Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics

Steffen Hellner (steffen_at_hellner.biz)
Tue, 13 Jan 2004 13:15:25 +0100

>> From your unrealistic statements, you are either very young or >very
>> inexperienced - or both.
>
> I have to say here that Nick is neither, but is an internationally
recognised
> Public Aquarium professional who has proven himself on many occasions on
all
> aspects of the delivery of a successful Educational and Zoological
> institution, including innovative husbandry techniques, reproduction and
> long-term maintenance.
This was directed to me as I understood it.

>> An aquarium, a pond or any artificial enclosure is just that - >
artificial.
>> You cannot maintain
>> specimens in "their native environments" in a tank.

> You can use environmetal enrichment to ensure that the fish concerned are
> exposed to as many of the non-hazardous conditions that they would
experience
> on the wild as possible. If the ultimate aim is conservation this is
> absolutely essential, otherwise what you end up with is a domesticated fish
> that breeds perfectly well in aquaria but would not last the day when
returned
> to the original habitat the broodstock came from. Work like this is very
> difficult for any one individual to carry out, as it requires such a
> multi-disciplinary approach.
Speaking of artificial and natural habitat is nothing but romantic. The only
point is whether the species reproduces and stays healthy or not. Most
species don4t need a copy of their natural habitat but certain triggers to
feel comfortable. A slamander e.g. doesn4t care whether he hides under a
rock, a wood or a plant-pot (made from clay or plastic). He just wants
shelter and darkness. Otherwise there wouldn4t be so many reproduction
successes of so many species - over many generations. Elefants don4t need
the Serengeti. Tigers don4t need the jungle, neons don4t need the Amazone.
But they need proper conditions.

>> Aquarist jump through hoops providing environments as
>> close to nature as possible. EVEN to the point of using muddy > leafy
bottoms
>> where the fish seem never to be seen.
>
> As in the Apistogramma I have breeding at home which I only see when they
are
> displaying or guarding fry.
> But for every one that does, there are dozens more who have crystal rocks
and
> plastic ships.
And the fish mostly don4t care for this rubbish in the tanks. Anyway to me
this type of decoration hurts my eyes.

And I can show you biotopes in SA and Afrika which to transfer to captive
maintenance would rise protests from all directions. But the fish like it
and are very abundant there.

Steffen
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