What Makes An Experienced Aquarist

[1234-fishy-freind]

Hi guys.
Now im sure most of you will have seen this stuff before. In book and on websites you see recommendations for the skill levels required for certain livestock. eg a percula clown might be classed as "beginner" whereas a green mandarin be "difficult" and some shark species being "expert".
In your opinnion what do you think makes a beginner quarist different from an aquarist with moderate skill or even expert skills, weather it be years of experience or overall knowledge?
what do you think?


josh

 

[Betta5]

I think its hands on experiance. The more "difficult" and "expert" fish require, more stable water conditions which new aquarists (is that a word) havn't mastered and new set ups dont often have. Thats how I see it.

 

[-Nemo-]

I believe expertise includes two factors:
- Having Personal Experience
- Allowing yourself to become better through the experience of others


The first being more important IMO. You can read all you want in this hobby, but sometimes you just need to do it yourself.
I also think that most of these "guidelines" have to do largely with the amount of worked required to keep the animal alive. A mandarin requires much more excess work (Generally speaking) compared to clownfish.

 

[mattyg12uk]

I believe expertise includes two factors:
- Having Personal Experience
- Allowing yourself to become better through the experience of others


The first being more important IMO. You can read all you want in this hobby, but sometimes you just need to do it yourself.
I also think that most of these "guidelines" have to do largely with the amount of worked required to keep the animal alive. A mandarin requires much more excess work (Generally speaking) compared to clownfish.

Having been a tropical keeper and now heading in to the marine world its definately got more to do with hands on experience, however reading anything and everything helps but until you put it into practice you never know what actually works!