choosing biotope aquaria over 'candy' setups: a shift in perspective

[eleNt]

I've noticed that tropical and coldwater fish are often kept in 'candy' aquaria, which I see in many YouTube videos and Facebook posts. These 'candy' aquaria usually have fake plants, ornaments, or incompatible fish. On the other hand, good community aquaria aren't considered 'candy' aquaria because they put the right community fish species and plants together. My first fish tank was actually a 'candy' aquarium - I had silvertip tetras, cardinal tetras, and a dwarf gourami in a 40-liter tank. I still have it today.

Most fish-themed YouTube channels create terrible 'candy' aquaria for kids and toddlers. They're basically eye-candy, but not all channels are the same. For example, SerpaDesign creates great aquaria for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Tanner from SerpaDesign even made a biotope aquarium for Altum Angelfish once.

Biotope aquaria are different - they closely replicate a fish's natural habitat. There are many types, like blackwater and river biotopes from Southeast Asia and South America. These aquaria are the most accurate, and aquarists research the fish's habitat before building the aquarium. Some even snorkel or take underwater photos to get it just right. It's often done for endangered fish, like the eyespot rasbora or the endemic emerald dwarf danio.

I stopped watching bad YouTube content because I was asked to many times. I listened and stopped watching yesterday. Creators do this for money and viewers. I used to watch videos with fish I couldn't identify, but the TFF team and Planet Catfish helped me. For example, I found out that Fisher's woodcat was in a video with incompatible fish. I took a screencap and contacted Planet Catfish, and one of the users identified it for me.

Watching bad content stressed me out and made me addicted. It's not good for kids and toddlers either - they might not take care of fish properly or put the wrong species together. They don't understand fish cruelty. I'm glad I stopped watching bad content - it's better for me, and I won't be asked to stop again. I broke free from YouTube recommendations and clickbaity titles, and I won't post them on the TFF platform anymore.

[Giggletons]

I've noticed that tropical and coldwater fish are often kept in 'candy' aquaria, which I see in many YouTube videos and Facebook posts. These 'candy' aquaria usually have fake plants, ornaments, or incompatible fish. On the other hand, good community aquaria aren't considered 'candy' aquaria because they put the right community fish species and plants together. My first fish tank was actually a 'candy' aquarium - I had silvertip tetras, cardinal tetras, and a dwarf gourami in a 40-liter tank. I still have it today.

Most fish-themed YouTube channels create terrible 'candy' aquaria for kids and toddlers. They're basically eye-candy, but not all channels are the same. For example, SerpaDesign creates great aquaria for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Tanner from SerpaDesign even made a biotope aquarium for Altum Angelfish once.

Biotope aquaria are different - they closely replicate a fish's natural habitat. There are many types, like blackwater and river biotopes from Southeast Asia and South America. These aquaria are the most accurate, and aquarists research the fish's habitat before building the aquarium. Some even snorkel or take underwater photos to get it just right. It's often done for endangered fish, like the eyespot rasbora or the endemic emerald dwarf danio.

I stopped watching bad YouTube content because I was asked to many times. I listened and stopped watching yesterday. Creators do this for money and viewers. I used to watch videos with fish I couldn't identify, but the TFF team and Planet Catfish helped me. For example, I found out that Fisher's woodcat was in a video with incompatible fish. I took a screencap and contacted Planet Catfish, and one of the users identified it for me.

Watching bad content stressed me out and made me addicted. It's not good for kids and toddlers either - they might not take care of fish properly or put the wrong species together. They don't understand fish cruelty. I'm glad I stopped watching bad content - it's better for me, and I won't be asked to stop again. I broke free from YouTube recommendations and clickbaity titles, and I won't post them on the TFF platform anymore.

I think it's true that watching those bad videos just gives them more views and money. They'll just keep on doing the same thing and think it's fine.

[Clack]

I'd like to add that as a newcomer to the world of aquariums, it's not always easy to distinguish between good and bad content. It seems to me that some YouTubers take advantage of this lack of knowledge. I've started watching videos on aquarium builds and I find them really calming, but I make sure not to take everything at face value.