I think domesticated animals are different. It would be really frowned upon to buy and sell dogs or cats in the way people buy, sell and trade fish. Not to mention fish mortality rates are quite high but people tend to consider them replaceable. I don’t think you’d keep buying Golden Retrievers if they kept dying in your back yard.

My point is, this makes them much less like pets and more like commodities.

I consider my porcupine puffer a pet but I’m not sure I can say the same about some of my other fish. I care a great deal about them because they’re a life which I chose to be responsible for but I’m not sure I feel the same way about them as I do about my dog.

The interesting part is even with prices so high, J&L is the busiest its ever been. I talked to one of the employees last week and they said they've never been busier. So even with insane prices, we're all still buying more than ever before. Personally i think covid has a lot to do with this, i'm working from home so see the tank way more and really have no vacations to look forward to, no concerts to go to, nothing to do so when i see a torch coral for $160, even though it kills me to do it, i buy it cause i have the disposible income right now.

DISPOSABLE INCOME??? what the heck is that lol. geeze I make great money and im still broke this day and age