Industry must fund reform itself.

[Anonymous]

We hobbyists have already proven we're willing to pay more for healthy fish IMO.

NO! NO! NO!

You, and all internet savy Hobbyists, do not represent the average hobbyist. The true average hobbyist does not visit any of the online communities. The average hobbyist is the one who you see at every LFS across the nation trying to barter the price of a damsel fish.

well....

Puppy mills used to be a much bigger problem than they are today. What turned that arround? Most breaders will not even sell a pupy to someone who has not done thier homework. Would it hurt your businesses imensly if you handed a newbie a book instead of a fish?

puppy mills are still rampant around this country and doing quite well, mostly due to lack of manpower and enforcement capabilities, not unlike the mo biz :wink:

Oh, I hold no illusions that they have been stamped out, but they are not as prevalant as I recall. There has been some progress made there, and mostly through education.

<edit>
The LFS where I buy my fish will not even sell some species of marine fish, until the purchacer brings in a sample of thier tank water to be tested. (test is free of course), and they will produce test results for thier tank water at any given time. That at least shows some responsibility. If that kind of attitude could be carried over to other issues...
</edit>

That is pretty much standard for the stores around here. It just leads to another thing that customers expect for free.

 

[Anonymous]

We hobbyists have already proven we're willing to pay more for healthy fish IMO.

NO! NO! NO!

You, and all internet savy Hobbyists, do not represent the average hobbyist. The true average hobbyist does not visit any of the online communities. The average hobbyist is the one who you see at every LFS across the nation trying to barter the price of a damsel fish.

well....

Puppy mills used to be a much bigger problem than they are today. What turned that arround? Most breaders will not even sell a pupy to someone who has not done thier homework. Would it hurt your businesses imensly if you handed a newbie a book instead of a fish?

puppy mills are still rampant around this country and doing quite well, mostly due to lack of manpower and enforcement capabilities, not unlike the mo biz :wink:

Oh, I hold no illusions that they have been stamped out, but they are not as prevalant as I recall. There has been some progress made there, and mostly through education.

<edit>
The LFS where I buy my fish will not even sell some species of marine fish, until the purchacer brings in a sample of thier tank water to be tested. (test is free of course), and they will produce test results for thier tank water at any given time. That at least shows some responsibility. If that kind of attitude could be carried over to other issues...
</edit>

That is pretty much standard for the stores around here. It just leads to another thing that customers expect for free.

Oh no, if you just want your water checked then you have to pay. I supose some abuse that, but I hope that would be the minority. Besides, the owner and managers know thier steady customers prety well.