Spoke with Steve about it. He says it is captive raised from SE Asia, a generic TSN he calls it, doesn't know the species (sounds like doesn't want to know), so I must assume this is the same TSN that go for $15 at 2"-3" at most US fish shops. This one is 6"-7".
I asked about the size of the parents. He says doesn't know, doesn't get this info.
I said I am on a lookout for wild caught TSN. He says he gets them in regularly, a few times a year from South America of course.
I said how does he know they are w/c and not culled from farms?
He said verbatim: "South America has no grow out area everything from those areas are wild period. They catch and ship no farms there."
Me: "In all of South America?"
Steve: "Yes. Indo Thailand Asia are the exotic farms."
I typed a long text saying that there may not be ornamental fish farms in SA but we know for a fact there are food fish farms in SA, farming TSN, RTC, TSNxRTC, TSNxachara, etc.
Steve: "My exporters are collector only from South America."
After that we have, respectfully, remained at our disagreement: He says if he labels a TSN w/c, it is w/c, period. I say he has no way of verifying that other than trust his exporter in SA that the exporter is not cheating him.
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Whatcha ya'll think gang?
Why
ALL our TSN look the same (supposedly fasciatum-ish) and grow the same small (24"-30") and slow (2 years or longer to 2 feet) versus expectations?
Why go fish for TSN babies in the Amazon when there are millions of culls readily available almost for the asking and no one can prove the origin or the difference? Plus it skyrockets the profits: the cost of getting TSN babies from the wild is probably 10x-100x higher versus the farm refuse culls while the US importers pay the same ~$5 each.
With all due respect to Steve and other vendors defending their w/c TSN sources, I don't trust their SA collaborators.
fugupuff
Would be nice to hear your thoughts, Wes.