Puffer eating clownfish

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

Why would you take it from the ocean AND feed it a horrible diet?

You said you used to feed your puffer goldfish, not that you used to give him goldfish treats. Either way its wrong and when someone is relatively new to the hobby don't give them advice like that unless your clear about it.

For entertainment my friend, the same reason I setup and anyone else sets up a saltwater tank, not because its the humane thing to do. And like I said it wasn't the diet.

I never told anyone to feed their puffer anything, I simply made the point that puffers will most certainly eat other fish which seems to be related to the topic. So I'm not sure why you would say what I said was wrong?

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by fishytime

Take it back??? So he can tell someone else to put it in with their clownfish???

Hopefully the next person will be smart enough to do there research (not that I always do)

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Yeap puffers definitely eat fish, I use to feed mine goldfish

Yeah I guess the point was that they eat goldfish... not that Goldfish are healthy.

I also see how this could be misinterpreted to make it seem like Goldfish are a good diet but I don't think that was the point.

At the end of the day I think you both make good points that aren't conflicting.

sphelps: It's cool to see a puffer eat a fish from time to time and gold fish are cheap.

greenspottedpuffer: Goldfish are not a quality food source for a puffer.

[sphelps]

haha, peacekeeper. Well done.

[my2rotties]

I did my research on puffers, but until you have a problem you don't really know what to look for. It is my fault for buying the fish BUT I asked many questions. Danny is a businessman he has bills to pay and told me what he could. He has hundreds of fish but he said he had this guy for at least two months. Having a fish that long I would think you would know a bit about him. I know a lot about this puffer and I have only had him three days...

My big deal with shopping there is just the ethics of bringing in mature reef fish from the wild. He has gorgous corals and beautiful fish... I just think when you are in the best interest of the animals you sell for a living, you would care for their well being. The 16" tang can hardly turn around in his tank. I was told the other one like him went to a 180g tank and that was enough for him... I look at my seven foot wide 260 and think that fish would suffer in what I have. If people, special order these fish that is one thing. For a fish to be stuffed in a little display until some person buys them is another...

If I had the $300 for that fish that night I would have bought him because I feel sorry for him. I would have brought him home and felt sorry for that fish for all the days he managed to eek out a life in my little tank. When we build our tanks, we want joy out of them not sadness. I am glad I posted about it and I am glad others feel as I do. I do not blame Danny but he does have bills to pay... You open a store to make money, support your hobby and make a living out of doing what you love to do. There are other store I have been to where the people honestly care about the fish. They have nothing to lose because if that fish dies they are not out any money at all.

My puffer will always be here, I know I could exchange him for other fish, but he is so happy here. To have a wild fish hunting and doing what he was doing on the reef, means I have succeeded in making him comfortable. He is not a big fish in my tank although he looked gigantic at Danny's. He fits right in, and now I know I need to buy mature tank raised fish that outgrew their owners smaller tanks. I would feel much better about that since the owners care for the fish, and they will be so happy to see them in my tank. I am a newbie BUT I do whatever needs to be done for my fish.

The two clownfish made it through the night, so perhaps others are right... he won't eat another one. He is a very patient hunter though and he might still get his way. He is very fun to watch and I have been neglecting other things in my house gawking at him. I know I made the right choice even though I paid way too much for him. I know if I bought any other I would always think of him.

[sphelps]

Talking about ethics and bringing in large fish, you would be surprised how often retailers receive fish they didn't order. Retailers usually have to order direct rather than through wholesalers to compete with competitors and get a better variety of stock. The problems associated are usually related to poor communication capabilities. For example, sometimes you order a "large" tang and you'll get a 6" tang, another time you'll get a 16" tang. And sometime you'll get something you didn't even order and probably never would. There simply just isn't as much control as some might think or hope for.

Unfortunately it's more complicated than just blaming retailers, in the end we the hobbyists are to blame.

[superduperwesman]

I still think you're in the wrong hobby based on a lot of your threads and posts

[my2rotties]

Well he said he paid way more for the bigger fish because only one fish would fit in the styrofoam crates they ship in. So I figured he had ordered the larger fish since he had to pay more to ship them. That is according to what he said.

Originally Posted by sphelps

Talking about ethics and bringing in large fish, you would be surprised how often retailers receive fish they didn't order. Retailers usually have to order direct rather than through wholesalers to compete with competitors and get a better variety of stock. The problems associated are usually related to poor communication capabilities. For example, sometimes you order a "large" tang and you'll get a 6" tang, another time you'll get a 16" tang. And sometime you'll get something you didn't even order and probably never would. There simply just isn't as much control as some might think or hope for.

Unfortunately it's more complicated than just blaming retailers, in the end we the hobbyists are to blame.

[my2rotties]

I got into the hobby since my foxface and his tank were left in the house by the previous owners.

I feel that I am in the right hobby and any fish that lives in my tank (unless you are clownfish), will have the very best of everything.

Just because I chose to pursue this hobby further does not mean I condone suffering and depletion of the reefs due to poor ethics. Large fish should not be allowed to be caught as they are future generations that will breed and provide more fish for reefs and hobbists alike. Large fish have lived long enough to be fit and healthy, they deserve a chance. If we take these fish away from reefs the weaker fish will breed and weaken the future genrations. Have you not seen what has happened to the Cheetah in Africa?

I have hiked the Bow and Elbow river a million times and seen fish and wildlife monitering fishermen to make sure the small fish are not being kept so they could contribute to a new generation of fish... why is there no laws for reef fish? The larger fish have reproduced and finished the circle of life already. Yes I am contradicting what I am saying by that statement, but mature river fish will not be put into tanks for the rest of their lives. If stores had ethics and I am not saying most do not, they would not want to buy large mature fish. If the demand for these fish was not there, nobody would be catching them, would they? The way they get caught is deporable and at least I am now aware of it, and want to see changes. It does not mean that I hate the hobby. It means that if people are aware and care, maybe we can make a difference in how things are done. Look at the shark fin industry? It makes me sick and something needs to be done. If governments did something about it, maybe change would happen. If enough people speak out maybe it would happen. If we comply no better comes of it...

Because I am a newbie I make a point to ask questions to to others with knowledge and experience. Even if those questions are contraversal in nature. I believe we must speak for those that cannot speak for themselves.

Just because my feelings may be different to others opinions, does not mean I would push my views onto them. However I will always ask the questions since they need to be asked.

I love this hobby and love the people I have met on these forums. I am a newbie but that does not mean I am not entitled to have my own views and opinions. I have no hard feeling for being called out on this matter since rebuttal teaches all parties different views and ways of thinking.

Originally Posted by superduperwesman

I still think you're in the wrong hobby based on a lot of your threads and posts

[Floop70]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Talking about ethics and bringing in large fish, you would be surprised how often retailers receive fish they didn't order. Retailers usually have to order direct rather than through wholesalers to compete with competitors and get a better variety of stock. The problems associated are usually related to poor communication capabilities. For example, sometimes you order a "large" tang and you'll get a 6" tang, another time you'll get a 16" tang. And sometime you'll get something you didn't even order and probably never would. There simply just isn't as much control as some might think or hope for.

Unfortunately it's more complicated than just blaming retailers, in the end we the hobbyists are to blame.

I have a friend who is a retailer and I agree with Steve on this one. It seems that at least one fish per shipment is wrong. Anything from the wrong species to the wrong size or even one he didn't order at all. Thankfully he hasn't received any 16" fish yet.

any fish that lives in my tank (unless you are clownfish),

That made me chuckle.

Hope your new puffer makes the trip from BC safely and enjoys his new home.