Originally Posted by
Zip
http:///forum/post/2989927
ADEE, I'm sorry for your loss. My first dog ran away, my second dog was hit by a car, my third dog, well that's a story for a different board. I cried for each of them when I lost them.
As an adult I chose marine life to keep as a pet. I thought it would be simpler then dog ownership; a pet that didn't require as much of my time and thought. I couldn't have been more wrong.
As a child I had fish tanks. My dad had fish tanks too. My dad's fish tanks were always bigger and nicer then mine. I remember the day I figured out the difference between my fish tank and my dads. I said to my dad, "Dad, you know what the difference is between your fish tank and mine?". "No Son, what's the difference" he asked. "Money" I replied.
I've had my reef tank for about three years now and I'm still a novice. I still have so many questions and so many dreams. Through the whole time I've stuck to one fundamental philosophy that has directed me. I am managing an ecosystem. It is not a fish tank. It's more then an aquarium. It is a system of life and death that I control to the best of my ability. I work to better that ability as best I can.
It's not just money. I have more money then my Dad today and i have a better fish tank. But it's not a hobby that you can just through money at (trading stocks IS a hobby you can though money at however). I could have spent a whole lot more money faster on a bigger tank but I don't think this would have produced a better tank. I have gone slow and suffered many loses. But none of these loses have bothered me from a financial prospective. It's not the 50 bucks that bothers me- I'm bothered that I let my pet die. And I know we are all doing out best to keep our pets alive- sometimes they just run into traffic or jump out of the tank. When my dog runs into traffic and dies I don't think, damn, there goes $200 bucks.
That's just my prospective. I see corals, fish, and invertebrates as pets, with names, who I love and who I say hello to and good night too. When I lose money on stocks I say, "damn, I'm out $50 bucks"; when I lose a pet I morn their death.
........... anyway
sorry to hear about your loss, as much as it sucks, it happens. I bought a $60jeweled moray, and it died the next day (wasn't healthy when I bought it) so I know how it is, I was more bummed that I lost 60 bucks though even though the eel was gorgeous, that kinda stuff happens, can't do much about it.
