brewmaster15
04-05-2002, 11:14 AM
I Need a Life....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't know what motivated me to write this but does any of this apply to any of you...
Guidelines for the successful integration of Discus into the hobbyist's family….. Part I
By Al Sabetta (8/30/01)
Acquiring a new discus is often a traumatic event in the life of your average family member. It is something that needs to be remembered so permanent damage is not done your loved ones( fish and humans). It is my hope that this article will offer you some insight on this potentially dangerous time. The scenario usually goes as follows …
1 Although the family of the discus hobbyist feels the afflicted individual has more than enough Discus already, the addicted hobbyist usually brings up the subject of getting a new fish. There is always a large learning curve here, with the hobbyist making many mistakes in the presentation of this subject. Though certainly not a concrete set of guidelines , here are some do's and don'ts.
Don't bring the subject up during intimate moments
Don't mention it at holiday /birthday times- it puts undue stress on the spouse knowing that unless you get your fish you will be unhappy.
Don't tell your 5 year old you'll be putting her toy box in the attic to make room for a new tank and fish.
Don't bring it up after denying someone in you family a night out at the moves.
Do use wine, flowers, and power tool gifts to soften the spouse up.
A trip to the amusement park works well on young kids, though a trip to disney is necessary for the Toy Box removal.
Dollar for dollar spending agreements work well. For example agree that for every dollar spent on discus the family can spend a dollar on food.
2. With luck you will eventually succeed in being allowed to purchase that fish, but this does not mean the fish will be accepted into the household. There will be deep seated feelings of jeoulosy that you will need to over come….
After all, another fish means less the family will see of you as you will be doing more maintainence on tanks.
It also means that they will have to take less showers because you really have need of the water for more important things.
No weekend travel now because you blew the Gas money on that wild green discus.
Your only real chance of overcoming this is to make the family believe the discus is truly part of the household. I suggest the following...
Setting a place at the table , and buy a 45 gal hex tank or 20gal high. Set this up on a chair by the dinner table so the fish can be moved to it during dinner time. Its very important for a family to have sit down meals together.
A water bed in the childrens room can act like a bunk bed if you get the clear matress and fit it with a large enough opening for the fish to easily be moved into and out of. This kind of closeness is bound to form a strong bond between the child and the fish.
As a final suggestion here, investing in a pool water truck and retrofitting it with windows will easily allow you to take all the discus with you on the family outtings and vacations.
Part 2 to follow….topics...
…Dealing with fish homocide… do you press charges or just divorce
….Introducing the fish to its new "school"
….parental support during those dating years
….retirement planning… to flush or bury? A cost/size analysis
....?
I honestly am not sampling my homebrew, just feeling a little out of it today. Inlaws are visiting among other things. Any suggestions for topics in part 2...?
-al
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't know what motivated me to write this but does any of this apply to any of you...
Guidelines for the successful integration of Discus into the hobbyist's family….. Part I
By Al Sabetta (8/30/01)
Acquiring a new discus is often a traumatic event in the life of your average family member. It is something that needs to be remembered so permanent damage is not done your loved ones( fish and humans). It is my hope that this article will offer you some insight on this potentially dangerous time. The scenario usually goes as follows …
1 Although the family of the discus hobbyist feels the afflicted individual has more than enough Discus already, the addicted hobbyist usually brings up the subject of getting a new fish. There is always a large learning curve here, with the hobbyist making many mistakes in the presentation of this subject. Though certainly not a concrete set of guidelines , here are some do's and don'ts.
Don't bring the subject up during intimate moments
Don't mention it at holiday /birthday times- it puts undue stress on the spouse knowing that unless you get your fish you will be unhappy.
Don't tell your 5 year old you'll be putting her toy box in the attic to make room for a new tank and fish.
Don't bring it up after denying someone in you family a night out at the moves.
Do use wine, flowers, and power tool gifts to soften the spouse up.
A trip to the amusement park works well on young kids, though a trip to disney is necessary for the Toy Box removal.
Dollar for dollar spending agreements work well. For example agree that for every dollar spent on discus the family can spend a dollar on food.
2. With luck you will eventually succeed in being allowed to purchase that fish, but this does not mean the fish will be accepted into the household. There will be deep seated feelings of jeoulosy that you will need to over come….
After all, another fish means less the family will see of you as you will be doing more maintainence on tanks.
It also means that they will have to take less showers because you really have need of the water for more important things.
No weekend travel now because you blew the Gas money on that wild green discus.
Your only real chance of overcoming this is to make the family believe the discus is truly part of the household. I suggest the following...
Setting a place at the table , and buy a 45 gal hex tank or 20gal high. Set this up on a chair by the dinner table so the fish can be moved to it during dinner time. Its very important for a family to have sit down meals together.
A water bed in the childrens room can act like a bunk bed if you get the clear matress and fit it with a large enough opening for the fish to easily be moved into and out of. This kind of closeness is bound to form a strong bond between the child and the fish.
As a final suggestion here, investing in a pool water truck and retrofitting it with windows will easily allow you to take all the discus with you on the family outtings and vacations.
Part 2 to follow….topics...
…Dealing with fish homocide… do you press charges or just divorce
….Introducing the fish to its new "school"
….parental support during those dating years
….retirement planning… to flush or bury? A cost/size analysis
....?
I honestly am not sampling my homebrew, just feeling a little out of it today. Inlaws are visiting among other things. Any suggestions for topics in part 2...?
-al