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Thread: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

  1. #1
    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
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    Default 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.

    -al
    AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!


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    Al Sabetta
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    Aquaticsuppliers.com


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  2. #2
    Registered Member yim11's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    16) You will learn to quarantine - one way or another...
    President NADA

    SOS Crew - Texas

  3. #3
    Registered Member Skip's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    very well written sir!

    i have learned most in the last several weeks!!

  4. #4
    Registered Member DerekFF's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    Quote Originally Posted by brewmaster15 View Post
    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.

    -al
    Haha about #4 and #15 is the truth!

  5. #5
    Registered Member jimg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    Ha!!!! for some reason it all sounds so familiar!!

  6. #6
    Registered Member roclement's Avatar
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    Default 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

  7. #7
    Registered Member MGKelly's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    EXCELLENT POST!!!
    MOLON LABE

  8. #8
    Registered Member Sea Hag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    Great post, all so very true!

  9. #9
    Registered Member nc0gnet0's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    You will one day find yourself at work wondering...OMG did I turn it off or OMG did I turn it back on?

  10. #10
    Registered Member Sea Hag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    Quote Originally Posted by nc0gnet0 View Post
    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!).

  11. #11
    Tito
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    Default 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!

  12. #12
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    Default 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

  13. #13
    Registered Member roclement's Avatar
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    Default 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

  14. #14
    Registered Member roclement's Avatar
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    Default 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
    Rod Clement - SOS CREW NJ

  15. #15
    Tito
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    Default Re: Cold Hard Facts for the Hobbyist...

    Quote Originally Posted by roclement View Post
    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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