How did you stay into fish?

[GaryE]

There's a nice thread running about how people got into fish, and as I enjoyed reading it, a question started popping into my head.

If you have been keeping aquariums for more than a year, what is keeping the interest going? You're on a fish forum, so you must care. What turned this from something you tried into something you do?

For me, it was when I was a kid and my mollies and guppies both had babies. I think by the time I'd raised them to adulthood, I was really intrigued by aquarium life. That whole process has never gotten old for me.

 

[Crispii]

Mouthbrooding Bettas and Aphyosemion is what still keeps me in this hobby today. Always been intrigued by them.

 

[Sgooosh]

idk fish are cool i just like watching them when im bored, and that makes me want to care for them

 

[Lajos_Detari]

I guess for me, there are a few things that really attract me to fish keeping:
1) The therapeutic effects of looking at the fish swimming especially for big fish and a group of schooling fish.

2)If you have a tank that is filled with driftwoods, rocks, sand and plants, you feel like you are looking at mini river inside your house.
Having something from the nature in your house is very relaxing.

3) Some fish are extremely beautiful to behold like the Bettas, Discus, Geophagus Sveni, Red Head Tapajos, Satanoperca Daemon, Apistogrammas, Killifish or even the Guppies and Endlers.

4) Some invertebrates like the Panther crab, blue and red crayfish, the Sulawesi shrimps are so colourful, and beautiful.
Their behaviour are unique and amazing.

The beauty of God's creations never fails to amaze me.

 

[itiwhetu]

I've been keeping fish for more than 45 years in one form or another. You just never know what the next surprise will be around the corner. As for this site, I hoped I could give something back to the community of fish keepers by sharing my knowledge.

 

[imw]

Kept fish (both F/W and S/W) for for a number of years. This forum is very informative and we have some knowledgeable members who are willing to share the knowledge.

 

[ClownLurch]

I’ve not “stayed” throughout my long and unfortunately uneventful life.
Late 60s I had the trad fairground goldfish. Left. Early 70s it was big eyed goldfish n black moors. Left. Mid 70s Guppys. Left. Mid 80s easily available temperate water fish. Left. Early 90s the same plus Clown Loaches. Left. Early 20s as below.
Moving home, new jobs, unexplained deaths being main reason for leaving.
Now with the internet and you good people info and help is more available so the chances of me sticking it long term are greater.

 

[Slaphppy7]

I guess for me, there are a few things that really attract me to fish keeping:
1) The therapeutic effects of looking at the fish swimming especially for big fish and a group of schooling fish.

2)If you have a tank that is filled with driftwoods, rocks, sand and plants, you feel like you are looking at mini river inside your house.
Having something from the nature in your house is very relaxing.

3) Some fish are extremely beautiful to behold like the Bettas, Discus, Geophagus Sveni, Red Head Tapajos, Satanoperca Daemon, Apistogrammas, Killifish or even the Guppies and Endlers.

4) Some invertebrates like the Panther crab, blue and red crayfish, the Sulawesi shrimps are so colourful, and beautiful.
Their behaviour are unique and amazing.

The beauty of God's creations never fails to amaze me.

^^ Summed it up nicely for me, as well ^^

 

[Herpin Man]

I’ve stayed with the hobby by keeping it simple, and not overdoing it, thus avoiding burnout. I typically have only one or two aquariums going at a time. Fish keeping is really just a side hobby for me, the main one being reptiles and amphibians.

 

[AbbeysDad]

As I wrote in my article "One Thing Led to Another", it didn't stop there...in 2018 I joined the Central New York Aquarium Society fish club and as a way to give back, I began paticipating in the club's writer award program, writing articles for the newsletter, the Reflector. In December of 2020, I became the Editor/Publisher.
Again, as a give back/sharing, in 2020, I created my website/blog MJV Aquatics with well over 100 articles authored by our friend @Byron, Greg Sage of Select Aquatics of Erie Co., and myself. So One thing led to another!!!

 

[ClownLurch]

I’ve stayed with the hobby by keeping it simple, and not overdoing it, thus avoiding burnout. I typically have only one or two aquariums going at a time.

Lot to be said for that.

 

[Herpin Man]

Lot to be said for that.

Yes- I often think I should also follow that advice with regards to the herps. Let’s just say they keep me well occupied.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Fishkeeping can be very addictive.

I started as a kid with my dad and a carnival goldfish and have always been curious about fish and fishkeeping not least cos it has evolved so much over the years in methodology and equipment and species of fish being made more widely available.

You never stop learning new things. Having multiple aquariums can become a chore, cos it looks simple but its absolutely not, its time consuming, financially and emotionally draining....but once you have kept fish, there is no going back. They get under your skin and are fascinating to watch....the antics that fish get up to brings endless hilarity and joy most of the time and they can brighten up a bad day...at least they do for me.

So yes, I stayed cos I just love watching them and no matter how tough things get, they always manage to make me smile

 

[DragonScales+Doubletails]

for me, it was starting my first betta sorority in yep, a 10 gallon. but It worked until some of the females reached their old age. And I've always had a soft spot for frogs in particular; so when I finally got some ADFs my fish craze spiraled.

 

[jimwg]

"well, it's sumptin to do idin't?" A Hell's Granny: Monty Python's skit about old lady bikers regarding robbing young men for money to buy tuna tins for the cat.