just a rant if anyone cares!

[qjim206]

well here it goes- Not only is this an observation but things i have been told -THAT FISH NEEDS AT LEAST A 55,75,90 ETC,ETC,ETC GET A BIGGER TANK OR GET RID OF THE FISH ! While good advice for full grown fishy not always the case for people with juvinile fish This sole advice can discurage people from owning the fish they want and like AND COULD IN FACT DISCURAGE NEW BLOOD IN THE HOBBY WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH. Granted some species grow at an alarming rate but that is not the case for most fish. Not every one can buy the fish they want or like along with the appropiate tank for a full grown fish .It is perfactly acceptable to buy the fish and a tank appropiate for the size of the fish and add larger tanks as the fish grow.There are of corse exceptions to this and people still need to do there homework on the species they are going to get but please take this in to concideration when answering peoples questions abought fish and there tanks.

 

[charmd2]

While that is very true, I started out with two oscars in a 29. ) Told by my lfs they would be just fine there.

After the first one died, I found this forum. Quickly ended up with mts. I now am a proud owner of two ten gallons, a 29 gallon, a 55 gallon, and my newest purchase is a 120. Now, MOST people do not have the resources to spend roughly $3500 on this hobby in a year. (did I just admit how much I've spent this year? eeeek) Which is why they get recommend to take the fish back if they can't afford a larger tank in the NEAR future.

I bought my oscar in May, Somehow or another managed to keep two of them alive until september. And I'm not really sure how. I sure as heck wasn't changing water nearly as often as I should have been, didn't cycle my tank, and it was way over stocked. When the bigger oscar beat up the smaller one, I found the forum, and began upgrading.

Luckily I found the 120 on ebay, fully stocked with lighting and filters, for $150. Didnt' have a stand, so it's sitting on the floor in my bedroom. But the surviving oscar and common plec (my other newbie mistake) are much happier.

I try not to lecture others, just sometimes I will tell my own story of trial and error, and eventually stumbling in here.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I agree, but its better to sort out those who keep the fish because they want to and those who keep them for noveltys sake. What I mean is, if you went to the shop and said, 'ooh, I like the look of that one' your not really being a responsible carer, are you? Whereas those who do care will think they don't nessecarilly need a new tank now, but that they better start saving up.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

I agree completly, people are too quick to jump the gun and say oo you cant have that fish in your tank. I mean, you should get what fish you want. Just make sure when you see a fish you likem you dont buy it on impulse. First you should go home do some homework on it, then figure out if it gets too big in the future where you can house it. Many LFS around me will take large fish and will even pay you for it. My favorite LFS has a 225 gallon tank and will pay you 1/3 of what they would sell it for. So you make money and the fish is happy. I just think people should find out what the situation is before they tell someone not to get a certain fish. Just do your research and get the fish that you want.

 

[ferrikins]

well here it goes- Not only is this an observation but things i have been told -THAT FISH NEEDS AT LEAST A 55,75,90 ETC,ETC,ETC GET A BIGGER TANK OR GET RID OF THE FISH ! While good advice for full grown fishy not always the case for people with juvinile fish This sole advice can discurage people from owning the fish they want and like AND COULD IN FACT DISCURAGE NEW BLOOD IN THE HOBBY WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH. Granted some species grow at an alarming rate but that is not the case for most fish. Not every one can buy the fish they want or like along with the appropiate tank for a full grown fish .It is perfactly acceptable to buy the fish and a tank appropiate for the size of the fish and add larger tanks as the fish grow.There are of corse exceptions to this and people still need to do there homework on the species they are going to get but please take this in to concideration when answering peoples questions abought fish and there tanks.

1, I stopped reading your post helf way through )

2, not shore if you post would be classed as flamming or trolling.

3, your sig is to long.

4, Advice is given on the welfare of the fish, NOT there owner.

 

[gaya]

Plenty of people do not have plans for upgrading, be it space, money or age. Tank size requiremnts is probably one of the more important peices of advice a newbie can get. Plust there's a lot of people here who still live with their folks and don't have full rane over the house to upgrade when ever they feel like. If a person doesn't mention that they intend to upgrade then it's assumed they wont imo.

 

[RandomWiktor]

I think since everyone here loves fish so much, they look out more for the welfare of the fish than the owner's sensitivities. And that might be a good thing, because the message gets through without compromising on the fish's needs. However, they could probably be more polite and say "while that tank size is acceptable at the fish's current size, are you aware of the fact that it will one day need ___ gallons? Perhaps if you don't think you'll be able to accomodate its needs in the future, you should consider rehoming."
As an example, my smallest goldfish (not quite two inches) is currently in a 10 gallon tank. I have the money to buy him a larger tank, and I will when he grows. However, he has a jaw deformity and I don't know if he will survive even long enough to grow to a size that would warrant a larger tank. I can't really justify pissing away $100 bucks to get a 30 gallon tank for one fish that probably won't live more than a few months. Especially since I don't intend on keeping any more goldfish as I find them to be too messy.

 

[paulthegreat]

Urging someone to buy out of their limits is not a good thing as it may discourge the unexperienced newbie. I have been such, but in the eight months that I have been deeply engrossed in this hobby I have done a lot of research and a both of my tanks may seem to be over stocked. I do keep a close eye on my water and all my fish(hard at times since I have too many and I know that). A diligent keeper knows when to diregard less than good advice and not fly off the handle at it. I plan on getting more tanks but a series of misfortunes has inhibited this. Washer died 6 weeks ago, dish washer is on its last leg, stove is half way to the grave ect ect !! Go with what you know and do not get too uptight about it! The advice given here is based on the welfare of the fish and the happiness of the owners for succeeding at not losing too many! I hope you can overlook some of the more zelous keepers we have here and continue to enjoy the hobby. Well to keep from babbling further........

 

[Opcn]

You think that getting a new hobist set up for sucess is more likely to scare them off than having a fish tank that reeks from lack of water changes and over feeding and then have all there fish die horrible deaths, we all know hat the hobby is more interesting when your fish are still alive, and costs alot less too.

 

[mitfull]

In a sense i agree with what was said i have purchased fish and slowly upgraded my tanks as needed, i dont think though that advice given on larger fish is off putting its better to know before hand where you stand, my biggest sickner when starting off was being badly adviced by a local shop just to sell me fish (Convicts do not belong in a community tank i came to learn) ..

Ive got a 100 gallon tank at the moment which i purchased for oscars, it wasnt expensive lucky find on a tropical fish store notice board but there are deals out there, it isnt an overly expensive hobby but i do think beginners should start with with a small community tank as i did and get a feel for fish and decide from there what fish they like and how best to care for them

 

[Tolak]

In most any situation it is best to learn the rules real good before you try to break them. This applies to aquatics as well.

Tolak

 

[FrAnK3333]

You shouldtn really buy the fish until you for sure you can get that larger tank.True I have 3 clown loaches in my 20 gallon but if me not getting a bogger tank in time for my fish my friend will gladly take care of them in his 85 gallon unitl I can get that bigger loach tank. Before I bought them , atleast 2 of them, I made sure he could take them if something was to happen. You shouldnt buy a fish with just the thought of getting a bigger tank for it but the pledge to get one or take it back. Fish are lives, not decorations. (sorry I stole that )

 

[uk28scots]

hi, im a newbie have been running a tank for about 2 months now, so from a newbie's point of veiw the info i have got off this site has been excellent and probably save me alot of problems so for that i would like to thank everyone for taking the time to help me.

it is a bit dissapointing to be told you cant have this or do that but after all the fish is what its all about, i have already started saving for a bigger tank because if anything its made me more deturmind to keep the fish i really want.

if i could turn back time (cher) i would buy a bigger tank, set it up differently and have done more research before i had bought anything.

so to sum things up we dont like to be told but its for our own good.

ive not been discouraged by this site ive been incouraged.

thanx

 

[cometcattle]

I can't believe nobody mentioned qjim206's tank stocking.

You're keeping brackish fish with freshwater fish.

Do you do any research at all?

Edit to add: Your tanks have some of the worst fish combos I've seen at TFF.
The 55g is the perfect example of what NOT to do.

 

[Ben]

bigger is always better,but alot of people on this forum are only teens and dont have the money to get a bigger tank. and whats wrong with a 25 gal?i have 3 of them.one of which has been running for nearly three years with death of fish caused by old age.and do you know why?because i researched.i have a small libary of fish books/atlases and have been speaking to experienced fish keepers,on the web,via email,at the lfs,or by phone.
you have to do your research before you decide to go buy fish.so dont say always buy a big tank when you start out,
JMO
and 100% aggreed with Cometcattle

DD