Do you think fish keeping might be a bit cruel.

[Bigpig]

It could be argued that wild caught fish are actually better for the hobby. If people are catching fish for the aquarium industry, they will need to take a keen interest in their environment around them in order to maintain their livelyhood. If they are forced to seek employment elsewhere it is likely that the habitats of the native fish will be altered thereby affecting the animals living in these environments.

With the high prices being paid for certain wild caught species, do you really think people are taking "a keen interest in their environment"?.
I suspect that most people are going for the quick money, and as often the people doing the actual collecting are from poor countries, who can blame them for cashing in.
Once when I was on a trip to Borneo, I asked a local man what he thought about the deforestation of the jungle, and what would happen in the future when the trees were gone. He replied " but the people are hungry today".
Again look at the recent case of the Galaxy Rasbora; New fish, big craze for it, high prices, decimated in the wild!
Just think from your own experience of the human race, when it comes to making money, do people think of the long term care of the enviroment or go for the money?

[Bas Pels]

Although the objections are real, I don't think they apply often.

The galaxy rasbora was a very exeptional case: very beautiful, and a very limited area, which, I think, was accesible.

Many new species will also have limited areas (if not, they would have been 'discovered' before) but most will not be this accessible, and many species of fish are just brown and gray

looking at the way the profit for a fish is distributed:

A 40 euro fish will most likely have been bought by a fish store for 13 euro, of which 8 went into transportation and customs and taxes.

Out of the remaining 5 euros for the exporter the local population who did the collecting will recieve 1 euro at most, the rest goes to the exporter, the buyers who visit the collectors and any other middlemen

This 1 euro is a lot of money for these people, but not so much that it is worth the strange things happening with, for instance, parrots (people looking for nests, where the chicks are taken from before flying, smuggling in bras and so on)

In fact, I think Gozza is right

[apistomaster]

Only much less than 5% of all fish sold are wild caught. The harvest of wild fish rarely effects the population.
White clouds went extinct in the wild due to development causing loss of their habitat.
Galaxy Rasboras turned out to be much more wide spread than originally thought and are not endangered. They are also easily bred so most of those now being sold are tank raised.

This is an old subject and best left to each one's sensibilities of what is "right" or "cruel."
All forms of fishing are a blood "sport" so some losses are inevitable. Once the fish have entered the trade it is all parties' best interest to minimize the losses. The ability of fishes to replace themselves in the wild is in far excess of our ability to deplete the resources. The far greater threats are environmental degradation such as that caused by building hydroelectric dams on the rivers from which our fish come.

[macvsog23]

Only much less than 5% of all fish sold are wild caught. The harvest of wild fish rarely effects the population.
White clouds went extinct in the wild due to development causing loss of their habitat.
Galaxy Rasboras turned out to be much more wide spread than originally thought and are not endangered. They are also easily bred so most of those now being sold are tank raised.

This is an old subject and best left to each one's sensibilities of what is "right" or "cruel."
All forms of fishing are a blood "sport" so some losses are inevitable. Once the fish have entered the trade it is all parties' best interest to minimize the losses. The ability of fishes to replace themselves in the wild is in far excess of our ability to deplete the resources. The far greater threats are environmental degradation such as that caused by building hydroelectric dams on the rivers from which our fish come.

Your line "The ability of fishes to replace themselves in the wild is in far excess of our ability to deplete the resources"
Is in my opinion not true unless i am mis reading it

[crkinney]

Cruel I tend to think not.The three hoplo's in my tank came from a ditch in the woods that was dry one week later,If left like many of it's brothers they be came food for the birds or coons.I am sure that the few fish I bought from Walmart are a little better of now that I have learned a little on fish keeping form you guy's.Before my excursion into fish keeping all the fish thet came into my house ended up in a skilett[frying pan]
Becareful with this kinda thread ,In the USA we have PETA they will do their best to outlaw anything that has to do with our furry or fishy friends .Like to fish, nope hurts the fish ,eat chicken,nope hurts the chicken, drink milk nope cold hands on cow tits make cow shiver .Just try to think of anything to do with animals and they hate it.
woops there I go again on a rant sorry but you guys started it
P.E.T.A. [PEOPLE EATING TASTEY ANIMALS]

WATCHING MY FISH KEEP ME SANE

[grokefish]

****stuff*****

drink milk nope cold hands on cow tits make cow shiver .


****Other stuff****

Lol

Edit:

Oh and MEGABUMP!!!!

[andywoolloo]