Thanks neo for letting this thread appear at MFK.
I am a new member. One with an agenda. An agenda that is being discussed, and hopefully acted upon, at dozens of sites across the web.
Responsible fishkeeping is the agenda item. Accuracy In Information is the rallying cry. Sending letters to PetSmart is the desired action.
Our passion has seen a fundamental shift in how fish are sold to the hobby and the general public. The dynamic has changed. The days of hanging out at the lfs are goneas are many of the local fish stores. Tropical Fish have become a general consumer product. Bred at farms, shipped across continents in bulk, and distributed through mass merchandisers.
Responsible husbandry appears to have taken a back seat to margins and profit. The information provided to hobbyists is often wrong and misleading. The aquaria established are artificial environments. Captive environments. Created with little or no understanding of the needs on their inhabitants.
When health issues eruptas they always dothe consumer often returns to the source of the problem seeking advice to solve the mystery of diseased, dying, and dead fish. The retailers sell a temporary fix in the form of this medication or that. They also sell more fish. Fish that are destined to meet the same end as their predecessors,
It is a problem. Many of us have spent years on-line offering advice to hobbyists to correct the problems they encounter. We break down the inch per gallon myth. We destroy the surface area stocking calculations. We help others understand the true nature and characteristics of their fish. We talk about tank size, stocking requirements and décor. We spend our time teaching responsible husbandry.
The problems at the retail level encompass every aspect of fishkeeping. Products are sold and profits generated because of the misinformation provided at the first and most fundamental step of fishkeeping: The purchase of livestock. Consumers trust retailers. They rely on retailers to help them do what is right. That trust is what permits the perpetuation of problems. Problems for the hobbyist. Profits for the retailers.
Accuracy In Information. It starts at the tanks in the retail environment. Point-Of-Purchase Signage purportedly displays everything the new and less knowledgeable hobbyist needs to know to care for their fish. Too often the information is simply wrong. Or, at the very least misleading. This information is the baseline for tank stocking and fish care utilized by both the consumer and the armies of retail staff when discussing and keeping fish.
It is a small part of the problem. But, it is an easily isolated and defined problem. And, it is a very visible problem. Members of several on-line communities have come together to ask all keepers of fish to help solve this problem. We are asking experienced fishkeepers to help the less knowledgeable by simply letting their voice be heard by retailers. We are asking fishkeepers to utilize e.mail and snail mail to send letters asking that this misinformation be corrected.
We are asking that a very specific retailer be the target of the letter campaign. Not because they are irresponsible. Rather, because they are the leader in the retail Pet industry. They are publicly committed to the promotion of Responsible Husbandry and Animal Welfare. We think they will listen. We think they will take the steps to correct the problem in their stores. And, when they doother retailers will more willingly follow.
Send letters to PetSmart.
www.noclownsinacube.net is a site we have established to assist people in understanding our goals and objectives. It is designed as a single topic site. We have no desire to become an on-line fishkeeping community. At the same time it will help keep the activities in a public eye. Take the time to visit the site. You will see sample letters that can be utilized. You will find mailing and e.mail addresses. You can see the responses from PetSmart as they occur. And, you will be able to share your ideas for what is required to accomplish the first and future steps to establish a retail environment that promotes Responsible Fishkeeping.
I am a new member. One with an agenda. An agenda that is being discussed, and hopefully acted upon, at dozens of sites across the web.
Responsible fishkeeping is the agenda item. Accuracy In Information is the rallying cry. Sending letters to PetSmart is the desired action.
Our passion has seen a fundamental shift in how fish are sold to the hobby and the general public. The dynamic has changed. The days of hanging out at the lfs are goneas are many of the local fish stores. Tropical Fish have become a general consumer product. Bred at farms, shipped across continents in bulk, and distributed through mass merchandisers.
Responsible husbandry appears to have taken a back seat to margins and profit. The information provided to hobbyists is often wrong and misleading. The aquaria established are artificial environments. Captive environments. Created with little or no understanding of the needs on their inhabitants.
When health issues eruptas they always dothe consumer often returns to the source of the problem seeking advice to solve the mystery of diseased, dying, and dead fish. The retailers sell a temporary fix in the form of this medication or that. They also sell more fish. Fish that are destined to meet the same end as their predecessors,
It is a problem. Many of us have spent years on-line offering advice to hobbyists to correct the problems they encounter. We break down the inch per gallon myth. We destroy the surface area stocking calculations. We help others understand the true nature and characteristics of their fish. We talk about tank size, stocking requirements and décor. We spend our time teaching responsible husbandry.
The problems at the retail level encompass every aspect of fishkeeping. Products are sold and profits generated because of the misinformation provided at the first and most fundamental step of fishkeeping: The purchase of livestock. Consumers trust retailers. They rely on retailers to help them do what is right. That trust is what permits the perpetuation of problems. Problems for the hobbyist. Profits for the retailers.
Accuracy In Information. It starts at the tanks in the retail environment. Point-Of-Purchase Signage purportedly displays everything the new and less knowledgeable hobbyist needs to know to care for their fish. Too often the information is simply wrong. Or, at the very least misleading. This information is the baseline for tank stocking and fish care utilized by both the consumer and the armies of retail staff when discussing and keeping fish.
It is a small part of the problem. But, it is an easily isolated and defined problem. And, it is a very visible problem. Members of several on-line communities have come together to ask all keepers of fish to help solve this problem. We are asking experienced fishkeepers to help the less knowledgeable by simply letting their voice be heard by retailers. We are asking fishkeepers to utilize e.mail and snail mail to send letters asking that this misinformation be corrected.
We are asking that a very specific retailer be the target of the letter campaign. Not because they are irresponsible. Rather, because they are the leader in the retail Pet industry. They are publicly committed to the promotion of Responsible Husbandry and Animal Welfare. We think they will listen. We think they will take the steps to correct the problem in their stores. And, when they doother retailers will more willingly follow.
Send letters to PetSmart.
www.noclownsinacube.net is a site we have established to assist people in understanding our goals and objectives. It is designed as a single topic site. We have no desire to become an on-line fishkeeping community. At the same time it will help keep the activities in a public eye. Take the time to visit the site. You will see sample letters that can be utilized. You will find mailing and e.mail addresses. You can see the responses from PetSmart as they occur. And, you will be able to share your ideas for what is required to accomplish the first and future steps to establish a retail environment that promotes Responsible Fishkeeping.
