Emily Z Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 (edited) Hey! My name's Emily, and I'm a beginner aquarist who began keeping fish in February 2020! Even though it's been about 2 years, my knowledge in this hobby is still very little because I have had no access to experience- which means I haven't been able to get my hands on many plants, animals, or aqua scaping tools besides the very basic necessities (as you can see in the thumbnail, my 10 gallon tank is bare of plants except for a dwarf hairgrass and crypt bought from this website. I didn't even have enough sand to cover the top layer of my substrate! Luckily, that dilemma is solved now). The thumbnail picture is old, I replaced that barely-functioning filter I used to keep in a 2.5 gallon with an Aquarium Co-op filter and I removed that horrible dragon decoration. I've been able to get by for getting fertilizer, medicine, water testing kits, a gravel vacuum, a filter, and all those other tools by begging my parents to allow me to use my allowance to buy these supplies off Amazon or Aquarium Co-op, haha. While I do have an LFS, it's a really crappy one where the animals there are neglected, there's a really limited selection for the aquarium supplies, and everything is overpriced. I try my best to give my male betta, Ciel, the best life I can; considering that his diet consists of only hard pellets and bloodworms (also flakes he refuses to eat) and that his tank is located in the kitchen (not a good choice because of the fumes from the sink chemicals or the smoke from cooking), I feel like I haven't been able to live up to that. I still have a lot to learn, and after 2 years I am still stuck with knowing only the basics. Ciel is my first fish, and he hasn't gotten sick yet in these past two years I've owned him- but I have no experience with treating sick animals (every other day I get paranoid that Ciel might be sick and I am unable to recognize the signs) or with taking care of plants (my dwarf hairgrass and crypt have nearly died off on several occasions). I want to have more experience by getting some tankmates for Ciel, like cherry shrimp or tetras, but first I need to fill up all that empty space with plants, maybe even driftwood or aquascaping rocks if I can somehow get my hands on them. I already learned the hard way when I got myself a mystery snail before conducting proper research, and he died a premature death from an irritated foot and malnutrition. You can see him in the attached image. Anyway, sorry for literally writing an essay, haha, but that summarizes the experience I've had so far into this hobby. It's tough, but Aquarium Co-op's blogs/youtube videos and being able to order supplies like plants and filters from them really helps me out to enjoy this hobby. Aquarium co-op team, if you're reading this, thanks a whole lot! You guys are awesome! Edited November 30, 2021 by Emily Z Editing grammar, punctuation, and other writing errors. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Hi there Emily! It sounds though your access is limited you've used your resources well! Welcome to the forum! This is a great place to ask questions and learn from many people with all levels of experience. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon p Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Welcome. Or in a good place. Most people are helpful and can answer your questions Great hustle managing to get all the thing you can on your allowance 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flumpweesel Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Welcome, you're doing great. I've kept fish in the kitchen before now the main downside for me was that it was the least comfortable room to sit and watch them. But cleaning was easy. I think it was my mum who insisted on it way back then. Sounds like you've got what you need keep this going. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atitagain Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Welcome to the forum, you are doing great and gaining experience every day! The fact you keep at it even though it’s been a tough road says a lot of your commitment and love of the hobby. Look at it this way IMO you are learning the hardest lesson in the hobby, patience. good luck mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 welcome to the forum, tons of knowledge for you to find here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameCzar Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Welcome Emily! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Welcome! I'm thinking Ciel is lucky to have an owner who's so dedicated to him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Welcome! It looks like he’s coming to inspect what you’re doing. It’s a pretty tank and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from the great folks on the forum. I have! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 I used to love Bettas most of all when I first got interested in keeping fish. I even was able to breed and rase up a few without a lot of knowledge or help. I remember buying a few females, but finding out one was a sneaker male. It's a wonder any fry survived, now that I look back on that. Best advice I can give most new aquarists: ADD MORE PLANTS!!! 🪴😎💚 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 (edited) I agree with @Fish Folk but you are obviously on a budget. Next time you go to the store with allowance in hand I highly recommend a hardy plant you can propagate easily- like Java Fern. I love Windelov and Narrow Leaf. Several of my tanks have baby plants from other parent plants. There are also easy to propagate stem plants like Bacopa and Needle Leaf. Most big box pet store tho will have the Java I mentioned. If you get some glue it to a rock or wood (even decorations like your cute stacked rock tower). Edited December 2, 2021 by xXInkedPhoenixX 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Welcome to the forum nice tank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Welcome! When I look at your tank I see a great home for a Betta! My daughter who is now 18 got her first betta when she was in middle school. Like you she had to use allowance to buy decorations and her tank didn’t look as nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laritheloud Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Welcome! I'm in south Jersey, so if you're anywhere in that vicinity, I have an LFS recommendations for you. If you're more central or northern in the state, well, I tried. 😅 Your betta tank is adorable! I learned a lot from these forums, and I hope you do, too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily Z Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 On 12/1/2021 at 11:34 PM, Fish Folk said: I used to love Bettas most of all when I first got interested in keeping fish. I even was able to breed and rase up a few without a lot of knowledge or help. I remember buying a few females, but finding out one was a sneaker male. It's a wonder any fry survived, now that I look back on that. Best advice I can give most new aquarists: ADD MORE PLANTS!!! 🪴😎💚 Thank you for the advice! I already took that up, earlier today my plants from Aquarium Co-op arrived and I put them in my tank. I have pictures here. I plan to get more plants soon, accompanied with driftwood and aquascaping stones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily Z Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 On 12/2/2021 at 3:05 PM, laritheloud said: Welcome! I'm in south Jersey, so if you're anywhere in that vicinity, I have an LFS recommendations for you. If you're more central or northern in the state, well, I tried. 😅 Your betta tank is adorable! I learned a lot from these forums, and I hope you do, too. Unfortunately, I am in northern Jersey- right on the border of the Hudson River. Luckily, I can go across it into NYC to the LFS there. So far, I've already learned a lot on this forum, and I am eager to know more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Welcome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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