Responsible Husbandry
Some fish can live 35 or more years. That is a big commitment for a fish buyer to make. Shouldn't that commitment be known up front?
Everyone has a general idea about the proper care of dogs and cats. Four-legged pets surrounded us as we grew up. Many of us enjoyed the company of cats and dogs as our own family pets. We learned by being around them. They romped the open spaces in the yards and fields. They raced the hallways of our homes. They enjoyed the same spaces we did.
Fish? They were different. We won them at fairs and took them home in little bowls. We fed them and changed their water every now and again and then disposed of them when they died. Fish were around us. But, they were not the same. They were not the woof and warp of the fabric of our lives. We knew little about aquatic environments. We knew less about the fish that lived in them. We expected them to die without ever knowing what it took to make them live.
Responsible fish husbandry is about keeping them alive. It is about providing the aquatic environment suitable for their growth and health. It is about having the fish thrive, not just survive.
What You Need To Know
Responsible husbandry starts with accurate species-specific information for your fish. You need to know where the fish are from, the types of behavior they exhibit, the diet they require, and the type of tank decorations required for their comfort. All of that is useless information, however, if the basic size of the fish, the tank size required, and the demeanor of a fish is not understood.
For many hobbyists that knowledge is gained through retailers and the staff they employ. It is gained also through the basic information provided through POP signage and other materials. Too often that information is wrong. As a result the best hobbyist intents are doomed to fail. Not because of the lack of effort, mind you. Or, the desire to do what is best. It is failure assured from the time of purchase as a result of misleading and erroneous information.
Good husbandry starts with accurate information. Hopefully you will join in our effort to encourage retailers to provide new and experienced hobbyists the information needed for the ethical and humane treatment of the fish they purchase.
You will find that we provide some of the information you need at this site. We only hope that it is a beginning. We also provide links to resources dedicated to helping you understand the fish you keep. Our goal is to help point you down the road to increased knowledge.
The goal can only be achieved with you urging retailers to provide accurate information within their stores.
