Confessions of A Novice....

**Emmastaff** · 02-07-2008, 02:49 PM

I got to thinking about what a terrible fish keeper I was before I learned about cycling and really everything I didn't know. Although it isn't funny, it did kind of make me chuckle when I thought of my first fish, and how horribly wrong everything I did was. I had a Koi who was purchased as a youngster (1-2" maybe). I kept him in a 29 gallon tank for 10 years! Yes, he lived for 10 years. He ended up dying when he ate his cory buddy and choked. But he was a good 11 inches by the time he passed.

It was a sad ending, and I actually did shed a few tears. Afterall, I had him for 10 years! But the poor fellow, I knew nothing of water changes. I would completely strip his tank for the cleanings. I am not sure how the poor fellow survived it all. I do feel bad, but I suppose these are experiences we can all learn from.

So does anyone else have any "first fish/tank" stories they'd like to share? Perhaps these tanks caused you to seek out more knowledge? Or perhaps you had fish like "Koi" who survived despite having all of the odds against him? I wish I could go back and give Koi a proper pond like he deserved. I am just glad I have been enlightened. I am sure we all started out at a point like this and I thought it would be fun to share the stories.

**jbeining75** · 02-07-2008, 02:52 PM

I was 16 got a 30 gallon and two 6 inch Oscars.... Needless to say the went south very fast. One attacked the other and one jumped out.... At that point I decided it was time to learn so I read and have been keeping Oscars since.....

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-07-2008, 02:59 PM

You had an 11" goldfish in a 10 gallon tank? Boy, he must have had a good time. :) I think many of us did the same thing. When I got my 20 gallon I went right out and bought 3 bala sharks. Lordie!

**jbeining75** · 02-07-2008, 03:00 PM

yes the tri colors get huge.........

**Emmastaff** · 02-07-2008, 03:33 PM

No, it was an 11 inch goldfish in a 29 gallon tank. I had him for 10 years.

**sailor** · 02-07-2008, 03:46 PM

1 of my very first of the bigger tanks I ever upgraded to was a 42 gallon long(I don't even know if they make them any more) I had quite the wild mix in there. Discus, africans, tertras, live berrers. A disaster that was waiting to happen, which it did. The africans ended up the winners and I have been hooked on them ever since about 22 yrs now.

**JZ1276** · 02-07-2008, 03:47 PM

I've had aquariums since I could remember. I started with a 10GL and kept neons/tiger barbs/angel fish, etc in it. Then I had a 29 GL for about 15 years that had seen many snakeheads, Oscars, dempseys, etc. Some of the Oscars lived to be 5-6 years. I killed alot of fish when cleaning the tank bc i thought it was better to OVERclean. I just recently started to learn proper care for fish from reading the forum. Now I have a 75 gl with an albino oscar and buttikeferi (sp?).