Are they for eating?

pik01

pik01

AC Members
Sep 28, 2008
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San Jose, California
For some reason, when I tell people I keep shrimp it goes a little like this:

It comes up in conversation and I mention:"Oh I have an aquarium but I have dwarf shrimp and snails."

And with a smirk on their face, they reply: "Are the shrimp for eating?"

I wouldn't think anything of it if it just happened maybe once or twice, but almost everyone I've talked to has asked that. I dunno if they think they're being clever or original, and it doesn't really insult me as much as it makes me wonder. How many animals are raised in a hobby aquariums for eating?

I just sigh inwardly, shaking my head, and ask them how much they would enjoy shrimp that were about an inch long or that they're as much for eating as any goldfish would be.

Has anyone else encountered this? Here we get the occasional joke about eating the shrimp, some light-hearted pokes about having to use extra-small skewers or something, and everyone understands it's all in good fun. I do begin to wonder though: outside of aquaria forums, do people really think we're raising shrimp for our next meal?
 
Either they do not know a peg about the hobby or they're simply taunting around...:screwy:

I have canas here and people consider them as pests. They were originally introduced here to replace the escargot viand of farmers as the Pila conica are declining in population. To date, the Pila conica seems to have disappeared. They used to roam the ditches, etc but the overcollection of them to be eaten for food viands and even the overwhelming invasion of the canas led to their decline. I think they're still around but in fewer numbers than before.

As for shrimps, we get plenty of ghost and bamboo shrimps here. Dunno if people eat them and I don't want to know. I tend to get upset.lol
 
My mom says that all the time, I feel you...
 
My sister has nicknamed my bamboo shrimp "Yummy"
 
do they think it's still funny, original, and clever the tenth time they make the joke? Every time I give them the impartial, "it's just not funny" look I get the distinct feeling that they think they're somehow getting under my skin or they're pulling off a burn on me somehow. I'm not insulted, it's just...not funny, you know?
 
Say yes and invite them over for dinner. It might at least get them to shut up. I've heard it once, and similarly, wasn't real amused.
 
I get VERY angry when I hear this. I've heard it enough times I always have an equally stupid statement for backlash. I usually retaliate with something along the lines of: "Are you raising your cat for eating?" "Actually, my shrimp and their cousins you devour have more legs than a spider. I find that yucky"
 
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