The Unspoken Addiction: Fish Keeping

In the world of hobbies, there exists an addiction so subtle, yet so pervasive, it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. This is the world of fish keeping, a seemingly innocent pastime that quickly spirals into a full-blown obsession. Beware, for once you dip your toes into these waters, you may find yourself swimming in the deep end.

It starts innocently enough with a single tank. But soon, one tank becomes two, two become four, and before you know it, you’re living in a self-styled aquarium, navigating through your home by the soft, ambient glow of LED tank lights. Treatment? Attempt a tank consolidation strategy. Results may vary.

Suddenly, you find yourself fluent in Latin—not because you’ve taken up classical studies, but because you can now recite the scientific names of hundreds of fish species. “Did you see the vibrant colors on that Paracheirodon innesi?” becomes a normal conversation starter. Treatment involves substituting fish names with their common names, though this often leads to relapse.

Your spending on aquarium decor surpasses your expenditure on actual furniture. Every visit to the fish store “just to browse” ends with a car full of driftwood, plants, and that oh-so-necessary new piece of equipment. Treatment? Try allocating a “decor budget” based on actual furniture expenditures. This may lead to purchasing aquarium-themed furniture as a loophole.

You own more types of fish food than human food, meticulously planning your aquatic friends’ diet with more care and precision than your own. The treatment? Incorporate more omega-3-rich foods into your diet, channeling your inner fish.

Your fish have more followers on Instagram than you do, and you spend hours capturing the perfect shot of your finned friends. Treatment involves setting screen time limits, but let’s be honest, your fish are just too photogenic.

You engage in heated debates over the best filtration systems and can spend hours discussing the merits of canister vs. sponge filters. Treatment? Join a filter support group. Or better yet, start one.

The first step is acceptance. Accept that you have a glorious, vibrant addiction that brings joy, tranquility, and a touch of wetness into your life. Then, embrace the community. You’re not alone in your aquatic endeavors. Share your experiences, swap tales of the one that got away (from your net), and revel in the knowledge that fish keeping is not just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.

In conclusion, if you find yourself exhibiting any or all of these symptoms, congratulations! You’ve fallen hook, line, and sinker for one of the most enriching addictions around. Embrace it, dive deep, and remember: the only true cure for fish keeping addiction is more fish keeping. Happy aquascaping!