it usually comes back. Just develop a cleaning routine that isn't so bad. Its like going to the gym you lose interest in it sometimes but you still follow your routine that your body is used to.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

My gym routine is to skip going to the gym.  

 

[kylealastairlove]

i lost interest too, didnt have a lot of money to maintain the fishy tanks, but ive literally just come back to this forum couple of days ago glad to be back and the spark is re ignited!

 

[simplyfish]

+1 for a rescape, or any significant change you can make. Maybe move the tank somewhere new, anything to take a proactive interest.
 
I find Guilt a huge demotivator in anything I'm doing. Stop feeling guilty and take little baby steps to proper routines again. If the thought of a full vacuum in the tank is too much to bother with, just scoop a few jugs of water out a couple of times a week. This will take you no more than 2 minutes and will get you back in to the habit of looking positively at them again. I'd wager if you did this for a few weeks you'll get back in a proper routine with them. 

 

[SeanTrollope]

+1 for the rescape and moving the tank.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks so much for your replies guys, much appreciated! Well you all inspired me, particularly you, ShinySideUp, when you said how they rely on me etc. Crikey I'm awful! I put on some good sounds and rolled up the old sleeves and gave it a good clean out today and I actually enjoyed it! I forgot how calming for the mind a good root around the tank can be. I wasn't even an hour at it. Poor fish, I'm a disgrace!

 

[LyraGuppi]

That's okay, we all have our ups and downs in the hobbies.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Glad to be of help

. if you want to be insulted again, don't hesitate to ask

.

 

[LyraGuppi]

 
 

Glad to be of help

. if you want to be insulted again, don't hesitate to ask

.