Why the Monsters? Is It Ethical?

[cchhcc]

See here is where opinions vary.

IMO for an arowana to really be happy it would take more then a 5' diameter tub. More like a 20' diameter pond with an abundance of overhanging tree branches and floating plants. These branches and plants would be stocked with part of it's food source. These fish are naturally jumpers and suppressing that would really keep them from being happy.

Now is this practical, no? So the aro gets the 5' tub. Space wise it is better then the 18" wide tank, but both are definitely lacking in providing anything near a natural environment.

BUT, wouldn't we all agree that it would be a much better situation if all Aro keepers had at least the 300 stock tank at their disposal rather than the "I plan on getting a bigger tank" excuse? Even then, the 20" Aro wouldn't be 20" for long, so your suggestion is much more in line with keeping an Aro for life.

 

[packer43064]

BUT, wouldn't we all agree that it would be a much better situation if all Aro keepers had at least the 300 stock tank at their disposal rather than the "I plan on getting a bigger tank" excuse? Even then, the 20" Aro wouldn't be 20" for long, so your suggestion is much more in line with keeping an Aro for life.

But seriously who has this 300 stock tank at their disposal. Yes some can get it but most can't. So just because My aro will be kept in a 125 until 20 inches does this mean I shouldn't even get it since I'm using the whole "I'll upgrade when it get's big" logic.

 

[sandtiger]

But seriously who has this 300 stock tank at their disposal. Yes some can get it but most can't. So just because My aro will be kept in a 125 until 20 inches does this mean I shouldn't even get it since I'm using the whole "I'll upgrade when it get's big" logic.

Honestly I am a strong supporter of getting the tank first and the fish later. If you buy the proper sized tank to begin with you have nothing to worry about but if you buy the fish first any number of events could happen that would prevent you from upgrading the tank. I know its not the sort of thing people want to hear and I've certainly done my share of needed upgrades so its not like I'm not guilty of doing the same thing, its just not the responsible thing to do. If you're going to have to upgrade eventually anyway you might as well start off with the right size tank to begin with and save yourself the added hassle.

 

[---XR---]

I think about this every time I see a GATF thread.

agree

Look at the length of time most people stay in the hobby, in one month, buy up all the fad fish next month, and out six months later. For many this hobby is a fad, nothing more.

They have no real love for the fish, just the attention they receive by buying the "in fish" and attempts to bond with others on the internet. Two months after they abandon their fish they are caught up in the next six month "love".

You can tell the real fish keepers here, just look around.

All the "in and out fish keepers" have to have the monster fish, it draws more attention for them, and that is what they crave.............attention.

agree

 

[dogofwar]

I'm actually pretty conflicted on this one.

One one level, fish are food...and the vast majority of "monster" sized fish that come into contact with humans are killed (unceremoniously) and eaten.

So keeping a fish in a too small tank and it living something less than its full life and otherwise not living a "natural" life doesn't really bother me.

On the other hand, I believe that there's a certain level of obligation or responsibility that goes with acquiring an animal as a pet...whether the animal is a dog, a fish, or a monkey. Adequately housing some animals requires a lot more than adequately housing others.

I don't keep p-bass, pacus, pimas, RTCs, arros, etc. because I simply don't have the MONSTER tanks that I would need for them. My largest tanks are ONLY 125g.

While I'm certainly not one of those reflexive "a 55g for a single oscar is torture" people, I know that properly caring for some fish requires tanks an order of magnitude above what I can provide. So I don't buy certain fish.

So does that make me a hypocrite when I say that it doesn't bother me when I hear about someone eating their "pet" pacu?

 

[packer43064]

Honestly I am a strong supporter of getting the tank first and the fish later. If you buy the proper sized tank to begin with you have nothing to worry about but if you buy the fish first any number of events could happen that would prevent you from upgrading the tank. I know its not the sort of thing people want to hear and I've certainly done my share of needed upgrades so its not like I'm not guilty of doing the same thing, its just not the responsible thing to do. If you're going to have to upgrade eventually anyway you might as well start off with the right size tank to begin with and save yourself the added hassle.

I agree with getting the biggest tank possible at first. But with this bigger tank it might make things worse. Say you just buy a silver aro(they get Monster, so I might as well just keep using this fish for example) that is just a wee lil 3 incher. Would you want this little guy in a 300 stock tank where it might not even be able to find food, will probaly be stressed out and just totally lost in a tank of this size, nor would us fish keepers even see it in that case. Or would it feel safer in a 55 where it could easily access food. Just a thought.

It also falls on the owner if they will actually upgrade or not. I don't think we should stop people from purchasing fish just because they don't have that 300 stock tank ready to go for their Silver aro. All we can do is try and persuade them to buy the biggest tank they possible can at the moment. Of course if someone can barely afford a 55 right now, then they shouldn't even be looking at purchasing an aro of any kind.

I can't upgrade my tanks nor get anymore. Parents won't let me with the 4 tanks I already have. They said I can get a new tank only if I take one out. Which is no biggie, the 125 will be upgraded to a 180 and just take it's place. Even a 180 is no good for a full grown Silver aro, but it'll do until another upgrade which is fine with me and I doubt the silver would mind a bigger tank. Which goes back to person opinion again. But I fully agree with the buy the absolute biggest tank possible. If you can afford a 300 at first go for it, but if you know you can afford and get a 90 for cheap and you are willing to upgrade and take care of this fish which can live for 15+ plus years then go and get ur baby Aro. Plus their cute when babies, lol.

 

[dogofwar]

I don't think that adequately caring for a "monster" sized fish = having a big tank.

It's having the facilities for the fish's needs.

For example, it's inevitable that big central american cichlids will pound each other from time to time...so having only a single tank (and no back-up for fish that need to be isolated or recover) seems like a recipe for disaster....to say nothing of facilities for quarantine.

I agree with getting the biggest tank possible at first. But with this bigger tank it might make things worse. Say you just buy a silver aro(they get Monster, so I might as well just keep using this fish for example) that is just a wee lil 3 incher. Would you want this little guy in a 300 stock tank where it might not even be able to find food, will probaly be stressed out and just totally lost in a tank of this size, nor would us fish keepers even see it in that case. Or would it feel safer in a 55 where it could easily access food. Just a thought.

It also falls on the owner if they will actually upgrade or not. I don't think we should stop people from purchasing fish just because they don't have that 300 stock tank ready to go for their Silver aro. All we can do is try and persuade them to buy the biggest tank they possible can at the moment. Of course if someone can barely afford a 55 right now, then they shouldn't even be looking at purchasing an aro of any kind.

I can't upgrade my tanks nor get anymore. Parents won't let me with the 4 tanks I already have. They said I can get a new tank only if I take one out. Which is no biggie, the 125 will be upgraded to a 180 and just take it's place. Even a 180 is no good for a full grown Silver aro, but it'll do until another upgrade which is fine with me and I doubt the silver would mind a bigger tank. Which goes back to person opinion again. But I fully agree with the buy the absolute biggest tank possible. If you can afford a 300 at first go for it, but if you know you can afford and get a 90 for cheap and you are willing to upgrade and take care of this fish which can live for 15+ plus years then go and get ur baby Aro. Plus their cute when babies, lol.

 

[cchhcc]

It's just amazing how people justify their desire to keep whatever they want with no concern for their animals.

"Most people would love to have a bigger tank, but just can't afford one." THEN DON'T GET A MONSTER FISH!

What are you going to do with your Aro when it outgrows it's tank (and 20" in an 18" wide tank is inarguably, for reasonable people, not a good fit)?

 

[mkman]

do you work for PETA?

 

[cchhcc]

do you work for PETA?

F&%$ NO!

Hahaha!

I just think it's ridiculous that we have a mortality rate for large fish right around 99% prior to maturity. And rather than address that factually, we come up with nonsensical excuses that ultimately make the situation worse. It is flat out selfish to acquire a fish that you know you won't be able to ultimately take care of. It would be hard to blame those who simply don't know what they have, but to knowingly purchase a fish that can grow eight feet long it delusional at best, selfish and pathetic at worst.