Marketing or Luck

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Like the saying goes "opinions are like butt holes... everyone's got one".

Personally I tend to like to know what I'm doing and how it works. I would much rather put together a meal from scratch than make it from a recipe or out of a box, it's just how I am. Then again, people who make meals like this haven't died from starvation (excuse the over generalization).

I hate "quick fix" items, like tetras blackwater extract or pH up and down... I would much rather do it a more natural way, but many people have had success using these products.
 
The third option missing is SKILL. Some of the best fishkeepers I know just use instinct.

I have a lot of repect for people who keep fish successfully without filtration.
 
Also, I think its relatively easy for someone just to say they now someone who did this or that, had healty fish, and never lost any fish. But in reality they probably had fish dieing every month. Remember its really easy to lie online and there really isnt any way we can know if someone is being dishonest or not. I always take wild claims with a grain of salt for one thing.
Heck, even one time I accidentaly spilled a bottle of bleach into the tank and non of my fish died. I was so luck, it was only about 1/4 full (a 1 gallon bottle of bleach). Just as a percaution I did a huge 15% water change (I usually only do 10% every month or two). A few days later I lost a cardinal tetra but I dont think it was related to the bleach incident. So since then I never worry about the chlorine in city water since the bleach didnt seem to kill them.Just kidding, I never dumped bleach in my tank, and I do 50% weekly water changes, and dechlorinate.
 
I can appreciate the people who never lose a fish and dont do water changes.

However I do believe it comes down to Animal Husbandry and education. The longer we keep fish the more we know about native habitats and natural lifestyle of the fish we keep. Im sure there are more species being kept successfully now because we are more educated about how they live in the wild and we try to mimic that. I think that the people who claim this success are keeping common fish who have learned to adapt to life in the aquarium. Guaranteed that if you put any wild caught stock in one of these tanks it would die in short order. Look at how good large water changes are for ripped and torn fins. Would the water quality be up to par in these other tanks to heal?

We now know about OTS and what can happen when compounds build up enough to cause stress in our fish. We know more now about how stunting fish in too small of a tank causes shrinkage of the exterior of the fish, yet the organs continue to grow. This list could go on and on.

I know old habits die hard, but I bet if these people put as much free time into their tanks as some of us here, they would notice how much happier and healthier their fish can be.

Point is...Fish adapt, ya they might not be as colorful and healthy as those in other tanks, but they do live.
 
247Plants;1513630; said:
I can appreciate the people who never lose a fish and dont do water changes.

However I do believe it comes down to Animal Husbandry and education. The longer we keep fish the more we know about native habitats and natural lifestyle of the fish we keep. Im sure there are more species being kept successfully now because we are more educated about how they live in the wild and we try to mimic that. I think that the people who claim this success are keeping common fish who have learned to adapt to life in the aquarium. Guaranteed that if you put any wild caught stock in one of these tanks it would die in short order. Look at how good large water changes are for ripped and torn fins. Would the water quality be up to par in these other tanks to heal?

We now know about OTS and what can happen when compounds build up enough to cause stress in our fish. We know more now about how stunting fish in too small of a tank causes shrinkage of the exterior of the fish, yet the organs continue to grow. This list could go on and on.

I know old habits die hard, but I bet if these people put as much free time into their tanks as some of us here, they would notice how much happier and healthier their fish can be.

Point is...Fish adapt, ya they might not be as colorful and healthy as those in other tanks, but they do live.
Click to expand...

I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here...

Why is it so hard to believe that people don't have to do much to have a sucessful tank?

There are people here who preach that everyone should have a test kit, do weekly water changes, etc. Yet they don't believe that just having a tank, water, and fish will work. Then they call it luck or they dismiss the whole thing. I don't have a test kit, I miss weekly water changes from time to time, I don't think I need a 300g+ tank to keep an Arowana. That doesn't make me a bad fish keeper or hobbyist, but some will down right be vicious and attack you as a hobbyist and as a person.
 
I never disagreed with the concept. I am simply stating that with further education comes a better understanding.

We all do things differently, I would be willing to bet there arent more than a handful of people on this entire forum who do things exactly the same.

Personally, to me, one of the best parts of this hobby for me is trying to recreate a biotope and harmony in my fish tanks. I dont like to see too many fish in a tank myself. I like to see a little more natural behavior in my fish.
 
benzjamin13;1513800; said:
... but some will down right be vicious and attack you as a hobbyist and as a person.
Click to expand...

you too huh. well fortunately *most here on MFK are kind and helpful.

"Men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability."
- George Bernard Shaw
 
It seems that whenever there is a rule (should I say a probability?), there is an exception to it. There are always the exceptions that get away with keeping too many fish in a tank, or who never do water changes, etc., but it won't hold true for the majority of people.

When I first got into the hobby, I did some real stupid things and got away with it more often than not. At one time I had over 100 inches of fish (I used length only at the time) in a 20 gallon tank. The stock list included senegal bichirs, 5 different types of catfish, an oscar, 5 monopterus albus, a tire track eel and a fire eel. To filter, I had an UGF powered by an AC50 and a penguin 550 powerhead. They lived in there for over a month while I saved the money to buy a 180. Actually, it was probably closer to 2 months and I did 20-30% water changes every two weeks. I was stupid and lucky, and the other guys at the fish store said I had a "scaly thumb" with fish. Now I know better, and would never stock a tank that. I might get lucky and get away with it, but why risk it?

My point is that the hobby has learned a lot about keeping fish. We have learned about nitrates, micronutrients, chlorine, chloramine, beneficial bacteria and O2 exchange. Now that we know about it, we have a better chance of keeping fish alive and healthy by:
1) Doing regular water changes
2) having proper filtration
3) using water conditioners
4) providing a varied, balanced diet
5) cycling the tank
These steps provide a BETTER CHANCE of success, they are not necessarily going to make you successful, and ignoring some or all of them are not necessarily going to prevent you from being successful.
 
I agree 100% the thing I hate are all these chemicals. Seems way to many people want to add a chemical as soon as they think something is wrong. Most of the time, if you are keeping up with your tank nothing ever goes wrong. I can honestly say, I have never seen ick or any other type fungus in my show tanks. I always quarantine the fish I get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom