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Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Hi all,
I've been in the hobby now several decades and I have bred many fish, kept many, and like many others...killed many thru my own stupidity, carelessness or ignorance... It happens.
I have also helped or attempted to help more hobbyists than I can ever remember `how not to do the mistakes I have done or how to give better care than I was able to give at the same point in The Discus Learning Curve.
Veterans here know these as Cold hard facts, but I thought I should write them out `for novices and not so experienced keepers. Some are intuitive, but I am always surprised by how much we don't accept as facts when we get in the hobby.
1) You will Kill Fish if you are in this Hobby Long enough... You will also stunt their growth.
2) You will slack in care of fish as Life throws you curves..They'll usually live thru...but some may not
3) Theres a good likelihood that Discus are not right for you and your life style....you may leave the hobby. Its not the end of the world.
4) You will, if you stay in this long enough and learn from others,succeed at Breeding Discus and raising fry...You most likely will also have Pairs that will not breed for you or will be terrible parents...It happens. You may also have perfect pairs that breed if you look at them.
5) You will have Fish get sick....They may die from that..or they may die without any apparent reason...They are fish afterall.
6) You will have Fish that you grow out that you will be thrilled with...you have others you will be disappointed in...Their shortcomings or successes may have nothing to do with you or your care. Just accept it.
7) You will learn about WATER...save yourself the hassels and learn as soon as you can.
8) You will give advice to others....sometimes you will help them...others you may harm them...Likewise you will recieve both good and bad advice..Its a fact,
9) You will have a tank of fish with a weakling in it....It happens.
10) you will have a healthy group of fish that suddenly has a problem.
11) You will change lots of water. The definition of "Lots" may be different...but the fact remains..You'll be changing water
12) You will spend lots of money on the Discus Hobby..
13) You will buy from sellers and be thrilled...You will work with sellers and feel slighted or worse.
14) You will want more tanks...or more fish..
and
15) You will get hooked on Discus even knowing all the above facts...:)Even if you leave the hobby...you will think about that Flat fish everytime you see a fish tank....and thats a fact.:D:D:D:D
-al
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
16) You will learn to quarantine - one way or another...
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
very well written sir!
i have learned most in the last several weeks!! :D
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
brewmaster15
4) You will, if you stay in this long enough and learn from others,succeed at Breeding Discus and raising fry...You most likely will also have Pairs that will not breed for you or will be terrible parents...It happens. You may also have perfect pairs that breed if you look at them.
15) You will get hooked on Discus even knowing all the above facts...:)Even if you leave the hobby...you will think about that Flat fish everytime you see a fish tank....and thats a fact.:D:D:D:D
-al
Haha about #4 and #15 is the truth!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Ha!!!! for some reason it all sounds so familiar!!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
YOU BETTER LIKE WATER BECAUSE IT WILL BE ALL OVER YOUR FLOOR
YOUR WIFE MUST LOVE THE SIGHT AND SMELL OF FISH FOOD IN THE FREEZER
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Great post, all so very true!
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You will one day find yourself at work wondering...OMG did I turn it off or OMG did I turn it back on?
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nc0gnet0
You will one day find yourself at work wondering...OMG did I turn it off or OMG did I turn it back on?
And you'll make some crazy excuse to your boss about why you must go back home (and the word fish or tank will not be part of the request!).
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Whether it's Discus or not - I think I will always keep fish around - even if it's a can of Tuna!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Al, this thread, and to all of you who have added things to the list, and will continue, this is fabulous....when it is about complete, I want to print out the list and put it up inthe fish room! [Uh, that would be my living room...]
Very best regards,
Harriett
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
There is another one! :)
At some point your living room and your fish room will be one and the same!
Rodrigo
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
And Tito, you made my signature!
"Whether it's Discus or not - I think I will always keep fish around - even if it's a can of Tuna!"
Rodrigo
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
roclement
And Tito, you made my signature!
"Whether it's Discus or not - I think I will always keep fish around - even if it's a can of Tuna!"
Rodrigo
LOL
Please Rod - I'm at work I can't laugh out this hard!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Every time the electric goes off I leave work, I hook up the fish room and upstairs tanks to the generator. That's all I can run on it, the heat,refrigerator etc has to wait!!
I have 1/4 of the freezer and fridge filled with aquarium stuff
Holes drilled in hardware floors for pipes
yelled at for smell of bh mix
$350+ electric bill
haven't gone away for more than 2 days in some wheres around 7 -8 years
But that's the life of a discus hobbyist!
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Very accurate and well stated
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What is it about this "Flat fish" that makes you want to change "Lots" of water........fill half your fridge with their food.........kept you from taking a vacation lasting more than two days..........and once hooked, an addiction that you just can't shake......I guess "It happens":D
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PAR23
What is it about this "Flat fish" that makes you want to change "Lots" of water........fill half your fridge with their food.........kept you from taking a vacation lasting more than two days..........and once hooked, an addiction that you just can't shake......I guess "It happens":D
You know the funniest part is IF I do take a vacation that is longer than 2 days, its ACTUALLY to go see more of these flat fish. :o
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eddie
You know the funniest part is IF I do take a vacation that is longer than 2 days, its ACTUALLY to go see more of these flat fish. :o
haha, omg my eyes are watering because its so true
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Funny but true, my plans this winter are to take a few days to see Hans!!
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I'm afraid to go on vacation because of my fish.:p how pathetic am I
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LOL... Fact also...The vacation phobia will pass in time... Though it may take years/decades .:):):)
Discus are much like cats...They won't miss you much if you go away a few days....Heck they could care less if you go away a week and may even be so happy that you aren't fussing with their tank that they spawn while you are gone....
...and thats a fact.:):):):):)
-al
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LOL My first vacation in 8 years was to the NADA show. My next one will be to the 2012 show.
Chris
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Scribbles
LOL My first vacation in 8 years was to the NADA show. My next one will be to the 2012 show.
Chris
And it was a great one! I will also be at the 2012 show, no doubt!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Great thread and very good points.
I have accomplished most of the above, some of them more than once or many times:D
The learning never stops...... there are endless varieties and ways of doing things.:)
The people that you meet in this hobby is endless and one of the best parts:):):) Many of these people have taught me new things, and I thank them all.
Simply Discus has brought a lot of all of this together and I thank Al, Ryan, and Paul for making and keeping this place the way it is.:):):):):)
Its a fact:D
Ardan
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ardan
Great thread and very good points.
I have accomplished most of the above, some of them more than once or many times:D
The learning never stops...... there are endless varieties and ways of doing things.:)
The people that you meet in this hobby is endless and one of the best parts:):):) Many of these people have taught me new things, and I thank them all.
Simply Discus has brought a lot of all of this together and I thank Al, Ryan, and Paul for making and keeping this place the way it is.:):):):):)
Its a fact:D
Ardan
HUGE DITTO!!!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
17) You'll get at o'dark thirty to write a post on Simply discus, which will then be read and commented on by twenty other fishnuts up at ungodly hours with nothing else on their minds than to ruminate about these "flat" fish!:D:D
Al, you posted this at 6:20 am ? ? ?:p
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lol.which was 4:20 my time! You are right, odd hours for us all
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What else is there to do at 3:30 AM.?
Chris
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DiscusLover65
lol.which was 4:20 my time! You are right, odd hours for us all
4/20 ; ) .. know wonder you are up all hours of nite thinking about discus.. LOL
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Sorry Warlock, I wouldn't know what the appropriate lingo is. Not really into discussing that on a FAMILY(family means children) forum. :(. I am a mother and a grandmother, and wouldn't want my grandchild reading about that lingo on a fish forum.
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You will soon develope a strong distaste for carpeting..........
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That's a good one ncogneto!
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nc0gnet0
You will soon develope a strong distaste for carpeting..........
yep, and solid oak floors....even more strangely.. You'll find you really have a growing affinity for basements and bare concrete!;):D:D:D
-al
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Scribbles
What else is there to do at 3:30 AM.?
Chris
Water changes... :)
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
And you will learn that a rarely used formal dining room can make a wonderful fish room, especially if there is no carpeting, and plenty of electric outlets, is near the kitchen sink and has a window to siphon water out of. Sound like I am speaking from experience ?
Barb:D:D:D
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Discus isn't a Hobby.
It's a way of life or a life style.
Hans
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Discus-Hans
Discus isn't a Hobby.
It's a way of life or a life style.
Hans
i was thinking about that as i spent all afternoon making my first batch of HOMEMADE Discus food...
is it a bad thing to daydream about ways to put more tanks into your house instead?
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Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
brewmaster15
yep, and solid oak floors....even more strangely.. You'll find you really have a growing affinity for basements and bare concrete!;):D:D:D
-al
I don't know about this one Al, concrete stain is a nice upgrade. :D