Stan Perkins
----- Original Message -----
From: <coelacanth_at_btinternet.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 4:39 AM
Subject: Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics
> > How often do you have to replace specimens on exhibit?
> > How often do you have breeding success with your specimens on exhibit?
>
> In the case of Zoological Institutions, there are ethical procedures and
protocols to go through when acquiring new stock. No single individual takes
it on themselves to make the decision on what is right and what isn't. These
decisions are subject to internal scrutiny and also external scrutiny by
regional and central government. Inspections are rigorous and frequent, as
they should be.
>
> > dare say that there are a lot of hobbist out there with the same drive
and
> > interest as any "professional".
>
> Indeed, and that is where I have acquired the majority of my knowledge
from, and that is why I personally attend three different aquarium society
meetings each month, but they do not always have the resources or support
structure required to be able to make informed decisions about what are or
aren't sustainable populations or on other questions pertaining to
conservation.
> In terms of sheer numbers, certainly private aquarists are way ahead if we
are measuring 'passion volume' (for want of a better term), but for every
private aquarist with that passion there are 50 who like the look of Red
Parrot Cichlids etc.
> To work in the professional field you have to be able to take that same
passion and use it to offset the fact that you are always going to be paid
at a level that leaves you worrying every single month about what to most
people are fairly routine expenses.
>
> >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.
>
> > 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.
>
> > 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.
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