I’ve always been fascinated by aquatic life, and keeping pet fish has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
If you’ve ever wondered what keeping pet fish can teach you about life, you’re in for a treat. Here are some surprising life lessons I’ve learned from taking up fishkeeping.
Patience Is a Virtue
Fishkeeping requires a lot of patience. From cycling the tank to waiting for your fish to acclimate, nothing happens overnight.
Patience is a challenge in itself.
Learning to wait for thirty minutes and simply exist in the task you’re doing is harder than it might seem. Waiting for over a week and making slight changes to get the results you want is another thing entirely.
The payoff is that this patience is something I apply in other areas of my life, helping me stay calm and focused even when things aren’t going as planned.
The Importance of a Clean Environment
A clean tank is essential for healthy, happy fish. Regular cleaning and maintenance are non-negotiable, and some fish make their preferences for layouts and cleanliness clear.
Catering to the fish has taught me the importance of keeping my own environment clean and organized in a way that makes sense for me as an individual. Whether it’s my workspace or my home, maintaining a tidy space helps me think more clearly and stay productive.
Attention to Detail
Fish are delicate creatures, and even small changes in their environment can have significant impacts. Maintaining an aquarium—particularly one with live plants—honed my attention to detail.
I’ve become more observant and meticulous, whether I’m working on a project or just navigating daily life. It’s the little things that often make the biggest difference.
Learning Practical Skills
Life lessons aside, keeping pet fish also provides a wide array of practical skills. From making siphons to repairing light fixtures, fishkeeping involves plenty of tasks that I end up applying elsewhere in life.
Even changing the hinges on the doors to your tank stand equipped me to be more confident about understanding kitchen’s cabinet hinges and renovating my own space. These skills are invaluable, having made me more self-sufficient and handy around the house.
If you’re looking to better yourself, I personally recommend you consider keeping pet fish—the lessons you’ll learn are priceless. From patience and cleanliness to attention to detail and practical skills, the things keeping pet fish can teach you about life are truly profound.
So, dive in and start your fishkeeping journey. You might just find that these little creatures have more to offer than you ever imagined.