Fish in Captivity: The Moral Issue
- Thread starter AROWANA_KISS
- Start date
Arowana_kiss raises a very valid point in regards to wether keeping fish in captivity is morally correct or not , yes the post is somewhat long winded but i am glad i read it as it is something which i was concerned about myself a while back, maybe it is something we should all stop and think about for a whle.
guppy said:
I agree. The article was a little long, but brought up issues I have had to deal with from non-aquarists who had strong oppinions as to what I, and all of us are doing. Personally, I feel that if each keeper is well read in species they choose to house, is responsible in their keeping/breeding/rearing adventures, and learns from their mistakes, as not to repeat them carelessly just to have a "full" tank, then I don't see the issue. Like others have said, one day, some of these may no longer have a suitable "natural" environment in which to thrive, due mainly to human waste, and development of coastal areas, and inland marshes and lakes, etc. Further more, we as keepers can not be held accountable fully for how and where these animals are collected. All we can do as far as that goes, is try to only purchase from those who hold a basic economical respect. What people SHOULD be bit**ing about, is how many thousands of seahorses are caught and slaughtered each year for asian medicine trades. And how many Poachers are still hauling thousands of sharks world wide for finning. At least we respect, and adore what we keep, and usually, nothing makes us happier than when they breed -- so how are we wrong???? Thats politics for ya!!
--EMI
Moral issues for me =
GOOD:
Adequate & comfortable tank size for life of the fish.
Water quality/parameters met to accomodate the type of fish in question
i.e. no guilty feelings on my end as long as I did my research before investing in a new fish I've never kept before.
BAD:
Collection techniques:
I will not buy a fish that is highly endangered or has been collected in a way that is harmful to the environment. I urge all hobbyists to investigate this aspect and have a conscience, especially if you dabble in the Saltwater domain. It is my opinion that the problem is not the industry but us as consumers.
I hope it's ok to post this link to Reef Protection International. As the name implies, this is an organization with the goal to educate buyers and protect reef fish. If anyone knows of a freshwater version of an organizatin like this, let me know! LFSs hate me because I'm an advocate of ethical fish treatment.
www.reefprotect.org
GOOD:
Adequate & comfortable tank size for life of the fish.
Water quality/parameters met to accomodate the type of fish in question
i.e. no guilty feelings on my end as long as I did my research before investing in a new fish I've never kept before.
BAD:
Collection techniques:
I will not buy a fish that is highly endangered or has been collected in a way that is harmful to the environment. I urge all hobbyists to investigate this aspect and have a conscience, especially if you dabble in the Saltwater domain. It is my opinion that the problem is not the industry but us as consumers.
I hope it's ok to post this link to Reef Protection International. As the name implies, this is an organization with the goal to educate buyers and protect reef fish. If anyone knows of a freshwater version of an organizatin like this, let me know! LFSs hate me because I'm an advocate of ethical fish treatment.
www.reefprotect.org
The part about anthropomorphism was key. I have been in way too many arguments about that in the past with people, especially the, "don't keep him alone; he needs a friend to keep him company" story I get from some people.
As far as morality goes, I am only against the collection/distribution of fish whose needs can not typically be met in the aquarium. Aquarium Fish Magazine has a good article about some "Tough to Keep" marine fish, giving reasons why the average person shouldn't keep them (most seemed to be because of special dietary needs that are difficult to meet in the aquarium). Improper collection techniques are also an obvious concern.
As far as morality goes, I am only against the collection/distribution of fish whose needs can not typically be met in the aquarium. Aquarium Fish Magazine has a good article about some "Tough to Keep" marine fish, giving reasons why the average person shouldn't keep them (most seemed to be because of special dietary needs that are difficult to meet in the aquarium). Improper collection techniques are also an obvious concern.
