An Article of Interest to Us All

[2006]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1900122&highlight=dark+hobby

I don't know if the statistics from this article are accurate but sadly I have to admit I would not be surprised if 90% of all livestock collected in the marine hobby is dead within a few months. In my 30 years of fish keeping I have seen as much bad information given out as good by fish stores. I have also witnessed on this forum and right here in Tucson irresponsible collectors with deep pockets that are more interested in bragging rights then proper husbandry. Add the ignorant beginners that have never bothered to do a minute of research and it is a sad situation. I would assume that readers of this forum have a better success rate.

So what are we going to do about?

 

[dots]

It starts with education. That those on the experienced side, as they require less assistance help those who are learning make wise decisions.

While mistakes do happen and livestock is lost, that we learn from those deaths so that they are not in vain.....not doomed to repeat the same mistakes in a continual cycle out of ignorance.

Learn, learn some more, and keep learning....be a student of everything in the hobby.

Be patient and understanding to those who need help. Hopefully, they will pass that along to another later to another that needs it.

I don't know about the article that you are referencing, or to its validity of facts....however the theme that there is livestock loss due to the hobby is reason enough to try to further minimize it.....regardless of the actual numbers.

Participation on RC and leading by example is a great way to do this......and you are correct, I would hope that those that participate within the forum are more connected to the community and hobby at large, and as a result are more in tune with responsible reef keeping ideals.......but people need to learn that from their peers......

 

[TucsonWhoDat]

I would say overall the numbers are a bit high but not impossible. I would say a good 50% s a possible number IMO. Collection, transhipping, wholesale, retail, then to the hobbyist. There is death at every step from stress. Corals a lot less then fish though. We had great success when I owned the shop with DOAs, loss in store etc. I know a lot of shops with a whole lot more deaths. I bought from higher price better quality suppliers though, to get the deathco prices you gotta buy from slum wholesalers......

 

[T Diddy]

I think we should all set up another tank and save some of these doomed corals!

 

[Tucson Reef]

I would beleive the numbers are high, some due to accidents, lost or misrouted shipping, bad packageing, delays. Then on the retail side, bad ethics, the pretty fish that has almost zero sucess rate in hobby but sure is cool looking and sells. And then theres my favorite, more so then lack of knowledge by hobbist, wanting it fast and pretty, wont wait for cycle, wont listen to advice and get that angel or buttrfly now/anyway!

At least we have a couple of stores that have ethics, funny thing is they will win in the end by repeat business.

 

[Tanque Verde]

From the article: "What can you do? If you see an aquarium, ask that it be taken down for the sake of the reefs, the fish and us."


Ouch and ouch. Before I could recognize such as a request as valid, I'd like to see some evidence about what percentage of reef depletion/devastation is due to the aquarium trade and what percentage results from pollution, climate change, etc. If the aquarium trade is destroying reefs, I'd feel obiged to change my hobby habits. But if the aquarium trade is barely impacting reefs that are otherwise being destroyed by other forces, then I'd stand my ground.

In any event, I am convinced enough that our reef/oceans are in jeopardy that I remain open minded about purchasing only or mostly tank-raised livestock. I know many reef keepers feel the same way and it's regrettable that this article made no mention of sustainable reefkeeping practices.

 

[Tanque Verde]

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/distortions-snorkle-bobs-dark-hobby-diatribe

Here's a link to Bob Fenner's rejoinder, which anticipated many of my concerns, and offers an interesting solution:

"It is my opinion that the entirely renewable resource of ornamental marines should be continued, but with higher cost and limited access. Akin to long-established mechanisms for issuing catch permits—a la the Haliotid/Abalone industry in California—permits should be let out only as available, by lottery, and the fees necessary to assess and regulate the fishery should be generated by licensee fees."

 

[Bifferwine]

Before I could recognize such as a request as valid, I'd like to see some evidence about what percentage of reef depletion/devastation is due to the aquarium trade and what percentage results from pollution, climate change, etc. If the aquarium trade is destroying reefs, I'd feel obiged to change my hobby habits. But if the aquarium trade is barely impacting reefs that are otherwise being destroyed by other forces, then I'd stand my ground.

I don't have the links off-hand, but I have read articles stating that the negative impact to the reefs due to collection for this hobby is negligible. Much bigger threats are commercial fishing (trawling), climate change (ocean warming and acidification), nutrient runoff from land, and shoreline development. All those things don't just pick off the reefs fish by fish, but can devastate the entire ecosystem in one fell swoop. The saltwater aquarium industry is an easy target compared to those complicated giants of problems.

That doesn't mean that we don't bear any responsibility, though.

 

[aquaph8]

I don't have the links off-hand, but I have read articles stating that the negative impact to the reefs due to collection for this hobby is negligible. Much bigger threats are commercial fishing (trawling), climate change (ocean warming and acidification), nutrient runoff from land, and shoreline development. All those things don't just pick off the reefs fish by fish, but can devastate the entire ecosystem in one fell swoop. The saltwater aquarium industry is an easy target compared to those complicated giants of problems.

That doesn't mean that we don't bear any responsibility, though.

Nice thoughts, I agree. We have also come along way with captive bred species. I believe hobbyists are more educated and better reefers than ever before. Sadly there are certain species that will probably never be bred in captivity and there is always people not willing to do the research before they leap into the hobby. On a bright side, I feel most of the people that just dont care are the same people that don't last long in this hobby anyways. Regardless though this hobby still kills more fish and other creatures than it should and I really hope it gets better instead of worse.

 

[aquaph8]

I always wondered if it got bad enough on the reefs if aquarium owners would be called upon to save certain species.

 

[sillygoose]

All a really good argument to support aquaculture and frag swaps.

 

[Bifferwine]

I always wondered if it got bad enough on the reefs if aquarium owners would be called upon to save certain species.

Like green nepthea? That's basically what's happened there. Although not really "called upon".

 

[Mr. Right]

IMO, I think the serious reefers do care. The more one learns about the hobby the more they come to care about the delicate livestock. I may just be speaking for myself but, I know a lot more now then I did back when I started. I know what fish are just doomed from the get go. Meaning, now matter how bad I want a mandarin I won’t get it, or a copper band for than matter. Pretty fish, but low success rate in aquaria. Now would I have done that before? Doubtful. I feel the negative impact on reefs is not a result of the “dark hobbyist” but from the beginner, the doctor, the lawyer who doesn’t care where it came from but only what it looks like. I’m not saying all beginners are like this but in some cases they know the least and want the colorful fish or coral that in some instances isn’t fit for the system (mandarin, seahorse, tang, etc).

 

[aquaph8]

In a favorable aquarium Mandarins are pretty safe. If people would do a little research before impulsively buying them they would have far less losses. They are being bred in captivity now and should be collected less and less as time goes on. I believe they will be more and more like clown fish in the hobby in the future. The more fish being bred in captivity the safer this hobby will be for aquarist and the ocean.

 

[sillygoose]

I have a mandarin that has been fat and happy for about a year and a half. I have 200 lbs of live rock in my (90g) tank and I didn't get him until I could see tons of pods crawling around on my rocks. It took patience though - I really wanted one.

As far as a Copper Banded - that I do feel guilty about. Early on, we bought one not really understanding how fragile and specialized they were. Our params weren't that good yet and of course it died.

I'd like to think I'm more responsible now. I wish more fish were available as tank-bred. I don't go for the really exotic guys - that doesn't mean I'm not tempted. And it doesn't mean I wouldn't buy a tank-bred one.

 

[scubabum1983]

From the work I did at UA in the marine bio/ecology field, i agree with what was said above about nitrate run off, global warming, deforestation and sedimentation, mercury from coal burning, overfishing, BP and global warming, are some of the largest concerns to the oceans and its residents. This isn't to say that we as consumers of the ornamental collection trade could not do better, i agree with tank raised, and frag things we have to keep the impact down. And do our part to make sure we buy from shops that in turn by from collectors who do not use cyanide and other destructive methods. But give me a break, The ask the aquarium owner to take their tank down argument is without merit. I have seen people take interest in the ocean and reefs just by looking at a tank. People can watch it on TV, but to see a living chunk of the reef in front of them does something far more to further education and appreciation for those not exposed to the reef and oceans. I think the writer of the article can take a flying leap. There are far more destructive hobbies to take aim at than my reef tank.

 

[abfds001]

Captive breeding and frag swapping is by far a more eco friendly solution. However oversight and control will result in increased black market dealings and higher cost to the hobbyist. A good majority of hobbyist understand and respect the delicate nature of maintaining a reef in home. I do it because it reminds me of the beauty of nature and it provides me the opportunity of sharing what may one day be gone as a result of natures/mans fury with my kids who may never experience it first hand. Who knows, just as we collect blood to save lives, we may be saving various reef a species from disappearing forever

 

[HeadAblaze]

I worked at Petco for about 2 years and the thing that has made me feel horrible was how the fish were there. Petco doesn't use RO water, and they NEVER quarntine the fish, EVER. So when a new shipment of either freah, or salt would come in, if an existing fish is fairly healthy, all of a sudden new, stressed out fish are added to the tank, creating more problems, and of course, more deaths. When I was working there, there was a flame angel that was covered in ich, I told the store manager that I'd take the fish home, put him in my quarntine tank, and nurse him back to health. But he said no, because it was against company policy. It's ridiculous, a company that claims to love and care for animals, wont even do a simply quarntine on a $60 fish. To me, it's extremely aggrivating. So there's my 2 cents. But I agree with the purpose of this post.

 

[dloehrs]

Here's my few thoughts on this matter. I am new to this hobby so here is a newcomers thoughts. I had a fresh tank for a year and now me and my wife are SO hooked on the salt. It's fun and educational and a great way to spend a lot of money.
The number one thing we should all try to do is avoid the pet stores (goes without saying?) and advise all newcomers to do the same. The worst advice I've received has came from "knowledgeable" folks at these stores. You can't sell puppies and kitties and saltwater fish and we've spent extra recovering from this.
There is a boatload of info out there, some good, some bad, often contradictory. How do we get the good info out? Could the more experienced folks here list good websites and books somewhere? Can we convince our LFS to push for all their customers to join a forum such as this? Is there a local club that can do this pushing? Along with that, how do we get the LFS's to slow the newbies, like me, down. Once I heard some hesitation in an LFS owners voice when we wanted to buy something. We called him on it and, though reluctantly, he said our tank was too new. That is the kind of responsibility shops need to take. It earns my repeat business.
Does Reef Central have a "Code of Ethics" for aquarists? I haven't searched it but I haven't run across it. Again, is there a local, state or national club or organization that can push something like this? I think of the questionnaires I've had to read and sign when adopting dogs at the Humane Society. Can't the same hold for fish?
Also, who are the more reputable internet sellers and how do we give our business to them? Lumber can be tagged as being harvested in a renewable fashion, can fish and corals? There is SO much that I need to know and finding all that info is dfficult.
I've lost a couple of things, a Chromi, a shrimp, small losses monetarily, but I feel bad about it. Each loss is a valuable lesson learned and it happens, but it makes me slow down and ponder why and make the necessary corrections.
I guess to sum up my thoughts, it's education. How do we educate us newbies?

 

[clockdoc]

Education, self control and understanding. When we first got started in this hobby we all made mistakes. Purchasing an animal before our tanks were ready, impulse buying, retailers ( and internet sites ) influance ........ and on and on. Our mistakes were costly not only in dollars and cents but to the enviroment itself. We must take responsibility for our actions and share our hard earned information to avoid continuing the destructive behavior that is so frequently seen in this hobby. Don't purchase on impulse ... research BEFORE the sale. Don't let the dollar amount be your yardstick. Sales are nice (everybody LOVES a sale ) but it tends to cause some folks to make a purchase of an animal that might not be the right one for his/hers situation. We all can make a difference.