Some real discussion on tank stocking

[macman7010]

There have been some fires burning here on RC regarding tank stocking and what is and isn't ethical or appropriate. Sadly, what may be ethical to me or to you might not be ethical to a handful or even large variety of other people. Since marine fish are a natural resource and a very non-renewable one at that ethical aquarium keeping is an important corner stone of this hobby. I have gotten a lot of tripe for keeping densely stocked aquariums. Stocking isn't black nor white nor gray. The many 2" of fish to x amount of gallons rules suck and are inconclusive at best.

If we approach stocking like this:

A. Water Quality
B. Aggression Management
C. Fish Size and overall tank space
D. Compatibility of species
E. Tank Diversity
F. Parasite/Disease management

a clearer picture of stocking presents itself. One highly important issue is what will do with fish that outgrow our aquarium. Are we willing to upgrade tank size as our animals mature? Can we incorporate the laws of ecology into aquarium management?

 

[Samala]

Stocking has been approached in your A-F system for many years now. I remember discussions like this when I was first getting into marines in the mid 90s.

You do present one interesting thing though: what to do with fish that outgrow our aquaria. As far as I know many of the corals we keep can potentially outgrow our aquaria as could many of the mangrove species in the hobby and several of the fish and other invertebrates (Tridacna clams for instance).

Is it more a question of what to do when they outgrow us.. or a question of if we can maintain their health long enough for them to grow that large?

And.. if say we're keeping lions or eels or panther groupers.. what is our long term strategy for the big guys once they do get big?

>Sarah

 

[havingfunin08]

free willy...

 

[terimar]

Fish are a non-renewable resource? I disagree completely. Even reefs themselves are renewable given time. Look at Bikini Atoll, the site of all the nuclear bomb testing in the 40's and 50's. I recently read an article that spoke of the recovery of an amazing biodiversity there. The aquatic environment there has recovered far more than the terrestrial one. We are all entitled to our opinions but presenting them as fact does a great disservice. I completely agree that we must think about our stocking choices, but let's apply facts to the argument, and opinions to our own choices.

 

[plateboy3293]

I think macman is talking more about the fish that we don't breed in captivity for eventually the species will be depleted. If you have ever been to the Bronx Zoo in NY they have a gorlia exhibit with a board that tells you the human population compared to the congo gorlia. I always see the human population jump about 10or more every second. The gorlia population going down slowly but still never getting higher. I like more of an empty looking tank with a low stock. I currently only have one clownfish in my 120 gallon. She is Queen of the Reef.

 

[Samala]

Species become depleted when their "harvest" for commercial sources - like reef fish for our tanks - is unsustainable. Or more simply put, we take more from the population than the population can replace say from breeding.

Animals that have short generation times, produce large amounts of surviving young, and quickly mature - say some of the reef fishes we keep for instance - might have a fairly high sustainable harvest rate if they are able to maintain breeding and have access to adequate habitat.

Animals with long generation times, that produce only a few surviving young, and mature slowly - say for instance humans or gorillas or elephants - probably have a very low sustainable harvest rate.

A good example of slow maturation and long generation times is present in the orange roughy, a fish from the waters near Australia and New Zealand I believe.

I think we could definitely make an argument for whether or not the reef fish we buy have sustainable harvests or not. The question is who has done the research? Can we rely upon the data that has been generated? Who do we believe? And are there any organizations that have come up with suggestions that could help us make informed decisions about which fish are better than others for purchase and inclusion in our aquaria?

>Sarah