NANFA-- Popularity of Native Fish Keeping

Mark (nanfa-in-jonahsaquarium.com)
Thu, 20 May 2004 12:08:55 -0400

I have noticed a real distinction between two types of native fish hobbyists:

The ones we know from this list and from conventions and collecting
trips are The Type 1 Native Fish Hobbyists. They are the wackos
(affectionately) who will make & buy all kinds of contraptions for
collecting fishes, own-in-least two academic texts on natives, and
will swim, slog, slither and wallow through any kind of water-filled
hole to get that coveted creature.

The Type 2 Native Fish Hobbyist is a different species altogether.
They are direct descendants (and arguably ancestors) of the standard
pet shop-TFH reading-money spending-fish obessed-discus, angelfish,
killifish, cichlid, guppy, betta enthusiasts, who are rather
intimidated by the prospect of venturing out into any _unfiltered_
water to catch fish for their aquariums. I'm sure there is a whole
discussion that could happen about why this would be considered
distasteful by most aquarists. Anyway, these native keepers have
developed an interest in natives, but they want to to _buy_ them, and
will often spend large sums of money to do so.

I agree that the Type 1 group is likely to be a very limited pool
that will not grow beyond certain personality and cultural limits.
The Type 2 group, however, is potentially as large as the fish hobby
as a whole. I'm guessing that its growth is controlled by fashion,
prejudice, knowledge and extreme limits on the availability for sale
of native species. All of those factors can change over time. So, I
think the natives hobby has a large potential for growth with The
Type 2 Native Fish Hobbyist.

-- 
Mark, Type 1 Native Fish Hobbyist
Ohio
USA
<))><
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