Re: NANFA-- Fwd: "Pet Shop Problems?"

Norman Edelen (normane_at_edelendoors.com)
Fri, 15 Dec 2000 12:25:39 -0800

Okay Jay,

Now I feel bad for my last post. Yes, feeder goldfish can be seen as an
ugly side to the hobby. Many people will not keep piscivores due to some
sense of morality. However, I think feeding a fish feeder goldfish or
feeder guppies is much preferred over feeding natives. I have run into
young boys streamside or on the banks of ponds collecting natives to feed to
oscars, and that disturbs me more. At least these goldfish and guppies are
bred for quantity, not quality, and many make poor pets. I know that some
beautiful large goldfish currently living in ponds were once priced at 10
for a dollar, but the majority come in underfeed, weak, and diseased. I do
see aquababies and these betta spheres as being less humane than the average
feeder tank at the fish store. Every pet shop in Portland gets inspected by
the county, and they are not afraid to shut one down. They closed one store
that had everything from fish to monkeys. They found 5 dead iguanas, and
one dead monkey just left in the cages with the others. I was glad to see
that happen, as the store stunk and was unclean. The owners were uncaring
and cruel.

I do think that there are other animal cruelty issues more pressing, and I
suppose my previous post was an attempt to indicate that.

Any commercial use of livestock has some moral gray area. Hence the
creation of vegetarianism.

Norm

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----- Original Message -----
From: Jay DeLong <thirdwind_at_att.net>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- Fwd: "Pet Shop Problems?"

At 10:40 AM 12/15/00, you wrote:
>Sounds like old Vince has too much time on his hands. Although it could be
>a PETA ruse.

I don't believe it's either of those, and don't feel it's helpful to
belittle his concerns or suggest an organized plot. What is wrong with
providing animal commodities basic levels of comfort? NANFA's member code
of ethics, voted on and approved by the membership, includes this passage,
which seems reasonable and decent, and which Vincent may have even read:
"All reasonable attempts should be made to maintain fishes with the
utmost regard for their safety and health, which includes, but is not
limited to: maintaining sufficient water quality; providing water
chemistry, temperature, oxygen levels and foods appropriate for each
particular species..."

--
Jay DeLong
Olympia, WA

>I'm not sure why I got this message, but here it is for thought or >whatever: > > >From: VincentBurkhimer_at_aol.com > >Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 06:58:40 EST > >Subject: "Pet Shop Problems?" > >To: thirdwind_at_att.net > >X-Mailer: Unknown sub 171 > > > >Hello my name is Vincent Burkhimer and I am writing you in regaurds to > >concerns I have about the "methods" pet shop/suppliers, most importantly > >those who deal with aquatic life and how they are treated. > > Visiting various, local establishments that sell aquatic life, I have > >become alarmingly disturbed by the neglect and carelessness people show > >towards life. > >It seems as though they do not care for or respect the lives of the >aquatic > >life they sell. For example ..... what they see as "feeder goldfish", > >putting about 500 of them into a 90 gallon tank with insufficient >filtration > >systems produces diseased and weak/sick fish. yet they see them as feeder > >fish, a young child may go into one of these establishments and ask their > >parent for a goldfish (in which they plan to make a pet of) and are they > >going to possibly be happy when one of those sick fish dies soon after. My > >reason for writing is to ask if there are any laws to protect the lives >and > >insure proper treatment. also what ,if any, regulations should and must be > >met by these establishments? > >I appreciate any help possible. and thank you for your time

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/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org