Is fishkeeping cruel?

[OnceLoyal]

I was thinking a lot about this lately. The latest tank I set up (the 220) was cycled with feeders then I added some bluegills and largemouth bass. I rememebr many peole syaing they think it is cruel to take fish from the wild. The bluegills had anchorworm which spread to the bass. I cured them... How would they have taken care of that in nature? The bluegills are already begging for food and are not scared of my presence at all. They seem as intrested to check me out as I am to check them. They will never have to worry about predation. They have a doctor 24/7, clean water, plenty of live plants and more than enough food. Kinda like fish heaven.
My point is...........They seem very content. No signs of stress what so ever.
Fish such as most clowns will probably never live in a larger area larger than lets say a 125.
I would think if the fish seemed constantly stressed or hiding from you then he is pretty unhappy. Besides that my view on this subject is making a 180. SOrry to bring up a new thread about this. It just amazed me how fast the bluegills seemed to adjust.

 

[BushFishRox]

yes it is cruel... deliver your 150 to my house and I will relieve you from some of your sins.

 

[OnceLoyal]

 

[Spankbelly]

For sure it's cruel, in it's own way. But no more/not much more than what happens in nature.
Nature has a whole other set of cruelties waiting. (like man killing them for fun, for example)
It's not like you are keeping a herd of elephants in your garage. Don't do that.

 

[HandsomeDevil]

I often wonder about that myself, then I look at the shape that some of fish that are caught in the wild are in, torn fins, parasites, underfed etc. Then I look at the perfect fins on my fish and their big fat bellies and the lack of parasites. And I think to myself in the wild these guys would probably all be food for some other fish or another predator. SO if you keep the water clean and don't over stock and keep them well fed I think that our captive wards are probably very luck to have us.

 

[cichlid2006]

yes it is cruel... deliver your 150 to my house and I will relieve you from some of your sins.

lol worth a try.

as to the question hmmm. i think if your were to really think about it then it may possibly be cruel to take fish from the wild and place them into a limited space. but as you say some fish never leave territories larger than a 125 and they have food regularly, a doctor 24/7 etc as you say.
i think it may be a bit of both really. yes cruel to take them from the wild and lock them up in a glass cage and, at the same time,no it isnt cruel as they never have to starve, hunt, get sick and suffer till a predator gets them or the sickness does or be predated on.
i think there will never be a straight answer like the hybrids good or bad? debate. and i fear this thread may turn bad as some take the moral high ground and throw abuse around like its a dying art form. i hope this debate can stay civil.

 

[cichlaguapote]

It's not like you are keeping a herd of elephants in your garage. Don't do that.

So that's a no go on the herd of elephants in the garage?

Fishkeeping is cruel in the act itself esp. if you look at it from a 1 dimensional point of view. It then looks like you're confining fish to a box and they're miserable. But viewing the big picture most fish IMO don't have enough feelings to be sad. I would assume their main concerns in life are predators/food.

 

[Onion01]

So that's a no go on the herd of elephants in the garage?

Fishkeeping is cruel in the act itself esp. if you look at it from a 1 dimensional point of view. It then looks like you're confining fish to a box and they're miserable. But viewing the big picture most fish IMO don't have enough feelings to be sad. I would assume their main concerns in life are predators/food.

no preds, lot's of food, clean water, room to move...what else do fish need? Definitely not cruel if done right

 

[cichlaguapote]

no preds, lot's of food, clean water, room to move...what else do fish need? Definitely not cruel if done right

I meant if you ask a real hippy or animal rights person who thinks everything should be free to roam... lol

 

[HPIZZLE]

good topic.
one of lifes great myteries.





ok, maybe not "great" or "life" but its still a mystery.