Has anyone else heard??
- Thread starter rhomer
- Start date
fshhub
Active Member
not sure about the powder s but
IMO, the hippos(actually most tangs,), low survival rate(as one may call it), is mostly due to lack of knowledge, everyone wants them adn either over stocks, or is not ready for them or they often get ick and if not treated properly and immediately, this can be detrimental to any fish, they really should be quaretined before adding to the main tank, this is where many fish are lost
IMO, the hippos(actually most tangs,), low survival rate(as one may call it), is mostly due to lack of knowledge, everyone wants them adn either over stocks, or is not ready for them or they often get ick and if not treated properly and immediately, this can be detrimental to any fish, they really should be quaretined before adding to the main tank, this is where many fish are lost
rhomer
Member
The reason for the question is I'm trying to determine the amount of bs that my lfs is shooting me. I was talking with a guy (seemed fairly knowledgable) about different species of tangs. He mentioned that the reason most blue hippos don't survive is due to the way they are captured (cyanide). Same with powder blue tangs, except he stated that Powder blues from somewhere (i think he said the red sea but I might be incorrect this piece of info) are more likely to survive because they aren't caught with cyanide, whereas; the ones caught in the Phillipeans are.
Is there any confirmation on this info.?
Is there any confirmation on this info.?
fshhub
Active Member
ok, you cna get tank raised tangs, which would have a much higher survival rate, than any caught fish, but they are harder to find
and the use of cyanide, many ocuntries do still use this method,and it is up to us to stop it, by not supporting the practice, they use this practice on many different fish, and it does shorten and lessen their lives, as for who does, it is my opinion that mostly the polynesian countries use this practic(if that helps any), soem other countries do allow it, but many do not practice it, many suppliers, if they either tank raise or buy only net caught, they are not as fast to avoid the topic and will often boast it too
HTH
and the use of cyanide, many ocuntries do still use this method,and it is up to us to stop it, by not supporting the practice, they use this practice on many different fish, and it does shorten and lessen their lives, as for who does, it is my opinion that mostly the polynesian countries use this practic(if that helps any), soem other countries do allow it, but many do not practice it, many suppliers, if they either tank raise or buy only net caught, they are not as fast to avoid the topic and will often boast it too
HTH
tyrfing
Member
I have to concur with fshhub. Another big reason that they don't survive is that tangs (especially the hippos) seem to love absolutely pristine H2O conditions. The lfs actually suggested that I didn't add a hippo until my tank had been up for a year, which I thought was pretty cool since they denied themselves an immediate sale.
There is a seed of truth to what your lfs told you (some capture method's do involve cyanide), but in a way, he's kind of creating an urban legend. If enough misinformation is out there, and enough people believe it, it becomes "true". He will have the luxury of be able to deny the misinformation by agreeing to the skewed facts and standing firm on the fact that "his" livestock doesn't fall within those parameters.
It's kind of like when the Ford Pinto's had gas tanks that torched. Alot of car dealers started saying "those Ford's are dangerous, so I sell Chevy's" when in fact it was just one of Ford's brands.
Sounds like your lfs guy is trying to be a friend while he's getting a gauge on where you keep your wallet. Don't mean to be paranoid, but it seems like it's hard to find lfs people that you can trust.
There is a seed of truth to what your lfs told you (some capture method's do involve cyanide), but in a way, he's kind of creating an urban legend. If enough misinformation is out there, and enough people believe it, it becomes "true". He will have the luxury of be able to deny the misinformation by agreeing to the skewed facts and standing firm on the fact that "his" livestock doesn't fall within those parameters.
It's kind of like when the Ford Pinto's had gas tanks that torched. Alot of car dealers started saying "those Ford's are dangerous, so I sell Chevy's" when in fact it was just one of Ford's brands.
Sounds like your lfs guy is trying to be a friend while he's getting a gauge on where you keep your wallet. Don't mean to be paranoid, but it seems like it's hard to find lfs people that you can trust.
fshhub
Active Member
pretty good, but the use of cyanide in 3d world countries(especially the phillipines), is a very common practice, not an urban legend,
sorry if i seem to be correcting, but htis si a point that we should all be aware of and all should support the abolition of htis practice, and the best way to do so is to agree to not to buy fish caught in this manner, but it will take alll of us(even if we believe it a myth)
PLEASE EVERYONE, please try to buy based on the fact that your fish are tank raised, or 2d net caught,but never cyanide caught, is o realize that there is no 100% guarenteed way to insure(anyone can lie if htey really want to, even though it is not right), but asking will cut down alot
sorry if i seem to be correcting, but htis si a point that we should all be aware of and all should support the abolition of htis practice, and the best way to do so is to agree to not to buy fish caught in this manner, but it will take alll of us(even if we believe it a myth)
PLEASE EVERYONE, please try to buy based on the fact that your fish are tank raised, or 2d net caught,but never cyanide caught, is o realize that there is no 100% guarenteed way to insure(anyone can lie if htey really want to, even though it is not right), but asking will cut down alot
rhomer
Member
This place is the large commercial type lfs. I have yet to find anyone there I really like, but they are very convient, and open much later than most mom & pop shops. I don't spend a lot of money there, and I try to keep my purchases to a minium at that lfs.
I hate to be as cinical as everyone here is about lfs people. This is exactly why I asked this question.
I'm trying to gauge the level of trust that I can establish with that lfs.
I have a store that I visit regularly, the owner is a 15-year hobbiest that got the guts up to open his own store last year. I have found most of his advice credible, and some items in is store are way above the quality elsewhere.
Most of his recommendations line-up with what is stated here. He has four show tanks, each with different filtration systems. He even has a tank setup with a mangrove in the refuim.
I hate to be as cinical as everyone here is about lfs people. This is exactly why I asked this question.
I'm trying to gauge the level of trust that I can establish with that lfs.
I have a store that I visit regularly, the owner is a 15-year hobbiest that got the guts up to open his own store last year. I have found most of his advice credible, and some items in is store are way above the quality elsewhere.
Most of his recommendations line-up with what is stated here. He has four show tanks, each with different filtration systems. He even has a tank setup with a mangrove in the refuim.
carrie
Member
Hi, I have aquired a Powder Blue Tang two weeks ago. there actually are 2 locations powder blues are retrieved from, Indonesia and India. Mine is from Indonesia; Two days ago it aquired ick and am currently treating my tank with "no ich" since I have invertebrates. I even did fresh water dip last night for 10mins and none of the little criters left his body. I don't get it. When I brought him home, I did a fresh water dip before putting him in my tank> I don't have a Qt tank. To answer the question of cyanide being used: IT IS. I also purchased a blue face angel at the same time I bought my powder blue. The blue face died 3 days after I got it home. I checked some web site, found out they do use cyanide to caught fish, called the fish store and they admitted they do use vendors who do use cyanide. Needless to say, I won't be shopping there again. Very sad. I hope this gives you some help. I don't know what to do about my powder blue... good luck to you though.
fshhub
Active Member
carrie, sorry to hear of your problems,
but i would definitely get a Q tank, it is one of hte best tools you can get and a real lifesaver, IMO, the best way to treat ick is to quarentine and then administer hyposalinity treatments, that is the best and safest, i don't know about your lfs or fellow hobbyists in your area, but maybe one of them can help you to treat him(since you are not ready for this), all i can say is it cannnot hurt to ask
but i would definitely get a Q tank, it is one of hte best tools you can get and a real lifesaver, IMO, the best way to treat ick is to quarentine and then administer hyposalinity treatments, that is the best and safest, i don't know about your lfs or fellow hobbyists in your area, but maybe one of them can help you to treat him(since you are not ready for this), all i can say is it cannnot hurt to ask
tyrfing
Member
fshhub:
After re-reading my post I understand that I didn't clarify my position. You are absolutely correct that cyanide is being used in many third world countries. My point was that for the lfs person to raise it as an issue, then try and stand on the moral high ground that he knows their wild fish are not gathered in that manner is absurd.
You are right about tank raise livestock. If he knew their livestock were all tank raised, then he would forward that point rather than trying to differentiate between the gathering practices in different parts of the world.
Thanks again for your clarification. As always, your opinions and points are among the best on these boards!
After re-reading my post I understand that I didn't clarify my position. You are absolutely correct that cyanide is being used in many third world countries. My point was that for the lfs person to raise it as an issue, then try and stand on the moral high ground that he knows their wild fish are not gathered in that manner is absurd.
You are right about tank raise livestock. If he knew their livestock were all tank raised, then he would forward that point rather than trying to differentiate between the gathering practices in different parts of the world.
Thanks again for your clarification. As always, your opinions and points are among the best on these boards!
dpittman
Member
Well maybe all hippos are captured with cyanide...beats me. But I do know that most blue hippo's are tank raised. They collect the larvae and raise em. No mine is not over a year old and you are right, they do have a higher mortality rate than alot of other tangs. They simply require pristine conditions.
fshhub
Active Member
no personal experience, and i thought for sure that all hippos were caught using cyanide tooo until recently
i have recently beeen told by my (one)lfs that hers are only tank raised, and after getting to know her, i do believe it, which was hard to convince me
then shortly afterwards i have found certain distributors tha tsell them and all they sellll is tank raised, this is adveritised nationally so for htem to do so and lie would attract alot of attention, by many different agencies(so i almost have to believe it)
and tyrfing, after rereading your post, i also too saw what you were saying earlier and am sorry to step on your toes, but at first i was not quite clear of your intended statement, sorry and thanks
i have recently beeen told by my (one)lfs that hers are only tank raised, and after getting to know her, i do believe it, which was hard to convince me
then shortly afterwards i have found certain distributors tha tsell them and all they sellll is tank raised, this is adveritised nationally so for htem to do so and lie would attract alot of attention, by many different agencies(so i almost have to believe it)
and tyrfing, after rereading your post, i also too saw what you were saying earlier and am sorry to step on your toes, but at first i was not quite clear of your intended statement, sorry and thanks
royce
Member
I've had my blue hippo for at least 2 years, bought him at a ***** because he was on sale and looked very healthy (I hadn't heard all the horror stories). He's almost doubled in size and has been very healthy and except for a mild case of ich when I moved him from my FO tank to my FOWLR recently - I think the stress of the move caused it. And I knowthat my FO tank did not have the greatest water, it was before I found this BB and I used tap water and my nitrates were rarely below 55. Talk about dumb luck.