Aquarist Certification - like SCUBA's PADI?

[Fishfirst]

good question... probably MACNA

 

[Fishfirst]

or the humane society, except with people who actually know what to look for.

 

[SweetScientist]

Fishfirst do you own an LFS or just work at one?

 

[Fishfirst]

work at one... actually I've worked at several... all of them I've been the "expert" although I don't think I qualify for that title yet... but most of the places I've worked at order ribbon eels, sweetlips, sharks, ect, even though I PLEAD with the owners/orderers not to.

 

[A.T.T.R]

whats wrong with ribbon eels?
id much rather see a ribbon in a tank then a larger eel.

i keep hearing people say they die alot but i think i only had one die on me ( wasnt eating) out of about 9 or so

seems to be more of a size issue get them large they do better

 

[DoNtSpEaKlAtIn]

Collectors, wholesalers, and retailers can obtain MAC certification. http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/maccertification.html

 

[B.C.theReefer]

I don't know about certs. for pets. But definately for having children. You have to pass a test to drive a car, right? But any tard can make a baby. And it seems like most of the people having the most babies can't even afford them. I'm all for it.

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11660988#post11660988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishfirst
I think you stop it at the source... the retailers... make them responsible for selling responsibly and you fix the entire system... plus its a lot less money to certify a handful of retailers who are adiment about aquarium care and responsible ownership(and punish the bad ones) vs a ton of customers getting certified.

We have a LFS called FAOIS (Fish And Other Ichthy Stuff) that is extremely responsible, so much so that the owner is called the "fish nazi"..."no fish for you"...and won't sell fish or coral to someone who cannot properly care for it.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11865885#post11865885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
We have a LFS called FAOIS (Fish And Other Ichthy Stuff) that is extremely responsible, so much so that the owner is called the "fish nazi"..."no fish for you"...and won't sell fish or coral to someone who cannot properly care for it.

He's nationally known for this as well

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11791917#post11791917 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DoNtSpEaKlAtIn
Collectors, wholesalers, and retailers can obtain MAC certification. http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/maccertification.html

With very little enforcement of that certification, just how would a bad retialer get it's cert. removed for doing "bad" things? How would it address a person selling an animal not suitable for aquaria, like a tang in a 10g, or pushing snake oil products?

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11661306#post11661306 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishfirst
good question... probably MACNA

A marine aquarium conference is going to do the certifing?

MACNA - Marine Aquarium Confernece of North America

MAC- Marine Aquarium Council

MAC's mission is different them what this thread is about. They do not police it's members like that, they relay almost solely on paperwork. They ask the public to do the policing for them Having spent over 10 years on this very issue I can tell you the policing part is the largest 50 mile hurdle in this case.

 

[LoudProudNPunk]

Re: Aquarist Certification - like SCUBA's PADI?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11473916#post11473916 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
I just left a lfs where NO adult was there... just a 16 yr old bagging corals/fish for people and ringing them up. This lady pointed to 4 corals she wanted - "and one of those green thingies" (pointing to green star polyps)

So my question... if she can't even name a simple coral, should she have any place keeping it or other corals? Would a certification program like PADI for either customers or employees even help people be more responsible?

I'm also not sure why scuba and rare animal certifications (like cats) are required but nothing for our hobby which takes animals from the wild.

You dont have to be 40 years old to know something about reefs. I'm 17 and i am very capable of keeping a reef tank, AND i can teach others who are 3 times my age about some topics related to the husbandry of corals/inverts/fish.

did you even bother to find out if the kid knew his stuff, or did you just figure he/she didnt know anything because of their age?

 

[RicksReefs]

MAC certification is a joke and utter failure.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Certification would be totally useless. I live in San Diego and have been very active in the dive community for the last 6 years or so. I've logged over a hundred dives in that time. The average diver here is someone who got basic certification then decided to go immediately into the advanced course because they didn't want to spend the money on gear yet, and the extra course provides another opportunity to go "blow bubbles". The reality is that even with their advanced certification, these people are terrible divers compared to people who just take the time to learn and practice. But they paid their money and hence are qualified. I've had to tow people in because they couldn't right themselves in back inflation BCD's, i've had to bring people up from depth do to too little weight. Come to think of it, I'm kind of lucky to be breathing considering some of the bonehead mistakes I've seen hundreds of divers here. But the first question every newbie ever asks on every one of our dive boards is "What is the cheapest place to get certified and who will guarantee to pass me?" Not to be pessimistic or sound arrogant but really, certificates are more often than not a joke in most things.
FB

 

[sniggir]

I have to agree with the fact that most people should have to take a course on proper maintance, and set up in order to get into the SW hobby. but as stated it would definatly be diffucult to enforse and would be left up to the LFS to uphold...

I don't think there was any reference to the factthat the 16 year old didn't know what he was doing just that he/or she was left alone to bag and answer? which is alot to do for anyone.. it is sad that you are not getting the accual point of the conversation.. and realy shows your maturity... the point was not the 16 year old bagging the fish and corals... but the lady that didn't know what the heck she was getting.. and that maybe if the employee had either help or some form of guide line that we would not be selling Live stock to people that will not be able to take care of it

 

[chrissreef]

LoudProudNPunk - Sniggir is correct... I could care less about the age of the kid bagging the fish. I'm 27 and started my first reef tank when I was 15-16 yrs old... I wrote for magazines a few years later and the tank was published in a German book. I also work for a company where people 50+yrs outnumber youngsters like me 5 to 1... but trust me, we teach them a thing or two now and again =)

What bothered me is that the lady had no idea what she was purchasing let alone its care. (it didn't help that the merchant/kid didn't ask questions). She may as well have been pointing to a cat or mouse and saying "I'd like to purchase that dog"

I work for a lfs part time... one of my customers (3-4 visits now) still says "plant" instead of "coral". I'm ok with them getting a name wrong if they know how to care for it... but if they really think it's a plant - then do they understand its care? They also consistently ask me what the "bare minimum" is regarding lighting/current etc. so they don't have to spend much $$. I understand being cheap/frugal - but only to a point. I should ask them what the bare minimum food they need is to "survive" and see how they like that! =)

Fishbulb2 - your comments remind me of a problem with the US education system... check the box - learn how to pass the test instead of learn the material - and as you've seen, when people do this they can't handle the "real world." Maybe it's a huge culture change that needs to occur... all I know is training/testing should count for something in the "real world" other than checking the box.

there's got to be a solution out there =)

 

[kmf507]

Gov't certification to own a fish tank? No thanks "comrade."

Some ability to educate or verify a consumer's knowledgebase would be beneficial though. What if MACNA or whomever set up an online test/website that would lead people through to the answers. At the end, you could print out a card showing completion. Participating LFS or online retailers could offer 5-10% off purchases for those who at least made an effort. If I owned a store, I would participate, but admittedly raise my prices a bit to offset my costs. Everly LFS I frequent already gives a discount to local reef club members, which, in a sense, is another way of verifying a base knowledge level.