Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics

Steffen Hellner (steffen_at_hellner.biz)
Tue, 13 Jan 2004 09:35:06 +0100

Thank you. Couldn4t have xpressed it better. Only to say that not all
aquarists are like that, of course, but many.

Steffen

> Von: "Stan Perkins" <stanperkins_at_academicplanet.com>
> Antworten an: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Datum: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:48:11 -0600
> An: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Betreff: Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics
>
> Nick,
> How often do you have to replace specimens on exhibit?
> How often do you have breeding success with your specimens on exhibit? I
> dare say that there are a lot of hobbist out there with the same drive and
> interest as any "professional". From your unrealistic statements, you are
> either very young or very inexperienced - or both. An aquarium, a pond or
> any artificial enclosure is just that - artificial. You cannot maintain
> specimens in "their native environments" in a tank. You must go out of you
> way to provide a habitat that the animals feel comfortable in. One measure
> of that comfort is natural behavior and spawing with subsiquent rearing of
> the young. If you believe that this does not require dedication,
observation
> skills and a love of your subjects, you have problems. There aquarist in
the
> world that are so knowledgeble that professionals utilize their knowledge
> and experience in their own work.
> Finally it is impossible to seperate a love a species from a love of its
> native environment. 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. Grow up - talk to these folks and you
> will find kindred lovers of nature. But never, never put someone down
> because you feel you are better than they are because you look at things
> from a different angle. Diversity is Mother Nature smiling.
>
> Enough preaching I'm going to eat a bowl of shrimp and gar gumbo with
smoked
> mullet.
>
> Stan Perkins
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 9:16 AM
> Subject: RE: NANFA-- Collecting ethics
>
>
>> Measuring the passion quotient is easy. Look at the huge number of
>> hobbyists in the world and you tell me how many have the incling that
>> tropical fish actually come from a real place! As we have discussed. The
>> problem with humans is that we are so disconnected with our environment
> and
>> we loose site that our animals actually came from a wild place! We
> discuss
>> is all the time on this list. Rember the thread about how people are told
>> that you have to boil your driftwood and rocks before you put them in your
>> aquarium? And hobbyists have a tendency to keep their aquariums sparkling
>> clean. No algae and no detritus is how fish are supposed to be kept? As
> if
>> these fish are never exposed to mud, pathogens, or algae in their natural
>> environment. Hobbyists don't think of where there fish come from, they
> just
>> think of them in the tank. Again, this is shear numbers alone. The exact
>> opposite thinking is what endeared me to NANFA. A group of hobbyists who
>> are really in tune with their animals *and* the natural environments where
>> they come from. We can have intelligent debates about all these topics.
>> But I don't believe that you can tell me that the percentage of hobbyists
> in
>> this country who have a serious passion about their animals is the same as
>> in the professional world. Again its all about numbers. And we all b*tch
>> about the "average" hobbyist on this list server.
>>
>> Nick Zarlinga
>> Aquarium Biologist
>> Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
>> 216.661.6500 ext 4485
>>
>>
>>> <)> -----Original Message-----
>>> <)> From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net
>>> <)> On Behalf
>>> <)> Of EELReprah_at_aol.com
>>> <)> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 10:10 AM
>>> <)> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
>>> <)> Subject: Re: NANFA-- Collecting ethics
>>> <)>
>>> <)>
>>> <)> In a message dated 1/12/04 9:50:27 AM,
>>> <)> njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com writes:
>>> <)>
>>> <)> << There are certainly a higher percentage of
>>> <)> biologists with a
>>> <)>
>>> <)> passion that hobbyists. >>
>>> <)>
>>> <)> I don't buy that. I think the percentage of
>>> <)> passion is probably the same. The
>>> <)> hobbyist has only passion as a driving force, The
>>> <)> professional has both
>>> <)> passion and livelihood. Quantitative evaluation is
>>> <)> impossible since I don't know
>>> <)> how to measure the passion quotient.
>>> <)>
>>> <)> Lee Harper
>>> <)> Media, PA
>>> <)> ---------------------------
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