Know your Fish Requirements.....

[piranhapat]

Lately, I've been seeing photos of tanks. Having a hard time understanding why people are buying a fish that needs a bigger tank. It is our response ability to place him in proper tank size. Or just not buy that fish. Do we know the requirements for that fish. Who's at fault here? Are we becoming to demanding and less careing for fish. Is LFS asking us some question? I just hope we start understanding more about the fish we buy. We just don't realize how much it took for that fish to get to your LFS. And than be place in wrong tank or over crowded tank too. How many own a tang and what size tank is he in.

 

[Waleedwale1]

I think people just got tired of being told ridiculous tank requirements for fish and just bought fish they liked reguardless of tank requirements figuring that they can sell it when it gets to large. There's been a lot of fish for sale lately.

 

[edd]

i have an achilles, chevron and a purple in a 150, shortly into a 300. i feed 2x a day.
tank size is one thing what about people feeding every 2-3 days so they can have cleaner water. i think its cruel, its one thing we put them in smaller quarters then their used to but at least feed them.

 

[NYreefNoob]

i wont even get started on this subject. other then saying it isnt the fishstores responsibility.

 

[rookie07]

I think it is the fish stores responsibility to inform customers of requirements. With that said, it is in the best interest of fish stores to properly understand what type of setup the customer has so they can point customers in the right direction... This should also boost sales of livestock and equipment for the store. The same way a car salesman figures out a customers needs and wants.

 

[NYreefNoob]

from experiance, customers dont want to hear it and still buy what they want. buying from a fishstore is no different then anything else you go to purchase

 

[piranhapat]

I couldn't agree more with Rookie07. LFS should at least give some kind of information about requirements of that fish. If the person doesn't want to hear it. Either he knows about fish or doesn't care about fish. A lot of people don't know better and that is a big problem with this hobby. Everybody just wants to full their tanks and put fish right into. If it doesn't start where the fish is sold. Than we better become more knowledgable before we buy a fish. All I read about is stressed and sick fish. So it's still happening even with the resource we have. If demand is high on getting more and more fish. We better start breeding more species before it gets harder to get. Because soon the prices of fish is going to go up. Because its going to get harder for our LFS to get.

 

[MIKE NY]

Pat this is a trend I've been noticing in recent years as more species of fish and coral become available...many just purchase coral and fish just because they are pretty and have no idea of the requirements to keep them and use what I call the dump and pray method...hoping they will survive. Is it the responsibility of the salesperson at the LFS to inform them...maybe, but a true hobbiest will have done his/her research and avoid the impulse buy not knowing the requirements to keep them...there is more than just qood water and lights.

 

[jdino]

I find this entire thread to be obnoxious. It appears to be from an elitist, superior mentality. Seriously if anyone truly cared about these fish and corals they would never take them out of their true habitat. Face it every hobbyist is going to go through a learning curve and lose some fish and corals. To suggest that someone is irresponsible because they purchased a fish that will outgrow their tank is at best, hypocritical by any collector. I am certain that no one on this site has never had to deal with issues that caused them to lose one or more fish. It happens because all we do is attempt to mimic, as close as possible, the natural environment the fish came from. The fish we all collect and admire are like ornaments or pictures and if that's not true then the only way we can keep them alive and well is to leave them where they came from. So I say buy what you like, do your best to keep them safe. If they get to big, sell or trade them. But don't pretend to be the superior consciousness of the hobby. Unless you have never lost a fish...

 

[66rick]

well said jdino i couldnt agree with you more!!!!!

 

[NYreefNoob]

no obnoxious is the reefer that just feels that it ok to just buy anything without any common knowledge or research of livestock they plan to purchase. but yet would do research on buying a dog or a cat. there are just some species that dont belong in a small tank. to buy a tang or any tang for a 24g tank isnt right.

losing a fish has nothing to do with ability to keep fish and or keep for a long time. you could buy a fish that has a internal parasite that takes weeks before it dies. Or you could buy 3-5 tangs because they are pretty and watch them stress each other out because they truelly dont have room to swim or hide or graze and watch them starve to death. Or they just kill each other off. As someone who has been in the hobby along time and has seen alot of different facits of the hobby from hobbiest to mantainance to retail. It's hobby that have that type of mentallity that are the one's destroying the hobby. Those of us who try to inform then un-informed are the bad guys ? come on.. Do you know depths or requirements for each of the fish in your tank ? do you know the differance in keeping a deeper water species fish from a swallow water fish ? or a fish that lives in the reefs versus one's that dont ?
im not pretending to know it all or everything. But i do my research and have done so, as well as had many convo's with fellow reefers on different species or fish as well as corals. So before you go pointing your finger at those who try to inform or give advice. maybe you ought to sit back and do a little research.

Some of you know where i work. and i do my best to ask questions and give advice or what you can and cant keep with certain species, what has a good survival rate and what doesnt. i will even tell people the couple fish that are my weakness in trying to keep. that i no longer will try.

For some this isnt a hobby, this is a life style and a dedication to providing the best possible life span for what we do purchase

 

[jdino]

Sorry I fail to see any "advise" in the above posts. Seems more like judgement by some based on pictures or other "advise seeking posts". Your statement "maybe you ought to sit back and do a little research", is based on no knowledge on what someone may or may not do. You clearly have made my point.

 

[Dre]

There are signs that are obvious if and when a fish is getting too big for a tank. Aggression towards tank mates, stunted growth and the fish having difficulty maneuvering. Most people will sell, trade or give away the fish before it get injured or injure something else. I think adding too much fish is a bigger problem. Some people don't know when to stop.

 

[MIKE NY]

I'm going to make a statement I think we can all agree upon....knowledge and experience will go a long way in keeping these delicate animals healthy long term..I think the point Pat is trying make is people are making purchases without either. Do fish/coral die ..absolutely for whatever reason, sometimes unknown reasons, but with information and learned experiences we give them a better chance at survival long term.

 

[NYreefNoob]

Sorry I fail to see any "advise" in the above posts

your right i didnt give advice, cause a question wasnt asked.

is people are making purchases without either

you are a 100% correct and thats what i was getting at. but hey if it wasnt for those who dont listen, learn and research we will keep pulling fish out of the ocean to supply them.

 

[NYreefNoob]

I think adding too much fish is a bigger problem. Some people don't know when to stop

fully agree with you here. i get a different point of view from being in the business. i try to advise customers on this and always say id rather you buy one fish today and be back in a couple weeks for another, then to sell you 6 fish today and see your tank f/s on craigslist in 6 months because you cant figure out why it just isnt working

 

[duke62]

I find this entire thread to be obnoxious. It appears to be from an elitist, superior mentality. Seriously if anyone truly cared about these fish and corals they would never take them out of their true habitat. Face it every hobbyist is going to go through a learning curve and lose some fish and corals. To suggest that someone is irresponsible because they purchased a fish that will outgrow their tank is at best, hypocritical by any collector. I am certain that no one on this site has never had to deal with issues that caused them to lose one or more fish. It happens because all we do is attempt to mimic, as close as possible, the natural environment the fish came from. The fish we all collect and admire are like ornaments or pictures and if that's not true then the only way we can keep them alive and well is to leave them where they came from. So I say buy what you like, do your best to keep them safe. If they get to big, sell or trade them. But don't pretend to be the superior consciousness of the hobby. Unless you have never lost a fish...

Need a bit more research. Worst comment ive seen in a long time

 

[Dre]

Back to the Tangs, i don't even know how to respond without specifics but It seem this kind of topic never stay dead. Anyway most people don't know that some tangs stay in small tidal pools in the early stages of their lives. We over crowd our tanks in a way never seen in nature but no one raise an eyebrow. I think all reefers should take a vacation to the tropics and see the things we love so much in their natural habitat. You'll have a brighter picture of the hobby...

 

[Zig]

Buying a fish with out research is worse than buying a car, house, appliances or even a tv with out looking into what you are about to buy Which Noone does, so it's got nothing to do with elitism just plain common sense.

 

[jdino]

Zig I think you misunderstood my point. I am well aware that this is a science and we need to research what we do and how we do it. I also believe very strongly in learning from people with experience that have been there before. My point is that the thread was about conclusions based on zero fact. You can't assume anything from looking at a persons posted photo or make a judgement on what you believe a person has or has not researched. I learned much from listening to others. Sometimes you also can learn people are trying to impress you or even show their superiority my putting someone else down. Either way enjoy the hobby or lifestyle as stated above. Btw buying a fish without research is worse then buying a car or a house. That's hilarious.