Should LFS be allowed to keep HARD fish?

[OnoIgotICH]

I live near an LFS that an owner very knowledgeable. He keeps Blue spotted sting rays and pinnatus batfish for his display. Sometimes he gets bashed for it, but he puts a time limit on the species. That it has to be in the store for a minimal of 6 months. Is this right? I just wanted peoples opinion on this.

I believe it is okay, The owner is knowledgeable and hes running a successful store with him and his family helping out on some days other than that hes the only one who works there. Its a small store. But is it right for him to even bring those type of species in, in the first place? He has been able to keep the species alive for at least 5 months on time now but what about the other LFS owners who kill them when they bring them in? Is there no "restricted" species list from distributors, to wholesalers, to retailers?

 

[KDodds]

Actually, if the LFS has room, I'd say more power to them if they can keep full grown batfish, rays, trevallies, etc. on display. Sort of as a deterrent, you know?

 

[Wrench]

Stores stock what sells. The reality is that most people are uneducated and the employees at these retail stores dont care to take the time to help the customers understand the basics. Stores are out to make money and unfortunately that is the bottom line. There are a few exceptions to the rule but these instances are few and far between.

 

[phish guy]

i can say, i work at a large chain pet store, and they definitleyonly care about sales. before they let me order the saltwater fish/inverts we where getting ones with very poor survival rates, and no other employees would ask questions about the persons tank to see if what they wanted would even go with what they had.

but i say as long as they can take care of ir, espcially if its for display purposes, its ok.

 

[new_world_disor]

any pics

 

[NewMariner]

Why wouldnt it be ok? If your arguement is that because they dont do well in captivity, then my arguement would be Horses didnt do well in captivity in the beginning either. Nor did dogs, cats, or any other domesticated animals.

We are just now trying to domesticate marine life. Sure there are going to be die offs, and casualties. However, us humans are changing our planet, and we need to help these marine animals change along with it or else we will loose them forever. So get them in a tank and try to keep them and domesticate them. Maybe one day we can reintroduce them back into the marine after the planet is stabilized...