Us "Westerners"....my views

[Lady Hobbs]

I was in the rainbow forum recently viewing the beautiful tanks that people have....drooling. A lady from the USA had a lovely tank and the response she got was something like "wow, usually westerners can't put together a tank like that."

And then I got thinking that, really, the tanks you see that are just the most awesome are generally those from outside the US. We here in the US do so many things different but I also think that partly the planted tanks seem to be more awesome from outside the US due to the availability of plants.

I think we have the straggliest, smallest, nastiest plants available to us and it would be so nice to have a selection native to our country to pick from as others do.

Personally I find that when I buy a plant and get a bunch that is 1 inch high without even a root I am somewhat disappointed. Starting out with a nice, big healthy plant sure would help!

Us Westerners also are more impatient, I think. I know I am. I would like to see a nice healthy tank from the get-go. Talking to Nanaglen one day (hope you don't mind me using your name, Andrea) she was telling me of how tanks are planted in her country.

The tanks are set up with plants, lights, ferts and all that is needed and no fish go in the tank for about 3 months to give the plants a good start. I can not think of any Westerns that could stand to wait 3 months before filling their tank with fish.

Our "custom" here in the US seems to be to run out, buy a tank, fill it with fish and watch them die. Other countries seem to already know that fish tanks need to be cycled so why are we so uninformed here? I think it goes back to the lack of patience, always being in a hurry and not studying about fish, caring for fish or even knowing about fish before buying them.

Other countries often think we are stupid and I get a kick sometimes reading other forums and what they have to say about us and our lack of knowledge in the fish world. I once read that they laugh at our use of charcoal and our need to feel we even need it.

All over the world we have different products available to us and different ways of doing things but this is always a learning curve and much can be learned from everyone from all over I think.

Today I've decided to take a drive and get some plants native to my area. Those will be Christmas trees, potatoes, dandelions, crap grass and cucumbers.

Comments?

[Rue]

You're right...we're behind the times in North America on several issues.

I think it's partially because we're still not as 'crowded' as Europe is, and that nature is still more available to us. Because of that we somehow don't take our pets as seriously - and they're still 'disposable' to us.

Looking at the Zajac catalogue from Germany, I have a better appreciation for what supplies and trends we share and what we don't...the planted tank is definately a much more serious tank over there than here...and as you've noticed...MUCH nicer for the most part.

I think the substrate heater has a lot to do with it...but I'd have to check on that.

Good luck with your plant hunting! LOL...I'm gonna have to tell hubby about 'crap grass'. He'll luv that...he's been fighting crab grass and quack grass in our yard for years...

[Mark Lathrop]

Some of it has to do with our "fast food" brand pet stores as well, with uninformed, unenthusiastic employees. Also most people don't respect fish as living creatures here as much.

I was reading a book about one of the first Englishman to ever go to Japan. He made friends with a powerful shogun, and prospered. He kept a garden and ponds with fish in them, and Japanese royalty would literally travel hundreds and even thousands of miles to come look at his fish, and even take some as gifts, which eventually annoyed him as it was customary to give gifts to guests and all they wanted were his fish, lol. So some of the respect for fish and fishkeeping in, at least southeast asia, has been around for centuries. It's even a part of their culture per say.

[Lady Hobbs]

I think also because so many fish here are just mass farm -produced. The import of these fish have virtually ceased in several countries and rightfully so. They should not deplete their natural resources nor should we.

But, it still does not account for pure ignorance in the care of fish as we so often have. This is where the impatience comes in, I think. We seem to always be in a big hurry for what we want. I know I am, also, and very tired of waiting on that bigger tank!!!

I see many things offered there that we don't have not only in the line of fish but in the products used in tanks.

Rue, altho crap grass was a typo here, I have always called this crap "crapgrass." LOL

[YaYgoldFish]

Well is in the US atleast its better than here in canada. Other day i was my lfs looking for plants and they were UGLY. they were big, but all covered by dead or brown leaves..my sisters boyfriend went to a mall a while ago where they sell small fish and he found a ziploc full of piss with a comet in it! How horrible!

[Drumachine09]

I was talking to my german teacher (also mild fish enthusiast) and she said that it is VERY rare to find a tank with fake plants. Planted tanks are standard there.


I agree with hobbs on the "instant gratification" point. I think you will apreciate your tanks MANY times more if you put in a ton of work (cycling, decorating, planting, etc) than if someone went out bought a tank, filled it with water, crammed in the fish.

[RobbieG]

My LFS seems to make most of its money setting up and maintaining tanks for people. It seems like a lot of the people over here with the money for serious tanks would rather spend it on a finished product they can show off than an interesting hobby.

Lady Hobbs can you pick me some crab grass for my tank too!