would you have said anything about the overstocked tanks in this situation?

iheartbettas

iheartbettas

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Sep 9, 2010
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Detroit Metro area, Michigan
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Bernie
I went to visit some relatives in the Philippines, and they are always very accommodating to us when we visit. They drive us around, entertain us, provide dinners, everything you can imagine. They are living in a temporary home while their new house is being built, but still invited us for a nice dinner.

Anyway, they had a few aquariums. One was a 10-15 galllon with a few iridescent sharks with some gold fish also in it. Overstocked for sure, and the other one was a 2.5 or 5 gallon tank with a goldfish with the bulgy eyes in it. Both had good filtration and lighting.

I didn't say anything since I didn't want to make my cousin feel bad that his tanks were overstocked since we were all having a good time and everything. We really didn't talk about fish tanks, but if I'd said anything, I would have recommended different fish for those size tanks.

would you have mentioned about the overstocking? Thank you.
 
No. The Asian/Pacific Rim concept of aquaria is completely different than the Western World. I have personally had excellent dog or cat dinners over there that wouldn't be accepted here at all. No need to assert your viewpoint on them. I have seen extremely overstocked tanks by our standards and the fish perfectly okay.
 
Rbishop said:
No. The Asian/Pacific Rim concept of aquaria is completely different than the Western World. I have personally had excellent dog or cat dinners over there that wouldn't be accepted here at all. No need to assert your viewpoint on them. I have seen extremely overstocked tanks by our standards and the fish perfectly okay.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was going to say.


I too have had some meals over there that were incredible, if I were to post what they were half the people here would probably puke.
 
It certainly is a different culture and it will depend on your relatives' personalities as well. I personally would not have said anything if I knew that it would ruin the visit. Familial relationships trump all in this situation...JMO.
 
Unless asked specifically for my opinion about someone's fish tanks, no. Exceptions would be a) if I wanted to ruin the evening, b) if I never wanted to be invited back, or c) if the hosts had insulted me, I might use it as a parting shot.

"Mr. Normal" writes:
"I have personally had excellent dog or cat dinners over there that wouldn't be accepted here at all."

:rofl:
 
I agree, don't say anything. Unless they ask you your opinion or want your help...no point, really. They are probably just keeping the fish temporarily and will replace them when they die (which is the way many people keep aquariums, incidentally...similar to brown thumb houseplant owners).

It is a different culture (to say the fish are fine is further than I would go...since I'm sure the observation encompasses a short time frame), not just in terms of aquarium keeping, but also I am pretty sure they would be more offended at the "criticism" than any of us in the States. And some of us still get plenty offended ;)

Overstocked is one thing - like a flowerhorn in a 29 gallon tank - but iridescent sharks and goldfish in a tank under 20 gallons? Insane, but again...I am sure they are not interested at all in the well being of the fish, and are using them as decorations. Cruel, perhaps...but it's not our culture, and it's not for us to judge. Fish are not as important as people.
 
Everything you see not to your liking is not worth commenting on.
 
No, I wouldn't anything... unless pointedly asked. If conversation was lagging, there's always religion and politics
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