Why this hobby is just like gambling...

[PuffersKick]

I don't know if this is the right forum for this topic, but I was just thinking about all the similarites between the fish hobby and gambling (which I am addicted to both).

1) It's very expensive. If you really sit back and add all the money you spend of fish, food, supplies, equipment. It adds up fast! Just like you money flowing through a blackjack table (I lost how much? yikes!)

2) Money is devalued. When you go buy $300 of chips in a casino you have no problem spending/losing them like they aren't even real money. Same thing in a fish store. You pay $150 for ROCKS? $300 for a PLASTIC TUBE (skimmer), $80 for that must have fish, etc. When you're at the store it seems like nothing, until you get your credit card bill and it hits you like a ton of bricks.

3) The risk factor. What's to say that clown RARE have to have fish or coral you just bought won't get sick, infect your whole tank, or just die in a week and your S.O.L.

4) The unexplained. How many times do you think you're doing everything PERFECT (water parameters, filtration, etc.) only to still have everything go horribly wrong and/or die. Just like going all in with AA only to lose to 27 offsuit when 2 and 7 flop. Nothing you can do about it.

5) ADDICTIVE!!! How many times have you told yourself only 1 more fish, only 1 more coral, no more tanks! BLAH BLAH BLAH... YEAH RIGHT!!!!! :D

If anyone can think of more feel free to add! Enjoy!

Oh, and just to let you know as I'm typing this I just got back from the fish store to get supplies and am playing online poker..

LOL!!! :rollface:

[SW1TCH]

LOL funny but verry verry true. :lol:

[mjdlonghorn]

I think gambling is for SUCKERS. It is a tax on people who are bad at math. When you spend money on an awesome setup and exotic fish you have something to show for it. People come over and admire your fish. When you gamble it last 20 minutes and you have nothing to show for it. Put your money on the stock market it has better odds.

[DragonMorayEels]

I have to believe that the stock market is a gamble as well, but on the other hand a person exotic fish costing hundreds can last those either few hours or years to where as the stock market one knows the money is there.

Like most thing in life is a gamble, you gamble when playing for money as well getting married, all of what we do is a gamble.

[SumpDiver]

Both hobbies usually entail a spouse (Voice of Reason) reminding us to keep within our spending allotment. Also both hobbies usually include a hobbyist Ignoring said advice.:rolleyes:

[mm949]

fish tanks are only a gamble if you try to "bluff" and get called....

[Ironsheikh]

I wouldnt relate this hobby to gambling I'd say CRACK -cuz you get addicted, sell all your stuff for equipment, and for me (since I dont have any good shops around me to see the actual fish I want in real life)...when I order online and I dont get the fish colo,size I want I get buyers remorse and have to try to get more cash to make another order kinda like looking for another fix --- preach!!

[ACBlinky]

It really is like an addiction -- gambling, crack, whatever you want to compare it to. I can't count the number of times I've rationalized my way into a purchase (I know it's going to be a FOWLR, but I'll get the upgraded lighting just in case I want to turn it into a reef in the future...), spent money I really don't have, told myself this is the last coral/fish/tank, and the most frightening thing is I have a staff member at the LFS who knows me, saves things for me if he knows I'm coming in, and helps me rationalize. He's like my dealer, it's terrible!