Captive bred fish

[Kilat]

I searched and couldn't find any posts about captive bred marine animals. Am I the only one who's worried about harvesting wild ones? Not to mention their problems adjusting to captivity.

Can anyone help me find some sources for captive bred fish, corals, etc? I'm in Australia but would consider international shipping if required. Thanks!

[mysis]

This company is aussie based, and i live close to them, i have to say their quality is very good, and better than any LFS around me. also cheaper.

http://www.oceanarium.com.au/cultured%20specimens/cultured_specimens.htm

Also i thought you might want to read this, on how wild animals are caught.

http://www.oceanarium.com.au/articles/marine_aquarium_fishery.htm

Really in Australia we have no issues of animals being mis treated, places such as asia, they are truly cruel, dynamite, cyanide are used often to catch fish. the way i look at it, is we are conservationists, the sea is getting polluted more and more every day, we are providing fishies with a safe place to live. provided we do are research!

[jacobus]

im shocked to hear that dynamite and cyanide are used to capture our fishes. i live in asia and im ashamed to find out this. next time i head out to my LFS im gonna check how they get the fish before i decide. and also. is it wrong to get fish off my local coastal waters ? i have frens who are dolphin trainers and they often get fish that they are lucky enough to see. one of them got a dog nosed puffer. they dont do it on a regular basis but, if they are lucky enough to see one they want, they would get it.

[DansMarineTank]

We have a company in the uk called tmc
www.tmc-ltd.co.uk thats the suppier i got my percs from

[Kilat]

Here's an interesting article on the topic of collecting corals:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-12/eb/index.php

With the growing popularity of aquariums, we need to start supporting dealers that pay attention to sustainable harvesting and aquaculture. Otherwise we'll be like those bird enthusiasts who have decimated wild populations so they can have pretty pets!

Thanks for those ideas, and keep them coming!

[mysis]

Yes, it is ok for people to collect their own fish, as long as they are doing it with the correct measures, they are probably collecting the fish using safer methods that the LFS, (in ASIA) where they are currently using dynamite and cyanide, you must remember not all places in aasia will be using these methods to catch their fish, but it is reported the worst place for fish capturing. So as long as your friends are doing it right, then it is ok.

My friend peter goes out and collect from many sites in the India ocean,

[Decz]

Really in Australia we have no issues of animals being mis treated, places such as asia, they are truly cruel, dynamite, cyanide are used often to catch fish. the way i look at it, is we are conservationists, the sea is getting polluted more and more every day, we are providing fishies with a safe place to live. provided we do are research!

I don't think this is always the case. Granted, it DOES exist, but I don't think it is right to generalize asia as a whole. The wholesaler that I work with imports from a number of different places in Asia, Indonesia & Micronesia. Some of the places specialize in CB fish, while others specialize in wild. None of the places we import from use cyanide. We are very firm when we make agreements with these companies and have walked away from a few in the past that have turned out to use cyanide. We even make visits to these regions to check on the suppliers and see how they go about business. The word 'research' was used by a member posting in this thread.. I think we all need to take that word seriously. It should be a part of your routine to research where your fish came from. Most LFS' will tell you if you ask. There's also this organization called the Marine Aquarium Council.. here is a quote from their website

"The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is an international, not-for-profit organization that brings marine aquarium animal collectors, exporters, importers and retailers together with aquarium keepers, public aquariums, conservation organizations and government agencies.

MAC's mission is to conserve coral reefs and other marine ecosystems by creating standards and certification for those engaged in the collection and care of ornamental marine life from reef to aquarium."

http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/
If you contact them they will put you in touch with suppliers they have certified to be practicing the best policies with fish capture.

There's also places like Marine-fauna in Cebu, Philippines. They are a supplier - one of the best in that region actually. http://www.marinefauna-cebu.com/

Now, don't get me wrong, I do realize that there are some unsafe and stupid practices being used out there... but I also realize that there are a number of organizations out there that specialize in safe treatment of marine life. I would just hate to see entire regions being lumped into one category. Do your research people! Bringing home a fish should be researched and investigated with the exact same energy and time that you would invest into planning for a dog. There are many many factors involved.

Please don't assume that all wild fish are caught with cyanide.

_Decz

[mysis]

you must remember not all places in aasia will be using these methods to catch their fish, but it is reported the worst place for fish capturing.

Yes not all people in asia do that, bt i am targeting this place, as it is the worst place for using cyanide. I don't meen to sound harsh or anything like that but it is true.

[jacobus]

thankfully my favorite lfs doesnt get their fish tt way.. where do they do such stuff... i just read up on cyanide fishing... its not only harmful to the fish but the habitat too... people can be so cruel..