I decided to stop selling feeder fish for several reasons and none of them involved feelings that feeding animals to other animals is wrong. That would have been supremely hypocritical of me since I sell feeder rodents and feeder insects for my reptile customers and feed them to my own reptiles. While I won't go quite so far as to say what about white worms and micro worms etc. I do understand the point trying to be made there. This is the primary reason why I don't have an issue with feeder fish from an "animal rights" issue (I just threw up in my mouth a little bit when I wrote that) I do not have an issue with animals being fed to other animals as long as they are treated humanely (I do understand that this is debatable with feeder fish what with the crowding and whatnot)
My reasons for not selling feeder fish are 1) they are not neccessary for the types of fish I sell. I do not sell large predatory fish (oascars, piranhas, leaf fish etc) and none of the fish I sell require live food. I am sure some of them would enjoy a treat now and then but if you choose to feed them that then you can get them somewhere else. I do think it would be irresponsible of me to sell fish that require live feeders and not provide the feeders. 2) they generally are not healthy for fish to consume. Whether from a disease and parasite standpoint or a nutritional one most feeder fish are simply not good for other fish to eat as a primary means of sustenance. As an occasional treat I don't see a problem (except the disease and parasite one) but again, if you want to do that you will have to go elsewhere. 3) it was a financial decision. Feeder fish cost me too much and died off in too large a number to make it financially smart. I know a lot of stores look at feeders as loss leaders to keep people from going elsewhere and if I didn't have the other issues to contend with I might look at it that way as well but when added together it just didn't make sense to me. When I first started my feeder fish did well but as the years went on the quality went down hill and the price kept going up. so I just stopped.
4) I got sick of listening to customers complain "My fish got ick from your feeders." "I bought 2 dozen feeders and they all died" and this one from those who would buy a dozen fish a week to have them eaten in one sitting "my fish haven't eaten in a week and you don't have feeders, they are starving what am I supposed to do now" (I get that one from cricket and rodent customers as well) Now I get to listen to them complain how their fish get sick from the feeders they buy from someone else.
So there you have it. Why I don't sell feeders. I just don't feel that its makes sense for me but I do not have issues with any store that does. Its not illegal (yet) and my ethics are not necessarily someone elses and I don't feel the need to impose mine on them. I feel the same way about certain fish (the pangasius cats and moorish idols that were mentioned) as well as certain large or notoriously difficult to keep reptiles and amphibians. I'll tell you how I feel about it and why but I don't expect you to come over to my side just because its the way I feel. The flip side, I'll listen to your arguments but don't preach or try to convert me.
My reasons for not selling feeder fish are 1) they are not neccessary for the types of fish I sell. I do not sell large predatory fish (oascars, piranhas, leaf fish etc) and none of the fish I sell require live food. I am sure some of them would enjoy a treat now and then but if you choose to feed them that then you can get them somewhere else. I do think it would be irresponsible of me to sell fish that require live feeders and not provide the feeders. 2) they generally are not healthy for fish to consume. Whether from a disease and parasite standpoint or a nutritional one most feeder fish are simply not good for other fish to eat as a primary means of sustenance. As an occasional treat I don't see a problem (except the disease and parasite one) but again, if you want to do that you will have to go elsewhere. 3) it was a financial decision. Feeder fish cost me too much and died off in too large a number to make it financially smart. I know a lot of stores look at feeders as loss leaders to keep people from going elsewhere and if I didn't have the other issues to contend with I might look at it that way as well but when added together it just didn't make sense to me. When I first started my feeder fish did well but as the years went on the quality went down hill and the price kept going up. so I just stopped.
4) I got sick of listening to customers complain "My fish got ick from your feeders." "I bought 2 dozen feeders and they all died" and this one from those who would buy a dozen fish a week to have them eaten in one sitting "my fish haven't eaten in a week and you don't have feeders, they are starving what am I supposed to do now" (I get that one from cricket and rodent customers as well) Now I get to listen to them complain how their fish get sick from the feeders they buy from someone else.
So there you have it. Why I don't sell feeders. I just don't feel that its makes sense for me but I do not have issues with any store that does. Its not illegal (yet) and my ethics are not necessarily someone elses and I don't feel the need to impose mine on them. I feel the same way about certain fish (the pangasius cats and moorish idols that were mentioned) as well as certain large or notoriously difficult to keep reptiles and amphibians. I'll tell you how I feel about it and why but I don't expect you to come over to my side just because its the way I feel. The flip side, I'll listen to your arguments but don't preach or try to convert me.
) Poor little guys.. it was freezing outside and the guy had them all piled in a glass tank with nothing to keep them warm. I was pretty mad.. I said my two cents and probably had no effect on him, but thankfully I haven't seen anything like it since..
