Economics

[Beaker]

I'm being serious here. You can learn a lot from these guys. You need to balance your budget so both you and your fish get to eat. You almost need to have a seperate budget just for fish. (if you're like me) If I didn't have any self control, I would have like 300 tanks, no offense Gypsy. :wink: Also, there's supply and demand. For example with breeding there's set prices out there for what stores will buy and sell their fish. Obviously, with Convicts, you can find them cheaper than clown loaches due to the ease of breeding. I got a great 3" Dempsy cheaper than the LFS was selling a 3" Bala Shark. Even though most of us would go for the JD 95% of the time, they are just easier to breed, thus dropping the cost. So in conclusion I would say I have learned about economics from my wet pets and I'll stick to that.

[Chet]

Yes Beaker, very nice observation. On the other hand, I'm not sure all economic theory is supported by my fish. Take for example the Law of Diminishing Returns. The Law of Diminishing Returns says that as you acquire more of something, that you get progressively less satisfaction from it.

Take candy bars for example. You may get a lot of enjoyment out of your fist Snicker bar, but by the third one, you're not really into it anymore, and by the tenth, you're feeling light headed and quite sick. Furthermore, if you ate a candy bar everyday, you would quickly grow tired of them.

Now consider fish. As you purchase more fish, you seem to get more satisfaction. Futhermore, assuming you had space for them, you would never get tired of buying fish, even if you got one everyday. Then again, I'm not sure the Law of Diminishing Returns applies to addictive substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, or tropical fish. :D

[SGypsyMermaid]

lol!!--no offense taken, beaker--you're just callin' it like you see it, and you're right! i have very little self-control, and way too many fish! i just love 'em, though...i really could use some females for my male chilotes... :shock:

[Chet]

Can you tell I was an Economics major, amongst other things?

I think the idea of budgeting for your fish's food is great, but I believe that if I told my wife to add a line in our monthly budget for fish food, she might just kill me on the spot. Better she have no idea how much I spend on fish or their food. :wink:

[chennes]

It can also illustrate the economic principle of "gains from trade." For example, if anyone out there would like to trade me say, a dozen Metriaclima sp. "Deep Water" from the Mandalawi region of Malawi for, say, my immortal soul, then we could both be said to have benefitted from the trade. I would have my fish, and you would have... uh... er...:rofl:... well, anyway, I'd gain from the trade anyway! :)

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

you guys are flipped out! ROFLMAO

[Beaker]

I know I'm in trouble when I'm on the same page with you guys. It's funny, yet scary.