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I was thinking just now about back when I started keeping fish, and thought it might be fun for us to share. There's probably already been a topic like this... but whatever.

I got my first tank, a 55 gallon, for my birthday in August in 1998; I don't think I acually got the tank until September, though. I was just a sixth grader back then but one who had an interest in science, and I basically dove into the books and learned what I could. Back then I don't even think the fishless cycle of today with ammonia existed yet, at least I didn't know about it; I stocked with some basic fishes like black tetras, zebra danios, and blue gourami. It wasn't too long before I was starting to plague the internet with my presence. There were ups and downs over the years, but now I'm finally getting back into it again. It's amazing how long I've been keeping fish since that was about half a lifetime ago for me...

Please share your stories!

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I have been keeping fish since 2000 & i started with a 120L tank & started with 6 Green Tiger Barbs.

I used to keep fish in 1980, but i don't remember much, except that i kept some Livebearers & used to change all the water every 2 weeks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Like you, Shini, it is for just under half of my natural life. I've been keeping fish for over 8 years, now. It all started when my brother gave me his 1 gallon hex tank which contained a common plec, one neon tetra, one tiger barb, and a comet. I bumbled around for a year before stumbling across FP, and then bumbled around a bit more until all you old-timers (Tim, Matt, Keegan, James, Lindy, Calla, et al., and of course you, Shini ) edumacated me. Heck, it took me 4 years before I understood anything Cali wrote!

Needless to say, I've since improved my keeping habits. I've had my ups and downs too -- I went about a year and a half without a tank running. For a while all I did was cause trouble on FP by posting nonsense in the RR. Heck, if posts in the RR counted, I'd probably have a higher post count than you or Calla!

Eventually, I really became interested in the chemistry aspects of aquatic ecosystems, and pursuing those interests got me back into aquariums, albeit with a penchant for the different. I set up a river tank and had that going for two years, before I switched it over to a standard community because I couldn't keep the thread algae under control. I ran the community for a year and a half before everything died from a prolonged power outtage, but I just set the tank back up (shameless plug! Go check out my photos in the PB!) so things should be exciting.

I like to think I've become a passable fishkeeper, but there is always room for improvement.

Odd timeing with this post shinigami. ive been keeping fish for a year this month a believe. whooohoooo my first year!!!!!!!! my dad kept a ten gallon at his apartment when i was younger and whenever we visited i always loved it. however nothing ever lasted long i have a feeling he didnt take care of them too well when we werent there.
but when i was 5 or 6 the tank was gone. and that pretty much ended it...until ten years later i have no idea what put the notion in my head but i just started thinking about aquariums and how cool they were. and after about a week of this i said ok i gotta do something about this and so i took the bus to the libary and found a book on FW aquariums and just sat there and read and read and read! i think ive read every aquarium book in the two libarys around here! not that there are many. didnt understand everything then and i still dont now but ive come a long way compared to when i started. anyone said cycling a fish tank to me then and i would have been absolutely bambozzled anyways its been a good year and im so happy i started and im really happy i came here. ive learned so much from this site and its people! thanks guys lol!

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we dont know what to do.

I also feel that I have become a better fishkeeper over time. Kind of impossible to remain in the hobby without doing so, I think. This year I intend to actually attempt to make my tank appear attractive to the average observer, lol. Sort of an New Year's aquarium resolution, I suppose. For the most part I have focused on the fish themselves and wouldn't "waste" money on anything else, but now I think it would be nice to enjoy this other aspect of the hobby. Making an attractive environment that my fish and viewers will like I'm sure will be rewarding.

I just was writing a post to a younger member when I realized just how long ago it was that I started out, so the timing wasn't anything intentional. A lot of people might've started around Christmas, though, now that I think about it. Happy fishkeeping anniversary, sora!

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

My first tank was way back when I was 10. I am 37 now, So a long time ago. It was a ten and The only Fish store even remotely close was a wal mart. Even back then I was getting into MTS. When I was abouty 19 I got out of the hobby for a while and got rid of everything. Then about 3 years ago the love of my life bought me a 10 gallon for christmas, its been downhill since and she wishes she had nevered started it but is slowly getting the bug.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

I bred angelfish before I married nearly 2 decades ago.
Then I had goldfish for a while. Then I had kids so end of fishkeeping.
Just got back into it this year.

At a guess it would be at least 35+ years but possibly closer to 40 years. Interested in fish goes back a lot further than that about 60 years. I used to visit a large public aquarium not far from where I lived it was only a short tram ride.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I got a 10-gallon tank for Christmas when I was 9 (my mom had her 20 with swordtails as long as I can remember)... that was 13 years ago...

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About 8 years I think, my first betta, though for a long time before that I kept various wild caught shelled things in fairly iffy environments (hindsight is a wonderful thing, innit?)

I'd love to say I've gotten better and better, but I think I've just found a groove I'm happy in and have focussed on the things that interest me. These last 2 years especially I've lost a bit of drive and am just trying to find the joy again. I'm sure it is still there I still can't tell cichlids apart ("that's a cranky fish, another cranky fish, yellow cranky fish..." ) but I have gotten bettas and the like pretty well under control. I'm now experimenting with the whole Wishga fishkeeping concept of set and forget tanks which, after years of bi-weekly water changes and constant tending, is much harder than it sounds! Still, it is a new challenge and one that should allow me to keep fish regardless of whatever else is going on in my life.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I started fish keeping when this site was called exotic tropical fish!

Started with a tiny tank and two gold fish....they didn't last very long!

I then moved up to a bigger tank and a pair of jack dempseys....great fish!

lol i started at age 6 with 2 goldfish one of them lived to be 6! of course he had the original name of goldie now her old home is were i keep my new betta


hey keith do you think i could see some pics of the 5ft tank you have?

that's a cranky fish, another cranky fish, yellow cranky fish...

That is literally the funniest thing I've read all week.

I've been "keeping fish" my entire life, but I didn't start doing it properly until about 10 years ago when I got my first 10 gallon tank. I've been visiting this site since it was Exotic Tropical Fish, and that was back in 1999 or something like that.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

My father was an avid discus fanatic, so since I was born, I suspect.

Hi,
I've keep fish, continuously, since 1950 with my
first 15 gallon tank.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I started with two goldfish in a bowl, when I was 12. That was 1978. It didn't take long for me to realize that there was more to fishkeeping than tossing in a little food each day and replacing a little water now and then.

I vote! Do you?

Firemouths at 14, fed em danios to condition them for breeding...

2001 I was given a goldfish in (horror!) a bowl.
Discovered this site.
Mended the error of my ways. That goldfish lived for 5 years.

I decide on stock at the get go. And, as calla said, I don't mess too much with stock additions. No impulse buys.

Slated for 2008, 4ft Malawi change over into shellies.

Calla: "Cranky fish". Wahahahaha! Still, you now have shellies so, my work is done!

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

I started in late July of 2007. I did have a 3 gallon Eclipse tank for about 6 months when I was 8 or 9, I kept 3 Goldfish in it for 2 days before they died. I got 3 Zebra Danios who did very well in spite of the bad conditions. I also got what could have been 2 Tetras of some kind or Platys, I'll never know for sure. That tank didn't last long.

When I started again recently, I knew absolutely nothing about fish or aquarium maintenance. I found this site and learned all about the cycle, how to do water changes/gravel vacs, and fish compatibility. I owe the success of my tanks to the members of this great site. You have helped me more than any of you will ever imagine. Without this site I would never know the joy that is fish keeping.