u/TicketHot6473

I’m a 16 year old living in an environment where diet culture and strict food rules dominate everything. My dad went on a keto diet a while ago and has made it his entire personality. He heavily demonizes all carbs and sugars, practices intermittent fasting, and constantly flexes that he isn't hungry while skipping meals or replacing them with oil-infused coffee and nuts. On top of that, he is openly judgmental—he mocks fat people in public and recently teased his manager at work for trying to lose weight through calorie counting instead of following keto, which he insists is the ultimate solution to everything. He never shuts up about how "healthy" he eats, and spending whole days around his constant lectures leaves me feeling completely drained.

His mindset has completely warped my mum’s understanding of nutrition as well. She now sees sugary treats like cake as her worst enemy. However, because my dad convinced her that dietary fat won't make you gain weight, she eats crisps every single day believing they are fine simply because they aren't sweet, while cooking with excessive amounts of butter, cream, and mayonnaise. This has led to her gaining weight and recently testing for high blood sugar, but because she believes she is following my dad’s "healthy" lifestyle, she genuinely cannot grasp the cause of her health issues.

All of this noise has created a really difficult dynamic for me around food.

​I try to stay quiet and just nod along to keep the peace, but I am so done with living under his rules and watching how it has infected my home. Has anyone else lived with a parent who projects their extreme diet rules onto the whole family, and how did you manage to set boundaries and protect your own peace around food?

​Hey everyone,

​I’ve been keeping a colony of Cherry Shrimp for a while now, and honestly, it’s been great. They’re thriving, but I’ve been pretty "hands-off"—I haven't really done any culling, line maintenance, or selective breeding.

​

​I’m looking to pivot once I finish a current project, and I’m interested in moving into breeding "rarer" or higher-end shrimp with the goal of eventually covering costs (and maybe making a profit).

​

​Since I’ve only ever done the "casual" approach, I’m a bit out of my depth on the professional side. I’m hoping to get some advice on how to bridge the gap:

​

​1. How do I actually get started with line maintenance? What are the "must-know" basics for someone who has never culled before?

​

2. For someone used to hardy Neocaridina, what’s the biggest "shock" when moving to more expensive/demanding strains? (Water parameters, gear, etc.?)

​

​3. I’m not looking to get rich, but I’d love to make this self-sustaining. Are there specific strains that are better for someone with limited space, or should I just stick to one high-quality line?

​

4. If you could go back to your first "serious" shrimp tank, what is one thing you would have done differently?

​

​I’m a student, so I’m all about efficiency and doing things the "right" way from the start. Any tips, guides, or resources you’d recommend would be awesome. Thanks!

​Hey everyone,

​I’ve been keeping a colony of Cherry Shrimp for a while now, and honestly, it’s been great. They’re thriving, but I’ve been pretty "hands-off"—I haven't really done any culling, line maintenance, or selective breeding.

​

​I’m looking to pivot once I finish a current project, and I’m interested in moving into breeding "rarer" or higher-end shrimp with the goal of eventually covering costs (and maybe making a profit).

​

​Since I’ve only ever done the "casual" approach, I’m a bit out of my depth on the professional side. I’m hoping to get some advice on how to bridge the gap:

​

​1. How do I actually get started with line maintenance? What are the "must-know" basics for someone who has never culled before?

​

2. For someone used to hardy Neocaridina, what’s the biggest "shock" when moving to more expensive/demanding strains? (Water parameters, gear, etc.?)

​

​3. I’m not looking to get rich, but I’d love to make this self-sustaining. Are there specific strains that are better for someone with limited space, or should I just stick to one high-quality line?

​

4. If you could go back to your first "serious" shrimp tank, what is one thing you would have done differently?

​

​I’m a student, so I’m all about efficiency and doing things the "right" way from the start. Any tips, guides, or resources you’d recommend would be awesome. Thanks!

​Hey everyone, I’ve been breeding guppies for a while now. I’m looking for some advice on how to actually turn this into a profitable hobby (or at least cover my costs).

​

​Right now, I’m hitting two major walls:

​The LFS Route: My local fish store is happy to take them, but they only offer store credit. While that helps with food and supplies, it doesn't help with the electricity, water, or time I’m putting into the projects.

​

​Facebook Groups: This has been the most frustrating. Every time I post, I get a flood of messages from people expecting "starter" fish for free, or people who refuse to pay anything more than a couple of bucks. It’s hard to justify the time spent on line-breeding when the local demand is just looking for "cheap feeders."

​

Any advice on scaling up or finding the right market would be appreciated.