Irresponsible fishkeepers

B

BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#1
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#1
How do YOU get through to them???

I talked to someone over the phone last night about their 10g. She is keeping a few goldfish, a few tropicals and a RTS in this 10 g. (Uncycled!)

I immediately went into explaining the RTS needs a bigger tank and "special" feedings, goldfish are coldwater and tropicals need higher temps. And I was told "The rts is not aggressive, eating fine and everyone is ok in the tank"
So I replied "All your fish are going to die!" But I'm not getting through.

Seriuosly considering running to this person's house and stealing the fish.The first batch of like 6 gf all died and this person thinks it is from an algae build-up or from the suction of the intake :mad:

I've tried explaining the stocking issues and everything but she will not take my advice. How do you deal with people like this? I love goldfish and hate to see them tortured in this way. Have you ever gotten through to a thick-headed person and if so how did you do it?:confused:
 

Kissyboots

Kissyboots

Superstar Fish
#2
Dec 17, 2007
1,889
1
36
Arizona
cid-461aece5d238e494.spaces.live.com
#2
"Imagine you're sitting in a hot and humid evironment with no where else to go. Your organs keep getting bigger and bigger but you skin doesn't grow. You are starting to explode and the temperature isn't helping you feel any more comfortable. Would you like to die in such a way?"

Yeah, well, that's kind of extreme, but if they don't have feelings for the well-being of their pets, then there's nothing you can do...
 

B

BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#3
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#3
Thanks KB! I just called her and told her that word for word and she swears her stocking is fine.
So...I recommended she come to this site...maybe to learn from others since she won't believe me.
She is the reason I even decided to start up my empty 55 for gf. I figure if I can save a handful of those inexpensive creatures from a horrible fate ... it would be worth it.
I never kept gf...but I was saddened and reminded of what people do.
Maybe instead of stealing her fish I will purchase a little booklet for her on the basics of fishkeeping and gf care.
But hopefully she will sign up and learn what I have about this hobby.
And I just recommended a neighbor who doesn't know much about her gf to come here.
I hope they do.
 

Whiskers

Whiskers

Large Fish
#8
Feb 29, 2008
425
1
18
central Michigan USA
#8
IMO sometimes all you can do is, checkout their setup and decide what it is worth to you. wait till they get sick of having dead fish and want out of the hobby and make them a fair offer for their equiptment. if the purchase is made, you have done two things: 1 you got a setup for a nice price. 2 you just save many fishy lives. odds are the person you purchase the equiptment from will not get into the hobby again cause, who wants to spend all the money again for fish that die all the time. i know if i would have gave up and sold my stuff, thats the last time i would spend that kind of money on fish that only die. But that is just my opinion.
 

bmoraski

bmoraski

Large Fish
#9
Mar 9, 2009
604
2
18
Upstate NY
#9
Whiskers said:
IMO sometimes all you can do is, checkout their setup and decide what it is worth to you. wait till they get sick of having dead fish and want out of the hobby and make them a fair offer for their equiptment. if the purchase is made, you have done two things: 1 you got a setup for a nice price. 2 you just save many fishy lives. odds are the person you purchase the equiptment from will not get into the hobby again cause, who wants to spend all the money again for fish that die all the time. i know if i would have gave up and sold my stuff, thats the last time i would spend that kind of money on fish that only die. But that is just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Really good point !
something to think about when upgading
 

B

BlueStraggler

Large Fish
#10
Mar 13, 2009
314
0
0
Poconos, PA
#10
Whiskers said:
IMO sometimes all you can do is, checkout their setup and decide what it is worth to you. wait till they get sick of having dead fish and want out of the hobby and make them a fair offer for their equiptment. if the purchase is made, you have done two things: 1 you got a setup for a nice price. 2 you just save many fishy lives. odds are the person you purchase the equiptment from will not get into the hobby again cause, who wants to spend all the money again for fish that die all the time. i know if i would have gave up and sold my stuff, thats the last time i would spend that kind of money on fish that only die. But that is just my opinion.
Click to expand...
OMG! This is so true and it is bound to happen. I'm so gonna make an offer when it happens. Thanks....at least there is one positive to keep in mind. A 10 would be great for some guppies!!! Thanks Whiskers!

Also I am going to move closer to the area where she lives and when she gets fed up with the hobby...I can probaly talk her into giving me her stuff for free. I just didn't think of this until you said it.
 

Last edited:
bmoraski

bmoraski

Large Fish
#13
Mar 9, 2009
604
2
18
Upstate NY
#13
Kissyboots said:
For some reason I kept reading "girl friend" instead of "gold fish." That was confusing! :p
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Hey kissy ive been voting LOL
you were the first one to say hi when i found this awsome site and i loved your tanks but i dont have windows live so i couldnt tell you on your site
justed want to say hi again and thanks !
 

MissFishy

MissFishy

Superstar Fish
#14
Aug 10, 2006
2,237
5
0
Michigan
#14
When explaining fishkeeping to newbs, I try and use basic explanations. Newbs don't really "get" the whole stocking thing and think/see that the fish can still move, so the tank must be fine. I explain that in a stream or lake, the fish poop has places to go while in a tank it is a closed environment and the poop just builds up. Poop is something she can visibly see building up. Explain how "good bacteria" will "eat" the poop (it doesn't really eat poop, but it gives them a visual), but that good bacteria takes time to grow and smaller tanks can't grow enough good bacteria to eat all the poop that her overly stocked tank has in it, that's why you need less fish in a tank that size. Talking about fish swimming in their own poop/excrement also seems to have an effect on people as they can imagine themselves swimming in a sewer.
 

K

kristar1982

Large Fish
#15
Nov 27, 2005
112
0
0
#15
MissFishy said:
When explaining fishkeeping to newbs, I try and use basic explanations. Newbs don't really "get" the whole stocking thing and think/see that the fish can still move, so the tank must be fine. I explain that in a stream or lake, the fish poop has places to go while in a tank it is a closed environment and the poop just builds up. Poop is something she can visibly see building up. Explain how "good bacteria" will "eat" the poop (it doesn't really eat poop, but it gives them a visual), but that good bacteria takes time to grow and smaller tanks can't grow enough good bacteria to eat all the poop that her overly stocked tank has in it, that's why you need less fish in a tank that size. Talking about fish swimming in their own poop/excrement also seems to have an effect on people as they can imagine themselves swimming in a sewer.
Click to expand...
....I've used this a million times and it works on most......there are the others though ....who like whiskers said....you can profit from.
 

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