Venting my frustration about non-reefers

[Dorado]

This past weekend, my wife and I had some people over and while sitting in the living room where the aquarium is located, someone commented on my "Dori" fish. The only thing is that I don't have a regal blue tang, I have a powder blue tang. I explained that I don't have a "Dori" fish and showed a picture of a blue tang on my phone so that they could see how different they look. Even after showing the picture, everyone agreed that they looked very similar, and my first reaction was "really?!" The reply was that they both have blue and yellow to which I replied, "so every fish that has blue and yellow on it looks the same?" After a couple minutes of describing all the differences, I gave up because I got the sense that I was making an butt out of myself. It was described to me that they only look so different to me because I am involved in the hobby and am more knowledgeable. But I feel that you don't need prior knowledge, but only eyes, to see that they are not the same. Anyway, I just felt like I was taking crazy pills and wanted to vent my frustration.

 

[kartrsu]

After stopping by this weekend, I can appreciate the effort you put into your tank and care, so I can understand the frustration when non reefers miss the easy details. I’ve had guests ask me if my corals are live plants, that’s an annoying one to answer. Yet little do they know the intricacies and commitment of keeping a reef tank: part time marine biologist, chemist, fish / coral vet, plumber, engineer, programmer etc. Worth the vent for sure. End of the day, I look at it and try to find it as an opportunity to share a little ocean trivia with people.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yeah, it's fun to watch people's eyes glaze over when I start talking about my tank...

 

[Derrick0580]

It happens to all of us! I’m soo sick of hearing “oh looks a nemo!” It’s a clownfish yes, butthole of a fish, yes, but nemo NO! Makes me want to burn pixar studios down!!!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

It happens to all of us! I’m soo sick of hearing “oh looks a nemo!” It’s a clownfish yes, butthole of a fish, yes, but nemo NO! Makes me want to burn pixar studios down!!!

It's the same with other things too. I can't tell you how many grey cats I've seen named "Kitty soft paws"!

 

[Adolfo]

The people is like that some change and others don't, probably you paying too much attention to something can't change no matter what
Don't swim against the current

 

[Udest]

fun fact I bring up is that if finding Nemo were remotely accurate is that Nemo would likey try breed with marlin since he;d trurn into a female.

 

[FSP]

At least they were interested enough in your aquarium to notice

Also funny when the fish you spent $xxx on (or maybe even $xxxx ) get passed over for the $10 pair of damsels you got on sale.

 

[Gtinnel]

fun fact I bring up is that if finding Nemo were remotely accurate is that Nemo would likey try breed with marlin since he;d trurn into a female.

I can see it now the next release in the series will be clownfish struggling with gender identity issues.

 

[cpoynter]

It’s finally gone, but guests would ooh and aah over the pulsing Xenia I was trying so hard to eradicate.

 

[Udest]

ah damsels my fav for being super hardy and colorful for the price , only problem is they are feisty buggers.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

It happens to all of us! I’m soo sick of hearing “oh looks a nemo!” It’s a clownfish yes, *** hole of a fish, yes, but nemo NO! Makes me want to burn pixar studios down!!!

Ah yes, I have my tanks in our shop where we get plenty of friends and customers in. People will sometimes comment how they’d love to start a tank with “Nemos” and then I stick my hand in the tank to show them what owning Nemos is really like. Dodging bites and getting splashed in the face. Lol
Someone posted a question on FB about how to get your clowns to stop biting… the consensus was, “if you ever figure it out, let us know!”

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Ah yes, I have my tanks in our shop where we get plenty of friends and customers in. People will sometimes comment how they’d love to start a tank with “Nemos” and then I stick my hand in the tank to show them what owning Nemos is really like. Dodging bites and getting splashed in the face. Lol
Someone posted a question on FB about how to get your clowns to stop biting… the consensus was, “if you ever figure it out, let us know!”

I should mention that I don’t dissuade anyone from the hobby… I just want them to know there are nicer fish and clowns aren’t all friendly little Nemos

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Ah yes, I have my tanks in our shop where we get plenty of friends and customers in. People will sometimes comment how they’d love to start a tank with “Nemos” and then I stick my hand in the tank to show them what owning Nemos is really like. Dodging bites and getting splashed in the face. Lol
Someone posted a question on FB about how to get your clowns to stop biting… the consensus was, “if you ever figure it out, let us know!”

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

This past weekend, my wife and I had some people over and while sitting in the living room where the aquarium is located, someone commented on my "Dori" fish. The only thing is that I don't have a regal blue tang, I have a powder blue tang. I explained that I don't have a "Dori" fish and showed a picture of a blue tang on my phone so that they could see how different they look. Even after showing the picture, everyone agreed that they looked very similar, and my first reaction was "really?!" The reply was that they both have blue and yellow to which I replied, "so every fish that has blue and yellow on it looks the same?" After a couple minutes of describing all the differences, I gave up because I got the sense that I was making an butt out of myself. It was described to me that they only look so different to me because I am involved in the hobby and am more knowledgeable. But I feel that you don't need prior knowledge, but only eyes, to see that they are not the same. Anyway, I just felt like I was taking crazy pills and wanted to vent my frustration.

You know how they say, "Crazy people, think they are sane."? We/you might be a prime example.

 

[killer2001]

I think it's difficult for people outside of the hobby to differentiate. Thing is, when you start in this hobby you research, study, and learn about all types of species so its easy to see the differences. Another thing is over time you also tend to gain the ability to spot very fine detail in things. Majority of the population are going to see those two fish as the same. Just like different color morphs of clownfish (like the black and white ones) people may not even recognize that it's even a clownfish or a "Nemo" at all.

 

[WheatToast]

Not a reef fish, but the flag rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus) was always doomed to become "Nemo" at the local aquarium.


Baby Shark also bugs me out since shark parental care doesn't really exist (though some bullhead sharks at least carry their developing egg cases to safe locations in their mouths ).

 

[TheyGaveItToMe]

Not a reef fish, but the flag rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus) was always doomed to become "Nemo" at the local aquarium.


Baby Shark also bugs me out since shark parental care doesn't really exist (though some bullhead sharks at least carry their developing egg cases to safe locations in their mouths ).

If given a choice between having to play a Pixar character or the dinner plate, I think it wouldn't mind being misidentified. Because, that guy looks taste.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

At least they were interested enough in your aquarium to notice

Also funny when the fish you spent $xxx on (or maybe even $xxxx ) get passed over for the $10 pair of damsels you got on sale.

They always pick the $3 fish over the $300 one... So true

 

[killer2001]

They always pick the $3 fish over the $300 one... So true

Haha. "Stop talking about Nemo, look at the f*kin Gem Tang!!!"