March 08, 2016

The lengths you'll go to...

Ever thought about the lengths we'll go to in order to create a great environment for our fishes?

I mean, think about it: As aquarists, we'll spend many hours and thousands of dollars on the right setup, equipment, foods, even water- to create great outcomes. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, really.

I know many hobbyists who go further, cultivating phytoplankton, meal worms, Grindal worms, mircorworms, etc. in their fish rooms. And many others who will go out to ponds, creeks, etc. to collect Daphnia, Fairy Shrimp, mosquito larvae, etc. for their fishes...A dedication to their animals that rivals many cat and dog owners...in fact, on a deeper level, eclipses them- as aquarists have to not only provide food, and husbandry for their animals- they have to build and maintain their homes, as well!

The interesting thing to me is that we don't even see these efforts as "work" in any way, shape, or form. We simply see them as an extension of the responsibilities of keeping and breeding tropical fishes.

This is an extraordinary example of deaccession to a craft- a science- a lifestyle, for that matter, that trenscends educational, economic, and ethnic boundaries. A dedication to a pursuit that is engaging, educational, and even valuable.