Why aren't there more women into fishkeeping?

[Glass Onion]

I've thought about this very question on a few occasions. The last of which was almost a year ago when a fellow female fish geek was over helping me break down my 125 SA tank and turn it into a Tropheus tank. I asked her as we were schlepping our 8 th heavy bucket of gravel, after shoveling it out of the tank, and dumping it onto a tarp outside. It is for tom boys and not girlie girls because of the inherent hands-on dirty, elbow grease, get wet up to your arm pits and ruin your nails kind of hobby.
I do laugh my tukkus off tho to hear dudes, AGONIZE about color scheme, feng shway (spelling?) and other typically girlie things. And in this hobby, men fall victim to obsessing about acquiring "brands" (species) and colors (morphs or variants) and multiple tanks (shoes and purses) like a lot of chicks do.
)I will openly and shamelessly admit that I like being in a room with a bunch of guys at the meetings!!!
Sure there's some technical stuff, but I think that is daunting to alot of girls only because they were taught that that sort of stuff is "not for girls" and not because they can't figure it out.
I personally LOVE comparing and contrasting all the gadgets available. I have to disagree with the non artisitic part, because you do have to have a sense of balance and imagination to pull a tank together and make it look cool. (shhh, Thai) The Latin names make me happy. But I am a huge language buff/sponge so it comes easily to me.
I've heard men spout off about the toys on their tanks like they're talking about thier cars.
I'm proud, like all the other girls on here, to be a rare breed!!! I like it.
Jenney.

[myjohnson]

So that's the only thing that makes you a dork?

[Darbex]

Yeah I dont know why women arent into it. I tried to get my wife involved but she just likes to look at them she wont touch anything because she thinks its gross. My mom and sisters think I am a dork for having my tanks and being all into it.

[wesleydnunder]

One day I'll find a woman who's into fish as much as me. I've tried to explain things to a couple of women with whom I was in a relationship. Usually after 5 minutes or so of biofiltration, cycling, aeration, etc. I'd see the eyes glaze over and shut up.

Mark

[Kittysnax]

I guess I am the man in the relationship then..........hurr hurr!

My husband could care less about the mechanics of the damn tank, but when it comes to "pretty" fish he's the first to point it out. Then again...he also used to coordinate our bed linens and furniture in the apartment when we lived alone...I have a defective husband.

Then again, he is the computer nerd. I dont give a flying monkey crap about computers, but he can and will fix a computer in his sleep. Advanced Calculus? Yea...he can answer questions off the top of his head. Math and computers are his MO.

[PhishPhreek]

) Perhaps that is why there are so many women breeders in the IBC. Bettas just don't need all the equipment. Small tanks & bowls that are easy to lift & clean. No monster systems, No pumps & hoses, No CO2 tanks, No 4' light fixtures, just the long flowing fins and bright colors.........
I would guess the the women comprise somewhere betwen 40 & 60 % of the membership. The head of the Judging board, the Webmaster, the Editor of the flair (bi-monthly publication) and 16 of the top 30 breeders are women.

[Astex]

I understand the mine aspect. My DH is willing to help out when I need it, but generally he just sits there bemusidly as I play with my tanks for 4 or 5 hours straight. At least he likes to watch the fish, although he does have this strange fondness for fronts that I don't have the space for....maybe someday I'll cater to his tastes.

[FrontosaurusRex]

I'm actually glad my girl doesnt like fish. I have a hobby that is completely MINE. I'm all for having joint hobbies but sometimes its fun just to be a freakin guy and do everything on my own....even if i mess it up a million times...lol

[specialone0812]

Someone tell me so I can get my gal into keeping fishes and stop buying purses.

you just show her the beauty of your fish, not the aggression of your tropheus. we went over guppy-gounamy-planted tank with ram-discus-"bam" to tropheus. now she got a planted tank and tropheus, and help me doing water change sometimes when I'm busy.
the bad news is she does not stop buying purses.

[stevenallenbarnard]

Uh, no. I don't own any "European shoulder bags".
For that matter, why are most fish keepers...., NVM

were you gonna say straight, Nick? cause if you were, the answer is simple, straight dudes love fish.

Not really much to it.

(bad taste, i know)

[TaTeR ToT]

my gf keep fish....hehe. she does not like the rare fish but color.

probably because shes not an eletist)

[marauder_77868]

I think the nail was hit on the head when it was suggested that women, for the most part, don't have a lot of interest in the technical stuff...filtration, etc. But that seems true in most walks of life in my experience. Guys seem to be more technically oriented. I'm struck by something Marion said to me after we set up the show room at FOTAS last year. She said that it was like watching an Amish barn raising. But maybe we're all wrong about why there aren't more women in the hobby ...maybe today there are just more women in general who aren't fond of kok...


Lord, I apologize...

[Nickintex]

I'm pretty sure Nick likes buying purses as well

Uh, no. I don't own any "European shoulder bags".
For that matter, why are most fish keepers...., NVM

[myjohnson]

Well Tony, what can I say?!

You are one lucky man!

[specialone0812]

my gf keep fish....hehe. she does not like the rare fish but color.