An Expensive Hobby?

[Lolafish]

An Expensive Hobby?
 
I have to admit, when I got my first goldie, Lola, I had no idea how much this hobby would end up costing me!     Is it all worth it in the end?  But of course!   

But for the person starting out, they certainly need to know that this CAN become a quite expensive venture.  Yes, there are some shortcuts and tricks to cut corners, but some things just are what they are.

Here are just some of the things to consider when buying that first fish:

1. Cost of fish:

From free all the way up to several hundred dollars

2. Cost of bare tank and stand:

From free all the way up to a couple thousand dollars

3. Cost of food:

A varied and nutritious diet should consist of a combination of pellets, meat (such as shrimp or tuna and/or bloodworms) and fresh fruits/veggies, anywhere from $30 month and up depending on how many fish you have (the rising price of produce is not helping)

4. Cost of water testing (& conditioner) supplies:

Varies depending on how many tanks you're cycling or maintaining

5. Cost of tank supplies (filters, pumps, hoses, media, etc..):

Varies greatly from around $35 to several hundred dollars

6. Tank decor:

From zero to several hundred dollars (a bare tank versus a planted tank for example, depending on size of aquarium and whether extras like plant food or CO2 is required)

7. Tank lighting:

From a few bucks to a couple hundred dollars

8. Disease fighting meds:

Varies

9. Parasite Control:

Varies depending on number of tanks or ponds, but you should be treating for parasites at least twice a year minimum regardless of whether there are symptoms

10. R/O Needs:

From zero to several hundred dollars to get started, and then monthly for hot water used and/or electricity used


I have easily spent a couple thousand dollars on the following:

125g. tank w/7 goldies & 1 snail
55g. tank w/4 goldies & 1 snail
10g. tank w/1 Betta & 1 snail
4g. tank w/1 Betta
20g. tank w/1 snail

And that was getting the 125g. tank and its stand for free, and the 10g. and 20g. tanks for $25-30 on Craigslist.  I have to admit I overspent and overbought at the beginning getting decor and gravel that I ended up throwing away or selling later.  And there are still things that I need even now! 

Yes, they are expensive...but I love them and they are worth it.   
 
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[SeaWitch]

Good post!   I never realized how much money I would be spending on these guys, either.  However, it is definately worth it!!!!

[cbudz]

  And did you notice that when ya think you're all set with everything, and have it all under controll , thats when you suddenly find the most beautiful rare , exotic goldfish that you just can't live without, just to keep things from getting too comfortable !  LOL 

[psychobunny13]

Great to give a wake-up call to the unsuspecting buyer.  I think this should be stickied.

[Kaida]

LOL tell me about it!  If I didn't spend so much money on fish I'd probably be a lot more well off. 

[SeaWitch]

You know, one tank, with a few fish, is not that expensive.  I got my 29g tank and stand from Wal-Mart for 100.00.  My filters that I have cost me about 60.00 for both of them.  I now have 500gph filtration on their tank.  My two fish were about 5.00 ttl.  My water test kit was 17.00.  My Prime is about 5.00.  The medications I have used for Jaws and Hammy have cost me about 15.00 tops.
What is expensive is how addicting it is!!!!  After you get that one tank with a few fish, then you want a few more!  Then a few more!!!  Then you want a betta.  Gotta have new tanks, filters, etc for all the NEW fish!   THEN, it gets expensive!

[Lolafish]

Nickie, you can stickie this if you want.   

[claire_uk]

I didnt think that I would get addicted when I first started out 12 years ago, but I upgraded, bought new filters, fish, supplies and have started ordering things from overseas.
I spend a lot of time with the fish or researching and a big % of my pay goes towards keeping them.
I would be considerably richer if I didnt have them, but I wouldnt give them up and I dont regret having them. At the moment I am considering moving away, some 250-300 miles away, and one thing that is in the front of my mind is what will I do with my fish.

But no matter how much time and money they cost me or stresses when they are ill, the pleasure they give me more than makes up for it.

[cori93437]

Like so many I started out with a small tank and a small goldfish. And a couple of goldies from the lfs with 30 or so gal tank isn't expensive at all... but who can stop at 2??? That's crazy talk! 

As to moving...
Take the fish with you!

My husband has asked me, "What will you do if/when we move?"

My answer, "Take them with me."

And mine aren't even expensive show quality fishes. They're just my pets.

How?
Well, as I explained to him they can live in close quarters for a limited time. That, along with a battery powered air pump that can be found in fishing/boating supply store, plenty of water conditioner for partial water changes, and extra bin for conditioning the water,  and the fish are moving too.
I just wouldn't move anywhere that my 'pond' couldn't be set up right away. It would be the first order of business. Or I would have a new, and possibly larger  , one installed and running before moving.

Cori

[SeaWitch]

I agree, Cori.  When we moved, I was so nervous about my fish!   However, they handled the trip well!  They were stressed for about a week and I admit that I had my moments when I thought one of mine might actually get really sick, but I salted her water and after a few days, she was back to her old self again.

I don't know what I would do without my fish!!!  No matter how much they cost me, they are SO worth it!!!

[Emilio84]

This hobby would  be way less expensive if I wasn't crazy about equipment.   


For the newcomer....   BUY ONLINE!!!  It'll save you tons.  I shope at the LFS for small things and to send some money their way as quality LFS are dissapearing.  Heck.. one of the LFS I go to isn't all that great but having one sure beats not having one when you have an emergency and need something NOW. 

Your best bet is to just move near me and wait till I decide that I need a new toy and sell you my stuff for pennies on the dollar. 

[SeaWitch]

 

Your best bet is to just move near me and wait till I decide that I need a new toy and sell you my stuff for pennies on the dollar. 

 

[zookey]

 

Your best bet is to just move near me and wait till I decide that I need a new toy and sell you my stuff for pennies on the dollar. 

 

Where do you live Emilio??  Near me???  I will buy your toys for pennies on the dollar!!  Aparently you DON'T live near me though if you have many new "toys" though. 

[Lari]

We have found some super deals on tanks for our goldies on Craigs List...The goldies inside...Different story. 

[SeaWitch]

We have found some super deals on tanks for our goldies on Craigs List...The goldies inside...Different story. 

Yep, a lot of ppl on the pets forum on CL just don't WANT their pets anymore and you can tell by the shape they are in when ya see them. *(

[zookey]

Anyone her ever visit FreeCycle.com  ??   It is a yahoo forum where you can post items you no longer want or need (instead of throwing them away) or you can post WANTED ads for things you want.  Only catch is everythng has to be legal and FREE.  You can't ask for people to pay you for what you planned on throughing away.

There is a large saltwater acrylic tank listed on my local the other day.  It hasn't been marked taken yet...... makes me think I may need to go see .............

[claire_uk]

We have freecylce here, but only very very rarely are there any fish related items on it.
I have given and sold items that I no longer needed to friends, neighbours and family.
When I upgraded my tank at the beginning of last year my mum made me give my 40 gallon up, so I sold it to my cousin on the understanding that when they dont want it anymore I can have it back!!

[SeaWitch]

I am a member of our local freecycle, but like Claire said, we rarely have fish-related items on there.

[claire_uk]

I am a member on 4 I think!! .

[zookey]

Seems as if we end up with a lot of people posting FreeCycle adds after they have garasge sales or moving sales ........... whatever didn't sell they put it on FreeCycle.  Today there are 4 fish tanks.

[SeaWitch]

Are ya gonna get them?

[Emilio84]

Just to show how quickly this hobby can consume you... 

I started with 1 29g tank for my 2 goldies. 

Then I bought another 29g tank for a mixed tropical tank

Then I bought a 1.5 g tank for a betta which sucked so I went out and bought a nice 2.5g all glass with glass lid...

and my most recently setup tank is a 20H i have in my bedroom that will soon be getting stocked with a ton of neon tetras (and some cardinals and diamonheads to boot).   gotta love species tanks!


Total Invested so far?   



I try not to think about it. 


Oddly enough my favorite part of this hobby is setting up new tanks. 

[mrlimpet]

I think I've spent nearly $900.00 in the past month just setting up my new, fifty gallon tank. And I haven't even added water yet! I've kept tropical fish for forty years. But this is my first goldfish aquarium.

 I don't mind though, I'm a fish person. So I love everything about this hobby. I'm especially glad to be involved during the internet age. When I started, as a kid, all we had was the Innes book and a few things by Herbert Axelrod.  I feel like I've gone from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance.

[bumblebee]

I remember back on those days when I first started out keeping goldfish as a kid, I spent almost $20 per month trying to experiment with different types of fish foods. And now after 10 years, easily I spent close to $100 per month, getting new fish supplies like tanks, lighting and also buying new imported fish stocks from Japan.