Why Do You Keep Fish?

[FISH-FRY]

No, not why do you have a fish pet but why is it called "keeping fish"? You don't keep dogs, cats or birds, they're pets. You have pets. Why don't you have a pet fish? Or is it because you're trying so hard to keep them alive?

 

[chrisbassist]

you do keep your other pets. just like any animal that isn't in its natural habitat in the wild has a keeper (they're not bee owners, they're bee keepers, at the zoo they're not just customer service assistants, they're animal keepers...)

just the term doesn't get used as much with 4 legged single mammals like dogs.

I think it's more down to how language has developed than any specific differences between fish and dogs.

 

[AdAndrews]

you do keep your other pets. just like any animal that isn't in its natural habitat in the wild has a keeper (they're not bee owners, they're bee keepers, at the zoo they're not just customer service assistants, they're animal keepers...)

just the term doesn't get used as much with 4 legged single mammals like dogs.

I think it's more down to how language has developed than any specific differences between fish and dogs.

and the fact that you are keeping larger numbers, im sure you dont have 30-40 dogs do you? or the same number of cats.

 

[MrPandaram]

fish live in the water

u keep water. as watar must be kept in one place. and u keep fish in it.

it will be there untill the day it dies.




u cant keep a cat or dog. that would be a rspca case.

 

[james_fish]

I keep fish because i enjoy watching them act in a civilized manner. Simple as that

 

[nosoup4you]

I keep them to stock the larder in the event of an apocalypse...you cannot eat pets.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I keep fish because I can't sell mine.

 

[Always Learning]

I don't. I have fish. I say the same for any of my pets.

 

[Big_eyes]

Because if I didn't have fish my tank would be empty!


Seriously though, my third favourite pets are fish and I love the challenge of keeping them. I love the idea of having a bit of worldwide wildlife right in my living room. Plus they're so relaxing to watch, I would be happy to rid myself of a telly and to put the sofa in front of the tank.

 

[star4]

No, not why do you have a fish pet but why is it called "keeping fish"? You don't keep dogs, cats or birds, they're pets. You have pets. Why don't you have a pet fish? Or is it because you're trying so hard to keep them alive?

I believe the terminology "keeper" comes from confining non domesticated animals, ie bee keeper, zoo keeper, whereas domisicated animals, cats dogs etc are "pets" or in the case of farm animals "livestock". I would say someone that has birds as pets could be classed as a bird keeper in the case of parrots etc, but for some reason birds do not fall into this catagory? weird.

My mother asks me constantly why I keep fish, they are beautiful to look at, give me great pleasure and dont answer back! (apart from the pictus cats who can get rowdy at feeding time)

 

[-Craig-]

I keep fish as a hobby, i enjoy doing water changes, watching them and breeding them.

 

[fishfinderdave]

i keep fish coz its enjoying to watch them going about their buissiness.
and i too would happily replace my tv with a sofa infront of my tank.
ive sat and watched my fish tank for hours on end before. and i never get bored....there's always things that can be done to change it.
its an aquascape...an underwater wonderland...its a must have thing for the 21st century id say.
its keeping it looking great and keeping it alive and being creative with it.

plus fish in general are amazing animals.
you just cant get the same thrill from keeping dogs, cats, birds, or whatever else you can think of.

bearing in mind...i also have 1 cat, 1 dog, 2 cockatils and the gf's hamster....and none of them compare to my fish tank.

 

[MrPandaram]

No, not why do you have a fish pet but why is it called "keeping fish"? You don't keep dogs, cats or birds, they're pets. You have pets. Why don't you have a pet fish? Or is it because you're trying so hard to keep them alive?

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

No, not why do you have a fish pet but why is it called "keeping fish"? You don't keep dogs, cats or birds, they're pets. You have pets. Why don't you have a pet fish? Or is it because you're trying so hard to keep them alive?

I do have pet fish; it's some peoples way of speaking thats all it is. I am not a fish keeper; they are my pets.