By Scott W. Michael
We often classify fish as being good for a beginner or better for the more advanced fishkeeper. But what is the vital difference between the person who is a saltwater fishkeeping neophyte and a person who has kept fish for years? Experience and the associated accumulation of knowledge are the obvious attributes that come with more time in the hobby. A veteran hobbyist should be able to quickly recognize various parasites or conditions that might go unnoticed or unidentified by the new hobbyist. A beginner is less likely to know exactly what to do about a particular issue without doing some research. Over the years, however, I have found that not all veteran hobbyists are better aquarists than their less experienced counterparts. I have seen old-timers make bad husbandry mistakes and neglect their aquariums. Many newbies are so worried about making a mistake that they are often more careful when it comes to their animals.
You will hear the term "green thumb" when talking about gardening. A person with a "green thumb" seems to have a certain knack for keeping plants happy and healthy. I suggest that there are also some hobbyists who have a "blue thumb"; that is, they seem to have a special gift when it comes to keeping saltwater organisms. Here are six qualities possessed by those aquarists I have met that I believe have a "blue thumb." Fortunately, not all these are innate qualities. Some can be developed over time with regular practice.
1. Good observation skills. The better you are at observation, the better you will be at keeping fish and invertebrates long-term. The best aquarists can detect subtle behavioral changes in polyp tentacle extension, fish respiration, feeding intensity, telltale signs of parasite infestations, damage to scales, fins or polyp tissue, sudden reclusiveness, etc. The sooner an aquarist detects these signs, the sooner the problem can be resolved. This may mean changing out halide or UV bulbs, adding medications, changing filtrants, removing a potentially disease-infested or overly aggressive fish, etc.
2. Prompt to act. Some of us are prone to procrastination. We may detect a problem and decide it can wait until tomorrow or even this weekend because there's just too much to do today. Procrastinating when you detect a problem can result in catastrophe. Have a "first-aid and repair kit" (e.g., commonly used medications, a back-up pump, etc.) on hand, and act quickly when you notice a potential problem.
3. Good recordkeeping. Many of us have learned a lot about our aquariums and problems that we have encountered during the history of our aquariums by looking back at records that we have written down over weeks, months or years. While it may seem mundane, record water chemistry parameters, changes in equipment or supplementation, replacement of items that wear out (e.g., bulbs, filtrants) and the behavior of the aquarium inhabitants. Good recordkeeping allows you to see trends in your aquarium and will help you make educated guesses when problems arise.
4. Good maintenance habits. For success, a fishkeeper must regularly conduct daily, weekly and monthly maintenance chores, and not procrastinate.
5. Good research practices. The successful saltwater aquarium hobbyists I have met always research potential livestock and equipment before they buy anything. This may be a new skimmer, or a new addition to the fish or invert community. Good research means going to a number of different sources - not just listening to some guy that seems to know what he is doing on an Internet forum.
6. Having necessary resources. While saltwater fishkeeping is not necessarily a "rich man's" hobby, financial resources are often required to replace malfunctioning equipment, purchase high-quality foods, medication, replacement items (UV bulbs, light bulbs), etc. We often see the heavy upfront cost to set up our aquariums and forget that there are other continuous expenses, as well as items that will need to be replaced.