Whats so good about common fish?
- Thread starter JamisonBWolsh
- Start date
You folks are amazing. Some very, very thoughtful commentary going on here. I am impressed.
Couple of things:
Jamison: Thank you for making me really think. Something bothered me about the examples you gave (K-Mart vs. the Gap, etc.). Those examples are all (nonliving) quality-of-life things. The fish we're discussing ARE life. That makes the difference ... I haven't entirely got it figured out yet, but therein lies the answer to your question. I'm still working on it ... and yes, I agree, RTR stated it masterfully.
Re: inspiration. Kribensis are common fish, right? I submit that anyone watching a pair of mated kribs herding their fry around the tank and guarding the nest will be inspired. I was. That's what got me into this as a serious hobbyist, and I still shoot for my favorite fishie dream: a successful tank of breeding Blue Rams. Sigh. Something to hope for ... and work for--and, in an area where the tap water comes out 7.6 pH, believe me, it's plenty challenging!!
Again, thank you for the thought-provoking post. And the answers! Boy, we sure all love our fish, don't we. It goes back to that life thing ...
-- Pat
Couple of things:
Jamison: Thank you for making me really think. Something bothered me about the examples you gave (K-Mart vs. the Gap, etc.). Those examples are all (nonliving) quality-of-life things. The fish we're discussing ARE life. That makes the difference ... I haven't entirely got it figured out yet, but therein lies the answer to your question. I'm still working on it ... and yes, I agree, RTR stated it masterfully.
Re: inspiration. Kribensis are common fish, right? I submit that anyone watching a pair of mated kribs herding their fry around the tank and guarding the nest will be inspired. I was. That's what got me into this as a serious hobbyist, and I still shoot for my favorite fishie dream: a successful tank of breeding Blue Rams. Sigh. Something to hope for ... and work for--and, in an area where the tap water comes out 7.6 pH, believe me, it's plenty challenging!!
Again, thank you for the thought-provoking post. And the answers! Boy, we sure all love our fish, don't we. It goes back to that life thing ...
-- Pat
Even my Farlowella is the "common" one... sigh
As soon as a rare fish can be bred in captivity, its rarity starts to slide (thank goodness). People who collect one of each of several exotic Loricariid cats are much less interesting than the person who has six of one kind in a big tank and is trying to make them comfortable enough to breed. Chasing after "rare" imports may have a negative effect on the remaining population of species that are already under pressure.
It's interesting to have a captive population of an Aphyosemion subspecies that's now extinct in West Africa. Interesting to breed them and mail the eggs to Aphyosemion fans. Some of those killifish are as beautiful and rare as you could ask.
It's not interesting to have eight or ten mixed Aphyosemions bought at fancy prices, their names forgotten, and now all thrown together in a large tank.
endeess, a poster here several years ago, (but not recently) is specializing in breeding unusual Farlowella species, in dark tannic water filled with bogwood and twiggy debris. Very interesting...
If you're concerned with rarities, imagine that French banker opening a shipping can that had come from Manaus, in 1935, and laying eyes for the first time ...on Neon Tetras! What a rush, eh!
As soon as a rare fish can be bred in captivity, its rarity starts to slide (thank goodness). People who collect one of each of several exotic Loricariid cats are much less interesting than the person who has six of one kind in a big tank and is trying to make them comfortable enough to breed. Chasing after "rare" imports may have a negative effect on the remaining population of species that are already under pressure.
It's interesting to have a captive population of an Aphyosemion subspecies that's now extinct in West Africa. Interesting to breed them and mail the eggs to Aphyosemion fans. Some of those killifish are as beautiful and rare as you could ask.
It's not interesting to have eight or ten mixed Aphyosemions bought at fancy prices, their names forgotten, and now all thrown together in a large tank.
endeess, a poster here several years ago, (but not recently) is specializing in breeding unusual Farlowella species, in dark tannic water filled with bogwood and twiggy debris. Very interesting...
If you're concerned with rarities, imagine that French banker opening a shipping can that had come from Manaus, in 1935, and laying eyes for the first time ...on Neon Tetras! What a rush, eh!
Dude, shut up while you're ahead... Everyone that has posted is against you... Talk about backing it up...
What's wrong with common fish?
From all other post i've seen,most rare fish has one thing in common,price,hard to breed and tank requirements.They are rare in the first place maybe because of location or they are not so profilic in the wild,every other people has his or her own preference,other than that,i prefer rare fish,although i got none.
From all other post i've seen,most rare fish has one thing in common,price,hard to breed and tank requirements.They are rare in the first place maybe because of location or they are not so profilic in the wild,every other people has his or her own preference,other than that,i prefer rare fish,although i got none.
You said, "When people see my tanks, I want them to say "Wow, thats an amazing tank! Fish i never seen before". Yes, you can have a nice tank with common fish. But will that person tell their friends about it? Doubtfull. Would they tell their friends if they saw something they never seen before and it trully amazed them?"
Your interest in rare fish seems mainly about impressing other people. Maybe you've just been having trouble understanding that not everybody has the same need to impress.... or if they do, that they prefer to impress by something they create or do, rather than what they own.
Anyway, if the replies have illuminated anything for you, great
Your interest in rare fish seems mainly about impressing other people. Maybe you've just been having trouble understanding that not everybody has the same need to impress.... or if they do, that they prefer to impress by something they create or do, rather than what they own.
Anyway, if the replies have illuminated anything for you, great
