Fish in Captivity: The Moral Issue
- Thread starter AROWANA_KISS
- Start date
i dont think its wrong to keep fish as i know from my point of view if i own a certain fish i know its happy as its being looked after well. the bred fish dont know any different and the captured fish are not going to end up extinct in the wild just because a few have been plucked out to be looked after by us. im going on abit but basically KEEPING FISH CANT BE WRONG WHEN IT FEELS SO RIGHT!!!
Good post,
When I first read the topic my reaction was "Oh brother" but your post was well reasoned. I don't really look at fishkeeping as a "moral" issue, but I am a person with a deep seated love of the outdoors and nature so I want to make sure that my practices are responsible. I'm currently keeping natives that I collected in the wild from populations that can easily support collection, or fishing for food.
As to fish "happiness", animals are driven by 3 strong instincts, survival, food, and reproduction. In different animals these instincts take differing levels of priority. I think if you are providing your fish with a healthy environment, and feeding them well they are going to be pretty healty and stress free. In the aquarium meals come much more regularly than in the wild without having to compete for them, predation and security isn't an issue, reproduction simply depend on us providing them a mate and proper conditions. I really don't think the fish cares if it's in a tank or a stream as long as it's primary instinctual drives are satisfied.
When I first read the topic my reaction was "Oh brother" but your post was well reasoned. I don't really look at fishkeeping as a "moral" issue, but I am a person with a deep seated love of the outdoors and nature so I want to make sure that my practices are responsible. I'm currently keeping natives that I collected in the wild from populations that can easily support collection, or fishing for food.
As to fish "happiness", animals are driven by 3 strong instincts, survival, food, and reproduction. In different animals these instincts take differing levels of priority. I think if you are providing your fish with a healthy environment, and feeding them well they are going to be pretty healty and stress free. In the aquarium meals come much more regularly than in the wild without having to compete for them, predation and security isn't an issue, reproduction simply depend on us providing them a mate and proper conditions. I really don't think the fish cares if it's in a tank or a stream as long as it's primary instinctual drives are satisfied.
Interesting article, reads like it belongs in a science journal or some sort though. I could type my opinion but it's the same as what others have already posted so I won't bother. Interestingly though I have never been approached and criticized for keeping fish in captivity. Doesn't seem to be an issue in my neck of the woods. My ferrets though, I have been approached about keeping them. *shrug*
Good post!
I think man has a responsibility to be good stewards of nature.
I am also an avid hunter, but I do not kill (harvest) an animal just for the thrill of it, I always eat what I harvest. Hunting is also a very heavily governed sport with very complex rules that are different for every state. The government also regulates the number of animals harvested and most even track location of harvest, size of animal etc... All of the regulation is due to the previous idiots who abused this sport. The same regulation could be imposed to the Aquarium hobby if it is abused.
I believe an animal is just as well off with a responsible pet owner as it is in it's natural environment.
I think man has a responsibility to be good stewards of nature.
I am also an avid hunter, but I do not kill (harvest) an animal just for the thrill of it, I always eat what I harvest. Hunting is also a very heavily governed sport with very complex rules that are different for every state. The government also regulates the number of animals harvested and most even track location of harvest, size of animal etc... All of the regulation is due to the previous idiots who abused this sport. The same regulation could be imposed to the Aquarium hobby if it is abused.
I believe an animal is just as well off with a responsible pet owner as it is in it's natural environment.
I've actually sort of thought about this before...not b/c of food,predators, or water quality, but because of space. Even if we provide the fish with "enough" space(for example, people here recommend 75g for an adult oscar), that tank is still sort of like a big prison. An upgrade from a 10g tank to a 100g can't really replicate the gallons of water available to fish in the wild.
We can't prove that an oscar will be happy being in a piece of glass for 10+ years, nor can we prove that the oscar won't be happy. I think the best we can do is to try to make the fish as happy as possible by giving them what they definitely need, such as food, clean water, and biggest tank size we can afford. The fish grow and thrive and in return we get the good looking fish that we want, so both benefit.
Buying only captive bred vs buying wild caught, and fish in tanks vs fish left in the wild is just a matter of opinion, sort of like how some people eat meat, while some people believe that eating animals are cruel and resort to being a vegeterian.
Just my uneducated opinion...
We can't prove that an oscar will be happy being in a piece of glass for 10+ years, nor can we prove that the oscar won't be happy. I think the best we can do is to try to make the fish as happy as possible by giving them what they definitely need, such as food, clean water, and biggest tank size we can afford. The fish grow and thrive and in return we get the good looking fish that we want, so both benefit.
Buying only captive bred vs buying wild caught, and fish in tanks vs fish left in the wild is just a matter of opinion, sort of like how some people eat meat, while some people believe that eating animals are cruel and resort to being a vegeterian.
Just my uneducated opinion...
I find it a bit odd that its being discussed here.
I mean, I could understand on the crazy whacko PETA's site.
but not here.
if anyone objects to keep fishing based on moral objections they probably should be at another board
I mean, I think we all have a responsibility to our pets that we try and give them the best possible care.
but as far as not keeping fish at all based on moral reasons, well, I don't agree. obviously. Im on MFK!
12 Volt Man;3298703; said:I find it a bit odd that its being discussed here.
I mean, I could understand on the crazy whacko PETA's site.
but not here.
if anyone objects to keep fishing based on moral objections they probably should be at another board
I mean, I think we all have a responsibility to our pets that we try and give them the best possible care.
but as far as not keeping fish at all based on moral reasons, well, I don't agree. obviously. Im on MFK!
I agree well said, I was thinking the same thing
