The epiphany in fishkeeping that helps you find yourself again

Keeping fish cultivates character. Has anyone ever gone astray on this path? Many fishkeepers feel at first that this is too troublesome and that is too troublesome, but what was our original intention when we first started keeping fish? If you just want an easy time, download a picture from the internet and look at it, save money and worry, and the Ten Precepts of Fishkeeping can constantly spur on fishkeepers who have already lost themselves.

1’Precept: Do not skip quarantine

Whether introducing new fish or treating fish disease, please quarantine properly. Quarantine is like a buffer zone before an emergency. If you do not quarantine or have no intention of doing so at all, then I advise you not to keep fish, because you will only flush your money and your fish down the toilet together.

2’Precept: Do not medicate blindly

No matter when, before medicating you must analyze the water quality and the cause of the fish disease. Medicating is like a double-edged sword: for fish it is both a life-saving medicine and a death warrant, and usually your blindness will come at a price.

3' Precept: Do not overfeed

We always overfeed, intentionally or not, thinking the fish are never full, that as soon as we sprinkle in food they snap it all up and still look at us pitifully. But please put away your sympathy at this moment: fish will not starve to death, but they will be stuffed to death by your food.

4’Precept: Do not think "I am number one under heaven"

Do not always think your own fish are the best. There really are far too many people like this. In fact, good fish are usually in someone else's hands. Keep fish quietly and calmly, and talking less boastfully will do you no harm.

5' Precept: Do not be insatiably greedy

Do not keep buying fish nonstop and stuff the tank like a can, then not even know why your filtration is failing. Clear water and beautiful fish, and naturally a heart that can embrace all things; fishkeeping is about quality, not quantity.

6’Precept: Do not be lazy

As the saying goes, keep fish with diligence and keep plants with laziness, and there is truth in this. Clear tank water does not equal good water. If you are too lazy to change the water and too lazy to wash the filter pads, I advise you not to keep fish at all, and to keep something low-maintenance instead. If you want to keep fish well, you must put more thought into cultivating the water, and in the end the fish will not let your hard work go to waste.

7' Precept: Do not obsessively tinker with filtration

As long as the filtration strength is suitable, that is enough. Even the most powerful filtration system still needs to work with your diligent hands. We can improve it, but we must never pursue perfection endlessly.

8’Precept: Do not work behind closed doors

Today there are so many kinds of ornamental fish with vastly different habits. Try joining fishkeeping groups or browsing forums more, exchanging and asking more questions. The experience and insights of some veterans can help us avoid many detours and save a lot of wasted money. If you can stand on a giant's shoulders to view the scenery, why confine yourself?

9' Precept: Do not blindly follow trends

There are countless aquarium products on the market, but what works well for others is not necessarily suitable for you. When buying products, ask more and think more, and consult experienced hobbyists more often! Also, do not easily trust fish vendors. They do not understand your needs; they only ever understand their own needs.

10’Precept: Do not lack love

Pet, pet, if you have no love, how can you pamper it? Love is the foundation for overcoming all difficulties. Fish are pets; they have life, and they too will go through birth, aging, illness, and death. We should face all of this with our own love. We are keeping fish, and we are also cultivating the heart. Before you know it, you will find your mind broader and your life filled with more love.

If you have any questions about the content of the article above, you can leave a comment at the end of the article to consult me~