Leave that fish in the ocean

[Megatrev62]

Hi all just wanted to know what(aquarium) fish you think should be left in the ocean and why you feel that way. The top of the list for me would be the powder blue tang. Just feel it has a miserable track record for survival.

Too many are lost via capture to home aquarium, and those few that do survive need a huge tank to deal with their aggression. For those that have them long term congrats, you're doing something right. What fish would be on your list? Cheers

 

[evh5150]

Moorish Idol

 

[dzfish17]

I feel that way about the Achilles tang but Ive never tried one... I have kept a big 7 1/2" PBT for close to a year now though.

 

[tcmfish]

Large, mature fish (breeders).

And obligate coral eating butterflyfish.

 

[ReeferKimberly]

Blue Ribbon Eel. Too hard to feed

 

[Ambition]

I think most species of naso genus tangs (vlamangi and unicorn tangs come to mind) and the larger acanthurus tangs should be left in the ocean. They get too big for most home aquariums, even the tanks big enough will look small with a 2' long fish in them...

Most obligate coral eating fish should also be left in the ocean because of difficulty to convert to prepared and frozen foods.

 

[CHSUB]

killer whales, even though it is a mammal. i think 90 % of fish are better off in aquariums.

 

[SPSpionage]

i think 90 % of fish are better off in aquariums.

Due to the closed system...i disagree.

 

[Bolivian Ram]

I hate to say it but the Copperband Butterflyfish is best left in the ocean. THAT would be at the top of the list imo. They have a short lifespan in tanks ranging from a day to several years from what I've read on different users on online forums. I think Paulb had one for 7 years? I think that these guys can potentially live for much longer.

 

[cisowskia]

killer whales, even though it is a mammal. i think 90 % of fish are better off in aquariums.

LIKE :fish2:

 

[ReeferKimberly]

+1 on the killer whales, along with all other dolphins

 

[Meanmike]

Sharks because to many (insert not nice word here) think they can keep them happily in 180g aquariums.

 

[fishmanstan]

Cleaner wrasse.

 

[albano]

Hi all just wanted to know what(aquarium) fish you think should be left in the ocean and why you feel that way.

OK, I'm just as bad if not worse, than everyone else here (have been in hobby for 55 years)...BUT...
you'll have a tough time trying to convince me, which (if any) fish are better off in an aquarium and why!

 

[Megatrev62]

OK, I'm just as bad if not worse, than everyone else here (have been in hobby for 55 years)...BUT...
you'll have a tough time trying to convince me, which (if any) fish are better off in an aquarium and why!

I hear ya. Maybe that should be the question. lol

 

[reefs4lifee]

Sharks because to many (insert not nice word here) think they can keep them happily in 180g aquariums.

Totally agree on sharks being left in the ocean...too many people think that it's soooo cool to keep a shark and end up getting one even without the proper tank. On top of it, I feel that sharks are diminishing faster than other fish from articles and documentaries that I've seen and I don't think we should contribute to it

 

[TheGodParticle]

Sharks, almost all butterflies, mandarins, Achilles Tangs, Clown tangs, Moorish Idols, Orange Spotted file fish, Ribbon Eels, Dwarf Fuzzy Lions, I'm sure I can think of a bunch of others, but I'll stop there. Most of these fall under the category of eating very poorly or very poor shippers.

 

[Allentown]

LOL, someone made a good point i have never thought of.

Every watched National Geographic? Nature is brutal..animals kill animals with extreme prejudice. One minute they are living life, the next minute they are non-exsistant.

I think this is what was meant by: "90% of fish are better off in an aquarium"

 

[rssjsb]

Nature is brutal..animals kill animals with extreme prejudice. One minute they are living life, the next minute they are non-exsistant.

Yes, but at least that death contributes to the life cycle of the reef. Removing fish from the ecosystem for our own amusement is a different matter. Especially for species with poor survival rate, where you must remove hundreds to get one that will survive. I think the waste is what bothers people.

I also participate in this hobby, and even keep some fish that are considered difficult, so am NOT casting stones. However, I don't think it's unreasonable to advocate for choosing fish that are more likely to do ok, or to suggest that maybe some should be left in the sea.

I'll add a couple of suggestions to those offered above:
Yellow striped clingfish
Titan triggers

 

[DarthAWM]

OK, I'm just as bad if not worse, than everyone else here (have been in hobby for 55 years)...BUT...
you'll have a tough time trying to convince me, which (if any) fish are better off in an aquarium and why!

How about aqua cultured clowns such as Platinum and snowflake clowns whose colorations could lead to difficulty in breeding and camouflage in the wild. Plus the fact that for generations these fish have not had to fend for themselves in the wild.