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Thread: Captive-bred vs wild-collected

  1. #1
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    Captive-bred vs wild-collected

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    Something to think about: we might feel that buying captive-bred fish is kinder to the environment, but in many cases sustainable collection helps to support habitat conservation as well as whole communities of people.

    One case study from Wikipedia:

    ‘The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is a very popular aquarium fish but is less widespread than the neon tetra because until recently it was difficult to breed in captivity. However, many breeders are now producing the fish, in most cases one can determine if the cardinal tetra is bred or wild caught due to damaged fins on wild caught specimens. Normally aquarists prefer to buy tank bred fish but some Brazilian ichthyologists believe that fishkeepers should continue to support the sustainable Cardinal fishery of the Amazon basin, since thousands of people are employed in the region to source fish for the aquarium trade. The fear is that if the fishermen didn’t catch Cardinals, they could turn their attentions to deforestation. [Collecting] doesn’t seem to pose an environmental concern (the fish is very common in the wild.)

    An entire industry is in place in Barcelos on the banks of Brazil’s Rio Negro in which the local population catches fish for the aquarium trade. The cardinal fishery here is highly valued by the local people who act as stewards for the environment. The local people do not become involved in potentially environmentally damaging activities, such as deforestation, because they can make a sustainable living from the fishery.’

    Of course, overcollection can be harmful (as in the case of the beloved 'Galaxy' celestial pearl danios), but when properly managed, wild collection sites can remain viable for a long time.

    Before going out to buy our fish, perhaps us hobbyists could read up on another topic besides care requirements---the sustainability of the fish species in question. What do you think?

  2. #2
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    The idea sounds like a good one but, won't importing it cause more problems like usage or more fossil fuels to transport it to other parts of the world?

    The only problem I see is our tendency for collectoritis and following our hearts desires! lol. Humans need to control themselves. We can't control other people and that's a fact.

    Without education or brainwashing entertainment like TV, rural folk in general resort to the oldest form of entertainment. That leads to...
    Without proper population control[sounds like I'm some tyrant ] the problem will cascade.

    We can't really tell people not to- it's about awareness and sustainability/restraint on our own part, we have to manage ourselves first. Lose control and everything is lost. Then all we have left are just pictures.
    You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung

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