Considering tank space

[blainep]

So, I'm looking at my tanks, stuffed with fish and more on the way.
I'm thinking, how do I make more space ?

I'm considering going all wild, finding new homes for my domestic lines.

There simply isn't room for more tanks, so now comes decision time..........

Thoughts ? Opinions ?

[thegrandpoohbah]

I'll be in Calgary by the end of December if you need homes for some fish... :;):

[Melody]

I had to learn the same way Blaine, and its a tough one. I still fall back on it on a regular basis.

What I did was sit down and write out what I really wanted to accomplish. My only goal was owning every Livebearer on the planet and while ignorance is bliss, it isn't long biting you on the anal fin.

Look at it from every aspect.

- What is way too hard to move? Which is in the most demand? This isn't necessarily a money thing, its a consideration when you need to move the offspring even if they're free.

- Which are your absolute favorites? Those that you would want even if they weren't rare or hard to find.

- What is your primary reason for breeding them? There is a different set of criteria that comes with every reason.

- What can be kept together without risk of crossing? This helps you utilize your breeding space much better.

- Do it right or get out of the fishroom...lol. If you aren't really into improving fancies or don't have the space to do so, let them go. Average fancies are a dime/dozen - any amateur can have them and most of them do.

- Don't blindly buy buy buy without planning. Map the plan out - how many tanks will it take to develop this or breed that? Aggressive fish need their own tank, etc. Now assign those tanks to those species. Talk about a rude awakening...lol. I use that one when my ordering is getting out of hand.

- Always be prepared. You know that Melody chick is going to order in more wild-types several times / year, evil temptress that she is, so keep a few tanks on hand and choose wisely.

- Pass your fish along to responsible hobbyists who will keep the strains pure and in top condition, but most importantly, make sure they're the kind of hobbyist who will be there for you if you ever want or need that species in the future. Not that they're obligated to keep them of course, but you know where they are and they know where they went. That's where clubs are very handy, but you can go by rep too. If the person is simply out to get what they can get, they aren't going to help you or other hobbyists in the future. People like yourself, that Mr. GP dude, Jay and several more ethical hobbyists around here, are people you can trust to have the greater good of the hobby at heart. If you need something, they'll be tripping all over each other to make sure you get it because you've been there for them before. They help other people, you help them... its not about payback, its about turning a system into a rewarding experience on several levels.

Somebody write that down - very profound for 8:30 AM on a Saturday morning....lol.

Anyways, its that part of the hobby that I am focusing on now.:smile:

Hope that helps!

[_BaDgUy_]

Hey Blaine, I'd love to help you out with that problem by keeping some fish for you, but I'm stuck with the same problem as you! I was thinking of sending some your way to help me out! Might as well scrap that plan!

I've got more fish coming in than tanks available :confused:

I'm pretty much doing what Melody suggested!

Fish that don't fit "my" direction these days are going out of the fishroom, even if I have to give them away (lucky me, a good person took them in to help me out!)
I'm also looking into mixing species that will not cross-breed, and won't go after the juvies of the other species. There is no way in **** I'd put some Micropoecilia picta in with some Brachyraphis roseni!! :no:

Just go with Melody's suggestions, it will help you out a good deal, and will help me too!

Also, if you know someone else is keeping a species that you also have, try to see which of the two "prefers" it over some other species. Example, if we both have Limia nigrofasciata, maybe only one of the two could keep it in stock, and whenever the other wants that fish, trading could be an option!

[KnaveTO]

Now this thread delivers! This is exactly what I needed to start doing myself.

[blainep]

Sorry about my tardy return, a very long day at work today.

Melody is definitely right about focus in fishkeeping, weather it's livebearers, cichlids or any other kind of fish or any animal for that matter.

Don't worry Mr. GP, there will still be plenty of fish for you to choose from. :laugh:

Most of my domestic lines have been 'Pride and Joy' fish for me. Nothing special about the types of, just my work to improve them in different ways.

My Silver Mollies that are some of the largest, healthiest, active Mollies you'll see anywhere.
My Blue Platys have better colour than any I've ever seen. ( I don't get out that much, so that may not be as bold a statement as it sounds :laugh:).

I know that if I decide to move them all, I can, I have a couple of stores that want me to bring fish in to them.

It's really just a matter of deciding if I should not bring in any more wilds once my current deals and trades are done, or clear out the domestics and keep going.

Decisions decisions .......

[Melody]

You certainly do well with them, if those that I've received from you are anything to go by. Its always great to hear hobbyists talk of improving strains. Livebearers have been bred into the weaklings of the hobby and that has to change. They had fancy fins in the 60's & 70's that you would not believe, but people didn't keep working the strains properly. We're finally coming back to it now but there's still a lot of work to be done.

In case I wasn't clear though, I meant IF you weren't into working on the strains and such then its something you can get out of, not that you don't do it now. That kind of thing appeals to some and not to others. It definitly is hard to make the choice if you like working the fancies too - I hear ya there! So don't choose between the two - pick your fave fancy project, but move the ones that don't interest you as much.:yes:

[blainep]

I was thinking of sending some your way to help me out! Might as well scrap that plan!



Let me know what you were thinking about sending, once the P. prolifica arrive, maybe we can arrange something.

[KnaveTO]

I am finding myself in the situation right now of having to review all my tanks and decide what I am keeping and what I am still planning on buying and for what reasons. Whether your reasons are laudable (such as breeding rare and/or endangered species for the hobby) or just for personal pleasure you must decided for yourself what, where, why, and how.

It is an interesting exercise and one that (as I am finding) takes quite a bit of personal willpower.

For myself there are certain species that I enjoy working with. These are becomming my mainstays and are slowly filling my tanks. I am thinking that I will be sticking with a few of the S. American cichlid varieties (namely German Blue Rams, Apistogramma's and the like , in other words the dwarf varieties), plecos (that is the hard one to stick to a couple of species... lol), as well as a few livebearers (namely silver mollies and black/green swords). So looks like I will be almost 100% new world fish. There will be one or two non new world (I still am in love with the Celestial Pearl Danio's) but I think I am finding my niche geographic wise.

Looks like I will be spending a lot of time at aquabid.com till I find just exacly what I am looking for. That was and is the hardest lesson I am learning... don't settle for something till you are absolutely sure that is just what you want.

Contrary to MTS an empty tank isn't a sin...

[Melody]

Niche is a good word. Too many people don't put any effort whatsoever into coming up with their own. They follow. Therefore they never have what they want, they have what everyone else wants because they think they have to have it too. Or they see that someone else wants something and think its a coup to have it or breed it first, etc. I think that must be very unrewarding because they're never satisfied.

I like to challenge myself on a personal level. If I want to try something, its because I think its a good plan overall. I don't give a fishpoo if anyone else is doing it, has done it or will do it. I put some original though into it and do what interests me. If its a first, that's great, but its just a side bonus, not the objective. It has to grab me.

Its not a race, its not a fad, its not a peeing contest :laugh: , its a hobby. Hobbies are something we do that we find personally rewarding. This one should be no different.

All of which has nothing whatsoever to do with Blaine of course...lol....just an evolving conversation.

[Melody]

Canadians really should be forgiven for madly gathering species though - its like a person who never had candy as a child. Once you can get it, you want it all. Now that things are opening up a bit, we're learning to restrain ourselves.

I often wondered how people in the US could possibly handle the selection they have, when I sat here drooling on the sidelines. But they've had it all for so long they have learned to limit themselves and focus more I guess.