fish collection

[justinl]

Originally Posted by Trigger Man

Just think by keeping fish in you tank you a saving them from the posibillity of being attacked and killed by pretators. Atleast in the tank they will always get a good meal!

true, but let us focus on the ocean inhabitants as a whole. say you "save" (arguably) an anthias. what about the predator that would have eaten this anthias when it got old an tired? you just deprived another fish of a meal which really negates your argument. and then think about how many fish had to die before yours reached your tank and survived (depending on mortality during collection, shipping, handling, and storage in the store). Ive actually wondered... just how many live animals die during transit alone due to incompetence by delivery companies? I ask you to think about it because, in all honesty, i don't want to. I admit this hobby is my guilty vice (or at least one of them) and I have no reason or excuse to justify it. they're just pretty and i like watching them and knowing i am doing my best to care for them.

edit: when buying, I do try to buy livestock from other reefers rather than from a store where i know it just came out of the ocean... for the environment's sake, as well as the peace of mind that livestock from an established system is less likely to die or bring in weird parasites into my tank.