And the Georgia Aquarium Kills Another...

[Hooked Newbie]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/06/13/0613norton.html

Check out the blog and keep in mind that they just shipped in 2 new Whale sharks! Anyone else find this offensive?

[Nolapete]

Some things are just not meant to be kept in captivity.

[Hooked Newbie]

Completely agree!

Posted on blog...

Not saying anything that hasn't already been said, but the Ga Aquarium is like a kid keeping too many fish without knowledge of how to care for them properly. Yes, they are actually animals! I'll regretfully never visit until they quit keeping fish that should not be in captivity (i.e. Whale Sharks, of which very little is known). I'd love to see statistics on how many "lessor" other fish have been lost there! I'll bet there've been plenty.

[Hooked Newbie]

Blog battle ongoing... Am I totally off base?

To all those saying that it's better that they be shipped here and put on exhibit rather than being slaughtered for food...

Slow, stressful, agonizing death vs. a quick one. Which would you choose? I don't think either should be allowed, but quit justifying the exhibition of an endangered species by self-important millionaires by saying they're better off here.
Are you outraged more over someone who neglects their dogs, cats, or horses to the point of death or a shelter that euthanizes?
People keep thinking of fish by different rules and in my opinion, they should be considered equally with other animals.

[Mgamer20o0]

some times things happen.

[dorkfish]

(i.e. Whale Sharks, of which very little is known)

Exactly! How is anything ever going to be known without some experimentation, research, and sometimes death...

The fact is that fish die... Everything living eventually will not be, for various reasons. They don't even know why this one died - you do realise that there are diseases that can persist for several months (without any symptoms), then show up one day and take out your fish within a day (I personally expierienced this). Let them atleast do thier necropsy (Do you even do this when your fish die? I doubt it... (I take it people who don't care do this with thier fish) first before you start labeling them murderers... The fact is that nobody knows for sure what, or who killed this whale so, IMO, you are being extremely rude saying that about these people.

As for some things not being meant to be kept in captivity... you would be thinking that about tetras if you were to live far enough back in time...

Personally, I'm only offended that you would say that about these people... I take it you've never had a fish die, right?

[Hooked Newbie]

Exactly! How is anything ever going to be known without some experimentation, research, and sometimes death...

The fact is that fish die... Everything living eventually will not be, for various reasons. They don't even know why this one died - you do realise that there are diseases that can persist for several months (without any symptoms), then show up one day and take out your fish within a day (I personally expierienced this). Let them atleast do thier necropsy (Do you even do this when your fish die? I doubt it... (I take it people who don't care do this with thier fish) first before you start labeling them murderers... The fact is that nobody knows for sure what, or who killed this whale so, IMO, you are being extremely rude saying that about these people.

As for some things not being meant to be kept in captivity... you would be thinking that about tetras if you were to live far enough back in time...

Personally, I'm only offended that you would say that about these people... I take it you've never had a fish die, right?


I hear you, but have you kept up on things?! Before you attack me, please at least have the facts... Yes, they do know why they died. They dosed with a medicine that they had no idea of the effects of in hopes of curing the fish. I guess this would be your definition of experimenting? Hey, why not dye them?! Attendance would rise... I've been following the goings at the Ga Aquarium and obviously you haven't. There are many very responsible public Aquariums out there, but this isn't one. I've done my research have you? At least do that before you blast me, please. Yeah, I've lost fish, but I learned from it and haven't lost any since (thanks in large part to this site). The GA has lost 2 Whale sharks (an endangered species, the largest fish on the planet, and a far cry from the Tetra you cite) and a Beluga Whale within months!

I never used the word murderer and realize that the keepers at the aquarium did everything they could and work very hard to care for the animals in their care. To be honest, I take complete exception and am offended by your post. My point is that some creatures should not be kept in captivity IMO. That goes for land based and swimming.

[PPMN]

where's the blog?

[Reefscape]

Before this thread goes any further, can we just ensure that this thread does not go down the personal issue with another member route. This is a highly debatable issue at hand here, but, we need to ensure that we talk about this in the correct way and be couteious to all people who leave a response..

Thanks.....now....where's that cold pizza, i want some breakfast...

Niko

[Hooked Newbie]

Ahhh... the Breakfast of Champions! lol

[Hooked Newbie]

where's the blog?


Linked here. Left side of page.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/06/13/0614lvnorton.html

[Malefic23]

I'm going to have to side with the experiment on this one. You learn by doing. All I ask is that the experiement be done with care and caution, that mistakes are recognized and not repeated, and that the animals are treated with care and dignity. They screwed up. Hopefully they learned.

[Hooked Newbie]

I hope so too. And, I am not against some experiment and research for the sake of future care and understanding. I just wish that were trully the reason for them being there and I don't believe it is. Below is a quote from Bernie Marcus, the founder of the Aquarium. If I got on here and said that I went to the lfs and bought fish that weren't compatible "because the experts said it couldn't be done" I would be thouroughly thread flogged I believe. I believe the decision was entirely business & ego based. That is only my opinion.

"All the experts said, 'You can't do it,' " Marcus said when the whale sharks arrived. "I just love that — when they tell you that you can't do it."

[wataugachicken]

and the beluga whale was already quite ill when they took it in from a theme park where it lived in a pool underneath a roller coaster. skin and bone diseases, etc. . .

[THEJRC]

I guess I sorta see both sides, one cant learn more about something they know little about without a little experimentation. The comment about "too soon to tell if the pesticide had effect" I think is way off..... If I plop something in my tank and all of a sudden things die off I sorta wonder.

I guess there are three unfortunate tragedies.... The loss of the first whale shark possibly due to "dosing a tank"

The loss of a second whale shark in the same tank due to the lack of ability to work with a quarantine tank (thats one big extra tank!)

and the loss of freedom in research data due to media and public outcry, there is a huge possibility that research and divulgence of what really happened (when and if they figure it out) will be hugely stifled due to the nature of the media's ability to inflict negative spin and the need for corporate entity to protect themselves against it.

what's done is done, best case now, they use the two dead fish to learn as much as possible and dont make any of the same changes to other tanks with the same species until they find out what the problem is. If we learn something, all is not lost. Frustrating

[Hooked Newbie]

Very good points JRC and I do agree. My fear is that they did not wait long enough to investigate before replacing them. They've already received 2 more Whale Sharks from Taiwan. I hope the Sharks live long lives and that much is learned from them being there. I guess my main issues are not "what" they're doing, but more "how" they're going about it and at least the appearance that alot is being driven from a tourism and income perspective.

[THEJRC]

Unfortunately in the large aquaria market tourism is what keeps it going, even in many research facilities it's one of the only ways to help fund the research.

I guess time will tell, hopefully the new pair will be respected and taken care of rather than just regarded as "replacements".