I have been thinking about this since before I got these salts, but is it right for me to keep another animal, especially one caught in the wild? Because unlike most dogs, cats and such these animals would be just fine living in the wild, they would not need me to support them. What gives me the right? I am just trying to look for some arguments that would be in support of me keeping fish. Thanks.
Dilemma
- Thread starter bpeugh
- Start date
hounddog01
Active member
Because they are in the fish store. You will give them a much better home than a 1 foot square box or worse die in their systems that are not setup for long term fish keeping.
philagothos
New member
It's a great arguement for captive bred programs. Plus captive bred fish are generally hardier and already better adapted to aquarium life. Personally, I prefer captive bred when available, but I'm not such a die hard conservationist that I will only buy captive bred.
redvipe2010
In Memoriam
If it will make you feel better I will find them a good home in my new set up!
If we stop importing them millions of third-world people living on islands will be out of a job with no means to provide food for their family. In turn they take to the reefs dynamite fishing for fod purposes rather than aquarium purposes and destroy all the reefs in several decades. As it is now collecting corals and fish for aquariums provides the islanders a reason to take care of the reefs around them and in part our aquariums save the reefs from unlimited destruction.
seachel71
New member
I think this is one of those times when there will always be differening opinions and no easy answer. As a person who strongly believes and teaches environmently friendly lifestyles, there are definate conflicts with keeping a reef tank. For me, it is a compromise. I am not able to live by the ocean which is my true love so I bring a bit of the ocean to me. I struggle with the captivity of animals in zoos and sea world, but visit them everytime I get the chance. People love and protect what they see and understand. Without the zoos and aquaria people would not develop the emotional attachment to the animals we need to preserve them in nature. So it is a trade off, is it better for the individual animal to be in the wild, sure. Is it better for species as a whole, the ecosystem as a whole, the entire planet, that people see and care for animals, definately.
Michelle L
New member
I've got news for you...most of our domesticated pets could live in the wild with no help from us. Domesticated dogs, maybe or maybe not; but domestic cats do just fine on their own (albeit a bit skinnier) as would rats and rabbits (if they weren't bred to be conspicuous colors), snakes, hamsters, gerbils, exotic birds if they were in the correct climate, ant farms, and many other varieties of creatures that we play god to, wouldn't need us to live if they weren't caged or enclosed in our homes.
So really, these fish are no different than the furry kinds of animals, except that we can't pet them and make ourselves believe that they love us like we love them, like we can with most animals. Does this make it any easier?
So really, these fish are no different than the furry kinds of animals, except that we can't pet them and make ourselves believe that they love us like we love them, like we can with most animals. Does this make it any easier?
Katana_user
Member
bpeugh, since you seem bothered by this, please go back through the last few months of posts on the CIMA page here. You'll see a turnover in who has a tank, who doesn't and sometimes why. Ask yourself the same questions about family, lifestyle, employment, and finances as the posters. And then answer to yourself how important it is to you to establish that kind of committment.
Keeping a reef tank is a long term committment in time, energy and money. Know what your intentions are before you begin. It will save you time and heartbreak later. The posts I've asked you to review are life. And life happens to everyone.
I wish you every possible success in whichever path you choose.
Keeping a reef tank is a long term committment in time, energy and money. Know what your intentions are before you begin. It will save you time and heartbreak later. The posts I've asked you to review are life. And life happens to everyone.
I wish you every possible success in whichever path you choose.
tcottle
Premium Member
Ahem - Stepping up to the soapbox.
I find these kind of questions puzzling. Putting anthropomorphic issues aside, does a fish really have a quality of life? What people forget is that the life of a wild animal consists of trying to get enough food, avoid predators and eventually being eaten alive - not my definition of "living just fine". Being kept in a zoo or fish tank would seem to be a trade up.
Horace
New member
I would just tell you to do whatever you feel you can live with.
I do the best I can to provide my fish with the most ideal environment possible, and as such I feel ok about it.
If it makes you feel any better, Hounddog's wife is VERY much supportive of animal rights and organizations such as PETA, yet she loves her "captive" animals and fish.
A brilliant mind by the name of Napoleon Dynomite once said..."Listen to your heart. Thats what I do."
I do the best I can to provide my fish with the most ideal environment possible, and as such I feel ok about it.
If it makes you feel any better, Hounddog's wife is VERY much supportive of animal rights and organizations such as PETA, yet she loves her "captive" animals and fish.
A brilliant mind by the name of Napoleon Dynomite once said..."Listen to your heart. Thats what I do."
ChemE
New member
Best answer so far in my not very humble opinion.
Our little slice of the reef has opened the eyes of several dozen people in just two short years. Now will the do something to conserve our world's reefs? Possibly. Do I think they are more likely now than they were before? Definitely.
Creating awareness about the beauty and diversity of an ecosystem worked in favor of Monterey Bay.
http://www.mbayaq.org/oa/web/ActionAlertDetails.aspx?enc=8dALlaACeXQ=
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