Please read!!!!!

**William** · 06-16-2009, 10:08 PM

I have noticed an unfortunate trend here on AC where beginners and new members get lectured about their setups rather then given advice on how to improve the situation. This is very sad as this can turn them of the forum and prevent them from learning the things they could learn here, the things they need to learn to successfully keep healthy fish. Sure many come her with crazy setups, uncycled tanks etc but they don’t know better and coming here is a sign that they want to learn to become better fish keepers. Yes they should have learned before they got the fish but they didn’t, at least they are trying to rectify that mistake when they come to us. We shouldn’t lecture them when they try to do the right thing by coming here and learn to become responsible fish keepers. They fact that they try to do the right thing makes it very sad to see them get scorned for past mistakes

If a beginner come her with a terrible setup including (as an example) Oscars in a 10 gallon we shouldn’t lecture them about it or belittle them. We should be supportive and help them setup a thriving aquarium while of course, in a friendly manner, telling them that Oscars really are not suitable to kept in their aquarium as they grow to large.

It is one thing to lecture members who simply don’t listen to advice but those who come here to get advice shouldn’t get lectured right from the start for earlier mistake. This forum is for everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned experts and everyone in between. Everyone should feel at home here and there really is nothing like a stupid question. I would like to ask everyone to remember to treat beginners with courtesy and support even if they have mad some mistakes before getting here. By being supportive we can help them get healthy well setup aquariums, by lecturing them we will only drive them away from the forum and if we are very unlucky from the wonderful world of fish keeping.

I understand that it can be hard to stay supportive when one encounters the 100th Oscar in a 10 gallon tank but we really have to try. In many cases the stocking can be the result of poor advice at the LFS (which beginners naturally but unfortunately trust) and we have to give better advice in a more supportive environment.

I could go on about this topic for a long time but I am going to stop here and simply ask all members to remember to always be supportive and courteous to the beginners that so badly need our help, not our scorn.