Unlike many people who started this hobby young, I started keeping tropical fish as a hobby when the pace of my career shifts to a slower gear and I suddenly realized the need to pursue passions in life.

Over the past four years, my love of fish farming has grown in size and depth. Not only have I increased the number of fish tanks from one to seven to date, but I have also experienced breeding various types of cichlid species.

According to my observations, many people are discouraged from taking up the hobby due to the perception that keeping the fish and the fish tank is a chore. However, my experience tells me that the benefits of fish farming far outweigh the tasks it requires.

1. Bring home a part of nature

Whenever I see schools of fish in the reservoir or pond, there is always an instant rush of joy. As I absorbed myself in observing the fish, it gradually brought me into a calm state of mind. Water and fish have the unique ability to calm the mind and evoke immense joy. I have always been curious about the behavior of fish and have always been tempted to seek a more intimate experience with fish.

Keeping the fish at home provides an opportunity to observe them up close and in person. I can study the unique behaviors of fish in the tank, which I can’t even do in the reservoir or pond. For less than a hundred dollars, it is possible to create a miniature piece of nature at home. In fact, it is a wonderful and ingenious hobby. It gives me the convenience of appreciating the beauty of tropical fish as and when I want.

It also satisfies my desire to gain a deeper understanding of fish behavior as an aspiring aquatic scientist. In recent years, he had experienced the joy of successfully raising more than ten species of cichlid fish. I consider this to be an invaluable and exciting experience not only for me, but also for my family, especially my seven-year-old son.

Fish farming also provides another avenue for developing my creative talents: aquatic landscaping.

Every now and then, I can exercise my creativity in landscape design by changing the rock formation in the tank. The idea of ​​doing this is to simulate a new environment for the fish and allow the fish to reestablish their territories. In fact, this is essential when new fish are introduced into the tank, so that all territories have been entrenched by the existing group of fish. After changing the entire rock formation, the fish will instantly reward you by spending the next few hours swimming tirelessly in and out of the new rock formation, trying to familiarize themselves with the new terrain and establish new territory for themselves.

As long as I am free, I will sit in front of the fish tank and observe the fish, sometime for up to an hour. It is interesting to note that the fish displays many types of social behavior that closely resembles human behavior in the corporate world. I will try to write another article on more details of this social behavior of fish.

2. Relaxation

Watching the fish gracefully swim in the tank with their dazzling colors can really put one into deep relaxation and even into a trance state.

My mind instantly feels more relaxed when I see the fish. As I let my eyes follow the fish and am fascinated by the graceful body movements and moving colors of the fish, I dive deeper into relaxation. It is extremely therapeutic. It’s a great way to give my mind a break from work and recharge. With the stress that we inevitably experience in our fast-paced lifestyles, creating channels for relaxation is an important aspect of the healthy lifestyle to keep stress at bay and maintain good health.

Along with exercise, meditation, and music, fish farming has added another avenue to enrich my life, helping me live a fuller and healthier life.

3. Education for children

Most children are fascinated by fish when they see them for the first time, usually in the form of a trip to the local fishmonger or fish farm. Having fish at home can teach children some good things:

* Learn about the habitats of fish and other forms of aquatic life.

* They learn to take care of small aquatic animals and plants.

* When they start raising fish, they will be instilled with a sense of responsibility towards another living creature.

* They learn and understand the basics of water treatment and how to maintain adequate water quality for fish to live and even to stimulate reproduction. This knowledge will serve them in the future when they study science and chemistry in school.

* They can witness the life cycle of fish species, allowing them to appreciate biology.

* More importantly, they will get great pleasure from watching the fish display a variety of personalities. By observing the intricate features and behavior of the fish, children will improve their observation skills.

* Caring for fish is a great learning experience for young children. When the child is able to take good care of the fish, he will usually be able to witness successful fish farming. This will increase your confidence in the hobby, as well as your skill.

4. Create a flow of energy at home

I use the upper filters for the few larger tanks in the living room. Water flows down from the filter box through the tubing, creating a soothing dripping sound in the living room. As the flow of water hits the surface of the water, chains of water bubbles are created. These bubbles are perfectly synchronized with the sound of the water flow, as if a piece of relaxing instrumental music is continuously being listened to.

Visually, it creates a sense of energy that flows incessantly in various corners of the living room where the fish tanks are located. From the metaphysical point or Feng Sui, it creates an energy field that operates non-stop at home.

I started this hobby only four years ago. The immense joy this hobby brings to my life and my family makes me wonder how I have been so blind to this wonderfully enriching and affordable hobby all these years.

As I find out more about this hobby, it becomes more and more addictive. I have no doubt that fish farming will be a hobby of my life. The vast species of fish, with their interesting and diverse antics, will take more than a lifetime to fully appreciate. Life is truly wonderful and enriching with fish. For me, life has just begun with fish farming.