- JEOPARDY ANSWER: OBSESSIVE
HOBBYIST
- QUESTION: WHAT IS "A FISH
NUT."
-
- by Reet Thomas, Jr.
- Typed and Edited by Rosetta
You might be a fish nut if you. . . . . . .
- have more than three broken aquariums in a
corner in the basement.
- have thirteen nets in a box that just
needs a little sewing to fix them. (Typist note: Of
course, you've been saving them for over 5 years.)
- have several thermometers that work
perfectly...except the lead tip's gone and they float on their
side.
- have more than three permanent water
stains in your carpet and have worn out three wet vacs.
- have been late to gatherings because you
just had to clean those last two filters.
- have a box of partially used cans of food
that your fish won't eat but you can't throw them away
because someday you'll get fish that will eat it.
- have mold growing on the living room wall.
- have a stack of old, water spotted,
scratched, odd-sized glass because you might need it for
a patch someday.
- have a number of bottles of medicine
around, each with just a few drops left in them.
- have boxes of empty quart jars saved
because you might want to raise bettas someday.
- have a box of heaters that need new tubes
or their points cleaned. (Of course, they are so old that
if you do fix them they cause static on your TV.)
- have more than one old incandescent strip
light with a rusted switch.
- have more than four vibrators that need
new bellows.
- have a number of large electric motors
that you can hook up to your smog pump if your current
motor burns up.
- have a large box of peat pellets in case
you decide to breed killies someday.
- have seven or more wide mouth gallon
pickle jars to use as emergency nurseries.
- have eighteen back issues of aquarium
magazines that you plan on reading soon.
- have fish carcasses in your freezer to
show somebody, someday how big they were.
- have more than three different fish club
T-shirts.
- have a box of corner filters that you
haven't used since you bought your first power filter.
- have a number of fish trophies that are so
rusted you can't even read what you won them for.
- have a file box full of recipes for making
your own fish food.
- have a styro box full of worm bedding from
over four years ago when you thought you might try
raising red worms.
- have a large piece of cork bark from when
you kept newts in your tank.
- have four different kinds of water test
kits.
- have a very expensive microscope to use in
your hobby. (Typist note: In an unopened box).
- have an old TV made into an aquarium.
- remember the plastic picture frame
aquarium that hung on the wall. It actually held a QUART
of water!
- can name over ten pet shops that are no
longer in business.
- can remember your first aquarium and the
first fish you spawned but you can't remember your wife's
birth date.
- remember when Famous Barr had a fish
department.
- remember when Pier One stores had a huge
fish department.
- remember when fish were imported from the
orient and more times than not arrived dead.
- remember when plastic aquarium plants were
simply horrible.
- remember when a 55 aquarium was considered
huge.
- never have to worry about static
electricity because of dry air.
- have owned a house for a number of years
and have worn out four dehumidifiers.
- have more than eight watches that don't
work due to water damage.
- have a gas powered generator to run your
aquarium pump in case of power failure.
- have more than five pairs of pants with
bleach damage.
- have a number of long sleeved shirts with
the cuffs rotted from being constantly wet.
- have to install an exhaust fan in the
basement.
- your electric bill doubles in the winter
because of all the heaters.
- have more than one broken bone from
slipping on wet concrete.
- have a mailman who knows your hobby is
tropical fish.
- the water company has had to replace your
water meter several times because you wore it out.
- can sex over 100 kinds of fish and tell
someone how to breed them (but you can't sex your kittens).
- your idea of art are color photos in the
old Tetra calendars.
- have a 1" net that has never touched
water
- save your empty one-pound shrimp egg cans.
- have a cutting board and knife that has
numerous unidentifiable dried stuff on them.
- have performed numerous autopsies on fish
and still have no idea what you're looking for.
- still have several jars full of preserved
fish because for some reason you thought it would be interesting
to keep them. (You never had any idea how many fish you
kill. You had to stop keeping them after one month but
you couldn't bring yourself to throw away the jars.)
- have lost count of how many times you've
been shocked in your fish room.
- have broken aquariums by over six
different ways.
- have boiled a tank of fish at least once.
- have killed a tank of fish by forgetting
to de-chlorinate the water after keeping fish for years.
- have walked away from a tank you're
filling with a hose, until you hear that unforgettable splashing
sound.
- have walked away from siphoning a tank
full of fish, returning to discover 1/2" of water. You
then do some creative refilling.
- have wiped out a tank of fish in a way so
stupid you've never told anyone.
- you're doing an "aged in the
hose" water change, don't notice when the hot water
runs out, and ick out four tanks.
- were working in the tank that holds prize
fish and you leave without replacing the cover. Yep,
you've guessed it.
- have paid a small fortune for a dozen
young rare fish to raise and breed, and they end up being
all the same sex.
- have actually given your spouse an
aquarium for a gift. (Typist note: I let him keep it anyway.)
- have bought a box of fish junk because
it's so cheap, although you have no need for it what-so-ever.
- have an apartment-sized fridge in your
fish room and it's not for beverages.
- have bought a 55 set-up for your infant's
room because he enjoys watching tropical fish.