LFS claimed wild caught fishes are better

[Reef_Geek]

I think Gold's meant well in their opinion, but may have been narrow in perspective.

Keep in mind, by the time that a wild caught fish has reached the store, the greater proportion of fish that died along the way are not offered for sale. Numerous were caught and held prior to consolidating to a local exporting shipper, then numerous die in that transit, then some die post arrival to a wholesaler in Canada or US, then some make it to our LFS. In contrast, captive bred have higher survival rates come straight from the farm to the north american wholesaler/LFS. By the time a wild caught is offered side by side with a captive bred, you're looking at one heck of a fighter in the wild fish. Physiologically they are comparable but costs of an aquaculture operation is going to require higher prices.

The questions is not whether you want captive bred for hardiness... the difference is likely not statistically significant if you ran 100 trials against common aquarium diseases. The question will be simply your choice. It's a purchase preference in ethics, not in utility. No right or wrong either way, fisheries exist to provide for society, we're just not eating these fish. They're not on the endangered list.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by Reef_Geek

I think Gold's meant well in their opinion, but may have been narrow in perspective.

Keep in mind, by the time that a wild caught fish has reached the store, the greater proportion of fish that died along the way are not offered for sale. Numerous were caught and held prior to consolidating to a local exporting shipper, then numerous die in that transit, then some die post arrival to a wholesaler in Canada or US, then some make it to our LFS. In contrast, captive bred have higher survival rates come straight from the farm to the north american wholesaler/LFS. By the time a wild caught is offered side by side with a captive bred, you're looking at one heck of a fighter in the wild fish. Physiologically they are comparable but costs of an aquaculture operation is going to require higher prices.

The questions is not whether you want captive bred for hardiness... the difference is likely not statistically significant if you ran 100 trials against common aquarium diseases. The question will be simply your choice. It's a purchase preference in ethics, not in utility. No right or wrong either way, fisheries exist to provide for society, we're just not eating these fish. They're not on the endangered list.

+1 i was goingto comment the same. who knows how many fish are lost in transit i try to purchase aquacultured if i can find its origin but yet if i wish a certian fish/critter not bred in captivity am i going to pass it up possibly not. but for the most part i prefer captive bred

[gregzz4]

I too prefer CB fish whenever I can find them, and I completely understand in-breeding problems
I am guilty of buying fish when I see them as they are only available as WC
Then I have to try to feed them ....

I disagree with the thoughts of CB fish being more susceptible to diseases, or WC fish being more immune

It's all about our husbandry

[lockrookie]

my husbandry sucks if i was a good husband id be in bed with my wife instead of up watching movies and lurking canreef just sayin..

ontopic .. do as you wish and that which you are comfortable with. everyone has an opinion one way or the other. the fact we take these creatures from an ocean and into our tiny tanks in itself is wrong. but it is wha it is. and has been since before i was born

[mrhasan]

Everything has good sides and bad sides

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by lockrookie

my husbandry sucks if i was a good husband id be in bed with my wife instead of up watching movies and lurking canreef

Yup, me too

Later ...

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Now a lot of my fish (all my clowns for example) are captive bred and others are "ethically" net caught (most of my fish from Island Pets' Vanuatu suppliers). Currently I am raising 8 Bangaii babies (largest is 2cm+ including tail) so I hope to contribute to the pool of CB fish in the future, especially fish that can easily be overfished like the Bangaiis. And yes, it is a lot of work, time and hassle to raise the live food every day and try to convert the babies over to frozen or eventually to pellets.

Around here, CB clowns are often a little bit more expensive than WC, but Bangaiis are the same price for CB and WC, which I don't understand. There is a premium on CB clowns, especially the morphs, but no premium for Bangaiis. Hard to encourage more hobbyist breeders of Bangaiis if all they are paid is $12.50 or less per fish at the LFS and the broods are small and take months to raise on live food. Financially, not worth it. BUT baby Bangaiis are sooooooo cute. I will probably end up keeping most of this first batch just because the offspring are worth more to me than $12.50 at the LFS. Yes, privately can sell Bangaiis for $20-25 (one or two at a time) but for larger scale breeding, selling to LFS makes more sense.

From my own experience with clowns, at least with Ocellaris species, the CB are waaaaay hardier than the WC. I currently own 6 CB Oc., 2 CB True Percs, and 2 CB Black Oc. (all bred locally by Timbits - a Canreef member).

[mrhasan]

Yah. I would also prefer to get captive bred but upon no other option, the wild got surplus for our hobby :P