scott t
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///t/387359/tanked/100#post_3412506
Had sort of a very absurd thought, spawned from another thread....
If it weren't for the average aquarium service company, and the generally poor fish environment/health of the fish most of the tanks they care for have, leading to needing frequent replenishing of fish, how many of YOU would be in the hobby?
How many people here would still have a SW tank if these companies weren't around and damsels cost $75 each? Yellow tangs $250, any really nice large angels $1000+? It's sad to think of these fish as a necessity to be led to slaughter, but if it weren't for these companies, I really don't think we would have the established collector/distributor/wholesaler/retailer chain we have today, and the prices we currently see on many fish/corals.
This can be said for any part of the pet trade industry, not only for the fish trade. This happens in every area of the Pet industry where animals are subjected to different forms of abuse and morality rate. Where there is a demand for a pet there is going to be a trade for it. At some time or another we all own some type of pet whether it be a Fish, Cat, Dog, Bird, Small Rodent, Reptile, what matters is how we take care of said pet. There is always going to be someone out there that we think is morally wrong on how they do something when it comes to pets and how they treat and take care of it. I worked for a Shelter for a year and let me tell you I saw a lot in that short time working there. I would get angry, frustrated, upset on a daily basis on how some treat their pets, but we can chose how we treat them in our own homes. Are we giving the fish a better life than what they have had in a pet store fish tank, I would like to think yes. Would they be better off left in the ocean where they belong? Yes, but they are not so we can choose to get them and give them the best life we can in the little glass boxes that we put them in. The trade industry is always going to be there because there is a demand, even if we choose not to be part of that demand it is still going to be there. There is always someone out there that is going to want a pet, whether or not it be us included in that, so there is always going to be a demand for it.
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///t/387359/tanked/100#post_3412506
Had sort of a very absurd thought, spawned from another thread....
If it weren't for the average aquarium service company, and the generally poor fish environment/health of the fish most of the tanks they care for have, leading to needing frequent replenishing of fish, how many of YOU would be in the hobby?
How many people here would still have a SW tank if these companies weren't around and damsels cost $75 each? Yellow tangs $250, any really nice large angels $1000+? It's sad to think of these fish as a necessity to be led to slaughter, but if it weren't for these companies, I really don't think we would have the established collector/distributor/wholesaler/retailer chain we have today, and the prices we currently see on many fish/corals.
This can be said for any part of the pet trade industry, not only for the fish trade. This happens in every area of the Pet industry where animals are subjected to different forms of abuse and morality rate. Where there is a demand for a pet there is going to be a trade for it. At some time or another we all own some type of pet whether it be a Fish, Cat, Dog, Bird, Small Rodent, Reptile, what matters is how we take care of said pet. There is always going to be someone out there that we think is morally wrong on how they do something when it comes to pets and how they treat and take care of it. I worked for a Shelter for a year and let me tell you I saw a lot in that short time working there. I would get angry, frustrated, upset on a daily basis on how some treat their pets, but we can chose how we treat them in our own homes. Are we giving the fish a better life than what they have had in a pet store fish tank, I would like to think yes. Would they be better off left in the ocean where they belong? Yes, but they are not so we can choose to get them and give them the best life we can in the little glass boxes that we put them in. The trade industry is always going to be there because there is a demand, even if we choose not to be part of that demand it is still going to be there. There is always someone out there that is going to want a pet, whether or not it be us included in that, so there is always going to be a demand for it.