Pets or hobby?

**Pele** · 10-24-2009, 10:33 PM

Do you keep fish as a pet, or as a hobby?
Im doing both (or will be, once i start my new tank)
My beloved betta pele is like my child, and i love him to death (its actually kind of creepy...) so hes a pet. but my new tank is going to have lots of fish that i probrably wont name (but i was thinking about naming the gourami charles) so it would be a hobby.

**Deleted User** · 10-24-2009, 10:36 PM

I have to say it is mostly a hobby to me, but I care a lot about the welfare of the fish. However, they're not to me like the dogs (like my kids) are and not like the horses (my playmates), either. It's not that kind of "relationship". But, those parrot fish we just got... now they are the most pet-like of any fish we have. They are very neat animals!!!

**incorporeal_x** · 10-24-2009, 10:46 PM

The fish are the pets, the plants and decoration/technical stuff are the hobby part.

**Ampatent** · 10-24-2009, 10:47 PM

I consider it a hobby because I'm trying to recreate an environment, which includes plants, invertebrates, and fish.

**Deleted User** · 10-24-2009, 10:56 PM

Just a thought... but I was thinking if all dog and cat owners were as concerned about their pets' welfare as most of the AC members are about their fish's welfare, it would be a great thing for dogs and cats!

**Northernguy** · 10-24-2009, 11:35 PM

I care a great deal about my tanks but there is little comparison when it comes to fish.
Oscars are the closest thing to pets as far fish are concerned.
It is a hobby.Dogs are a lifestyle! lol

**Cristoff** · 10-24-2009, 11:35 PM

If all dog and cat owners were simply RESPONSIBLE I'd be happy.

Way too many people out there that lack the common sense (or even worse, have the sense but not the compassion) to take care of another living creature and yet keep them anyway.

**Cristoff** · 10-24-2009, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

I care a great deal about my tanks but there is little comparison when it comes to fish.
Oscars are the closest thing to pets as far fish are concerned.
It is a hobby.Dogs are a lifestyle! lol

I agree. I voted "both" because I do consider the fish pets in as much as I take full responsibility for their well being, but do not feel the "loss" as I do when I lose a mammalian pet.

I recently lost our black lab "Raven" after having her for over 14 years. I still have trouble talking about her.

**thatcichlidguy** · 10-24-2009, 11:47 PM

Ya know I usually consider it a hobby untill something goes wrong , then I'm scrambling to save my pets. My wife refers to them as my "other kids" and I guess in a lot of ways she's kinda right about it. I raise them from babies , feed them and care for them to the best of my abilities. When I had to give them all up recently when I moved , it was kinda like sending a child away for the first time. I was actually very worried about them untill the woman who bought them reported back a few days later that they were all doing fine.