Other Ed Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I have been getting a bit disinterested with my fish. What do you do to overcome this? Sell everything? Sell your fish and buy some from a different lake? Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamsherman Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Sell them all and get some herps!!! Thats what i did. But i did keep some of my favourites which are now pets rather than just fish in tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foai Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I have never been in your situation before but had a sister who has. I would downsize to one low cost and maintenance display tank. If you find you aren't motivated to do water changes, check water chemistry and generally keep the fish in good nick it might just be time to get rid of them. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducksta Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Yep, concentrate on a solitary display aquarium. And have lots of people over who will tell you how cool it is, and therefore how cool you are for having it. I have been close to packing it in a couple of times, but I find when I start thinking about selling things I realise they are hard to part with after all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 How many tanks do you have Ed? What parts of cichlid keeping are you finding the biggest chores? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 I found that making a display tank helped me through this problem. The process of setting it up and reorganising the decor was motivation in itself. Seeing the beauty of the finished tank ultimately raised my enthusiasm. Selling up something that has been part of your life for along time may become a big regret later on. I agree with the others downsize until the bug bites again. Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Ed Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 All my tanks were moved into the garage early last summer. I had a rack made. Its 7 foot long and has a 3ft and a 4ft on the top and same on the bottom, with filters underneeth. I setup a fry tank last month with ice cream tub filter to raise some krib (feble attempt at the krib project). I have firemouth in the top 4ft and convicts and krib on the other top 3ft. Krib and a pair of angels in the bottom 4ft and breeding pair of krib in the bottom 3ft, but the male died so now the fry got moved in here from the fry tank. All the tanks are standards with one 3ft having hob filters + a diy, the rest having external canisters. Also some BN in the tanks. Its a chore to feed them everyday then rush off to work. Water changes are done less often than should be. I did read the artical in the Cichlid Circular (cichlidless edition (1st edition vol 24)) but didnt really understand what was going on with the water flow. I should mention that we have a new baby 7 weeks now. But I dont think thats the problem. I do miss having the fish in the house. I will be working on sat 12 feb, so no BBQ for me. And no spending loads of cash on a new 5x2x2 for the house. Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I dont think I would be motivated much if all my tanks were hidden away in a garage or similar either. My tanks were always in the house, and when we needed extra space in the house I moved them out here to the back room (converted garage) and have my tanks, computer, and other toys which allow me to escape into my own world. I enjoy being out here for many other reasons than just the fish, and can certainly imagine what a chore it would be to simply come out here to feed the fish then go back inside again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gswalker Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I say maybe you need to take a break from it, thats what I have done, now I am back in the hobby but wont be as full on as I once was as I have gotten my priorties in order now, so now it wont be a chore but a great way to relax and have fun with it, after all that is what it is supposed to be about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Ed Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 Here are some pictures to help you get the idea. Prehapps I should get a quote for a 5x2x2, and see what I can get for the stuff in the garage. Might not be two expensive after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 What sort of fish is that last shot? I’ve had fish for many years, and though I would never get rid of them, I have gone through the down cycle you are going through. I have found getting a new fish that I’ve had an interest in has always made a difference to my attendance with my fish which incidentally are all in the garage at the moment also. I have two kids, and they have grown up with these tanks, and the time it takes dad each week to look after them. My kids are 5 and 7 now, and it is much easier time wise to look after both now they are older and do the tanks, but when they were both young, it was quite difficult to manage all the loves of my life. If I were you, I would give some thought to a few new fish, not necessarily more than one species. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Hi Ed, I completely agree with Craig. We lost interest for a while after moving but then we decided to go out and get a few fish we'd always wanted, that plus this forum is what got us enthusiastic again. By the way, that last shot is great. Shell & Shane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeW Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Ok this has happened to me many times - but I have other hobbies to sustain me through the downtimes... Here's a few ideas that help: > Keep some low maintenance cichlids for a while, I suggest Julidochromis spp. or shell dwelling Neolamps (N. multifasciatus etc) - easier, as you wont be needing those fry tanks. > Lightly stock the tanks - you'll reduce your water changes significantly this way . > Put your tanks on timers for lights etc - if they arent already. Take some time out and enjoy bub - soon you'll be desperate to get out and into the garage LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burek Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 Ed I had this problem too. What i did was just look at my fish more, buy new fish, new tanks, read articles about cichlids, and spent less time on other things and more on cichlids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I lost interest aswell so i sold all my cichlids and got into discus..but soon got sick of the queens of the Aquarium. I thaught to my self "what cichlids have i always admired and wanted but never got"....so my decision was feather fins (foai, *Sumbu*) i purchased them young and knew they'd take a while to grow, now my interest lies in the anticipation of what they'll turn out like as adults. I only have these now and a pet red devil and find my self content with what i have and although id like another tank for my red devil i'm happy and have stuff all maintanence. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 As you can see nearly all of us at one time or another have hit that wall , I got through it like a lot of others by trimming down the stock levels in the tanks so I did not have to do as much maintenance . I also looked around for some fish that I had always wanted but never had and did some research on them , that re kindled the urge and when I finally got some of them into my tanks I was off and running again . Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_Gun_Riff Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 if i get in the mood of not wanting to do maintanence i just think to my self if i do it now i wont have to do it tommrow etc and it works lol the only thing that annoys me is trying to get the back of the tank clean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mezzacam Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 If i get in the mood like that, I just picture myself as one of the fish, and the fish being my owner, and how i'd feel if they didn't clean my tank, lol. That usually spurs me into action. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lv426 Posted February 12, 2005 Share Posted February 12, 2005 Sorry to hear about your lack of interest Ed. It's a shame when this happens but I think you should really think what is it that makes you lose interest. Is it the constant maitenance? Or is it simply you are not interested in keeping fish or any new fish. I think if it is the latter than sell up and move on. But if it's the first I strongly agree with everone else......downsize. The last thing is to push something you dont want then you may really resent the hobby. From my experience I have kept fish for 18 months now. My enthusiasm is greater than it ever was. I have become very picky about what I want to keep in the future. I think if i stick to this then my interest should last (hopefuly) for a long time. To me the satisfaction arises when i see my fish grow up under my care. Also when i visit a LFS and see a species which i keep, many times the quality is at best poor (of larger fish). It is when i return home and see my fish looking totally different than what I saw that day. My fish are healthy,nice colours and body shape. I symapthise with you though because currently I have a 4x2x2, Aqua One AR620T and a standard 2ft. I planning on getting my dream tank this year....a 7ftx30x30 monster. I am however concerned that with a tank that size plus my existing tanks I might not be able to maintain them way I would like. I would like to avoid getting myself into a situation. Good luck though.....please let us know how you go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cichlid_KB Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 Find an interested kid to do the work for you. KB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTR73 Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 I've had cichlids for 12 years and for me it goes in peaks and troughs. That's one of the reasons I keep Africans - in the troughs the little suckers still plug along regardless as they're so hardy. Although, I must confess I've been at a "peak" for the last two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wetfish Posted February 13, 2005 Share Posted February 13, 2005 It happens to everyone at one time or another. But at the end of day its whats going to make you happiest which is the best answer. I would go for the lower maintenance cichlids for a while, then when ur back on a high go back to whatever tickles your fancy take it easy Wetfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Ed Posted February 14, 2005 Author Share Posted February 14, 2005 Thanks for all the replys. I guess we will have to see how we go. I may leave two tanks empty and try some different fish. I read somewhere if the tanks are left empty, they may crack or break when refilled. How true is this? Ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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