Friends of Fish

Updates & Available Fish

Ren — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:42:53 GMT

Greetings folks! It's been a long time since I last updated, so here's the scoop:

A Better Place for Bettas lives on with some modifications. We still provide permenant sanctuary to 20 resident bettas, but now do foster & placement of bettas and a few other species! Some recently adopted-out fish include a (freshwater) wolf fish who outgrew his tank, goldfish given out as prizes at a community day event, and of course several bettas! Right now we have several foster bettas available for adoption to qualified homes, often with tank and supplies, and have three more coming in some time after the 16th of November. So, if anyone on Best Friends is interested in adopting, please contact me!

What else has been going on? Well, as you know, out capacity has been reduced from nearly 60 residents down to 20 with room for up to five foster animals. Some of our oldest fish have passed away, including Innoby, one of our first, who recently passed on at nearly six years old! Others have found adoptive homes throughout the United States, including everywhere from California to local New York. Most of our current residents are over the age of two and either disabled or deformed. They include animals like Manx, who had his entire tail ripped off down to the bone yet miraculously survived, as well as Tiny Tina, a growth stunted female with a spinal deformity and poor vision.

We also have some new non-betta residents and updates on old residents. Our three common goldfish have been upgraded to a spacious outdoor pond and have grown quite a lot; Tangaloor is over a foot long! Our fancy goldfish population presently includes a partially blind female, a one eyed male, and a completely eyeless juvenille. Recent additions are a baby convict cichlid with a spinal deformity (a breeder cull), and a baby Koi who like Manx also had his entire tail ripped off.

A Better Place for Bettas is now a subset of All Creatures Small, which deals with the sanctuary, foster, and placement of other small animals including mice, frogs, budgies, and more. This year we've placed and rescued a large number of animals. Some highlights include the placement of five mice, the intake of two disabled birds & a disabled gecko, the placement of a horned frog and scorpion in an education program, and the intake of a tarantula from another shelter. ACS has a few critters for adoption as well, including a Southern Leopard Frog and plenty of hissing cockroaches. Also check out our ACS network on Best Friends, which focuses on invertebrates.

The Adoption Option

Ren — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:21:49 GMT

The Adoption Option: Betta Rescue the Old Fashioned Way

Summary: This article, originally posted on UltimateBettas.com, seeks to guide those wishing to own or rescue fish in the direction of adoption. It also seeks to discourage the sympathy purchase of fish from pet stores.

Introduction:
Adopting unwanted dogs and cats rather than purchasing from a pet store has become a popular practice in the United States and other countries. Yet this practice is slower to catch on when it comes to less traditional companions, such as pocket pets, exotics, and fish. Perhaps it is because they have fewer advocates, fewer rescue organizations, or are less appealing to the general public. Perhaps the owner-to-owner rather than owner-to-rescue transfer of such animals makes determining the scope of the homelessness problem more difficult. Regardless of the minimal attention the plight of these animals garners, make no mistake: there are many bettas out there who need adoptive homes, and will otherwise suffer neglect or perish.

Why Adopt?
Let's face the facts: bettas are mistreated in pet stores because they have been commodified. When you turn living things into products, the same bottom line - profit - still applies. And with bettas costing stores literally pennies but being sold for dollars, low-quality care is typically cheaper even if it does cost a few lives along the way.

Even if advocacy can remedy in-store care, or if the store maintains a minimum standards of quality husbandry, pet stores tend to rely on the impulsive purchase of animals along with the gimmicky (and often inappropriate) products that accompany them. This means living in a small cup, which should be a temporary condition of the sales world, can turn into a lifetime in about the same volume of water as people are encouraged to buy little tanks with big price tags for the sake of store profits.

For many betta advocates, this makes the current state of affairs in pet stores one not worth supporting. For those who purchase from breeders, the alternative is obvious, but those who only want a pet quality animal but do not wish to support a store, or alternately those who want to help bettas in need, the options are less clear.

How and Where to Adopt
Thankfully, adoption is an increasingly popular and available option. In the betta world, there are basically three major types of adoption to consider: adoption/rescue from a prior owner, adoption of a breeder cull, and adoption from a foster home or rescue. Below is detailed information on each.

Rescue/Adoption from Prior Owner: This form of adoption covers bettas who are unwanted or neglected in their current homes, usually locally. The fish may come from any variety of situations; perhaps they were a well loved pet and their owner simply can't keep them due to circumstances. Perhaps they are unwanted due to a child's waning interests. Some may be the unlucky victims of live animal prizes, wedding centerpieces, or other exploitative uses of the species. And in some cases, you may simply notice a friend or co-worker neglecting their betta and ask if you can take it home. Remember that fish coming from private homes were often improperly cared for or neglected, so one should be prepared to deal with issues like fin rot, emaciation, parasites, etc. before adopting.
If you are interested in adopting a betta from an owner who does not want or can not keep their fish, here are a few places to start:
Petfinder Classifieds
Craigslist
Freecycle
Kijiji
UB Adoption Agency
UB Rescue Network
Adoption of Breeder Culls: A "cull" fish is a betta that is not desired by its breeder but is not a good candidate to be sold. These animals may be disfigured, disabled, undersized, poor quality, or simply surplus. Traditionally, such fish were culled - killed - but many breeders now use adoption as a humane alternative. Anyone looking to adopt a cull should obviously be well prepared to deal with any potential special needs if they exist, and pricey shipping is often involved unless the breeder is local. Still, these wonderful fish are truly a rescue as they would otherwise be destroyed, and many are no more complicated to care for than any other betta. Many breeders post their culls in the adoption section of this site; other betta & tropical fish forums sometimes have such animals available for adoption as well.
Adoption from Foster Home/Rescue: While there are no known betta-specific non-profit rescue organizations, bettas are sometimes available through other rescue groups, such as animal shelters, or from private foster homes that have rescued the animals and are now working to place them. Petfinder has added a "fish" sub-category to its "reptile" category, and bettas are occasionally available there via traditional animal rescue organizations.
Private betta rescuers and foster homes are easiest found through betta forums like this one, though a word of caution - because private individuals are not actual non-profit organizations, it can be difficult to determine if they are legitimate, or if they may be hoarders or scammers. If you don't know the reputation of the individual you're adopting from, always make sure you have full contact info before sending shipping money and can see a photo of the fish before you adopt it. Also be leery of individuals who will not show their facilities, charge a high adoption fee, do not have any adoption stipulations to ensure a good home, or who adopt out sickly animals without informing adopters.

Conclusion
Unwanted bettas are more prevalent than one may realize; while they many not have a homelessness crisis of the same magnitude as other animals, there are plenty of bettas out there who could benefit from an informed adoptive home. Adoption is a fulfilling and compassionate way to own bettas without supporting pet stores (especially if breeders are not an option or not preferred). It gives bettas who are unwanted, homeless, or who would otherwise perish a second chance at living a long, happy life with a compassionate owner.

Text and image (c) "Ren" Weeks
Originally posted at Ultimatebettas.com
Image depicts "Adelei," a disabled betta adopted from a breeder.

RE: What artcles do YOU want to see?

angelmona — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:36:37 GMT

An article were we can put down problems with our numerous and various pets, there is wisdom in numbers! for example:

my fish Chiko since i got a filter/bubbler has been swimming against the flow of bubbles, apparently to find were it comes from... he has already been flipped out of the tank 4 times. we have had to but a large book over the top to stop him from falling out. he still does it and hits his entire body on the book. im worried tht this will hurt him. is there somthing im missing?

sorry if you already have an article about this sort of thing but im new to this site

We've Got Fissues - The State of Fish in the Pet Trade

ren — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:18:14 GMT

Summary: This article, origionally posted on my blog for ACS, addresses concerns about the state of fish in the pet trade and the inaction on the part of the animal welfare/rescue community.

When Manx came to us, his tail had been ripped off down to the bone and left untreated. Spartan, Clarence, Noriko, Nanahara, and Warsaw had all been fought for entertainment and betting; Warsaw is permanently disabled from his wounds. Jersey, Nugget and many others were found on the brink of death from starvation. Murphy was abandoned on a front porch in the middle of winter, sick and underweight. Mia was unwanted because a genetic defect resulting from coloration selected for show animals had caused her to go blind. Leucothea, Rail, and two others were neglected by a hoarder. Boudica and Thatcher were abandoned because they didn't reproduce. Mahalo and many others were found dying of severe, untreated infections that could have been prevented with proper husbandry, while Chuck was so infested with parasites that it nearly killed him. Some, like Mouse, lost their homes because they were just "too ugly" to be wanted. And others, many others, died before help ever reached them.

Animal lovers would hear these stories and ask where they can sign up to welcome these tragic dogs and cats into their homes. They would demand legal repercussions for abusers, or hold walks to raise funds for medical care. These poor lost souls would want for nothing in the loving care of dedicated volunteers. The problem is, none of the animals above were dogs or cats. They were all fish, and many more have suffered and died silently, with no advocates.

I've met self-professed animal lovers keep bettas in a vase on their desk or goldfish in a bowl in their kitchen. Others tout the importance of research before buying yet have overstocked, under-stimulated, incompatible nightmares for home fish tanks. The same people who go to leaflett against puppy milling or wild caught parrots buy their fish from pet stores without a second thought. For all of the condemnation of the exotics trade, few I've met bat an eye at the fish in a store front aquarium.

Fish in most pet stores are mass (mill) bred, production bred on fish farms, or taken directly from the wild. They are subjected to extreme shipping stress with no laws protecting them on their voyage. In stores, they are kept in over-crowded aquariums with species they may be incompatible with, and seldom receive any sort of veterinary intervention for the (extremely prevalent) infections, parasites, and injuries that plague them. Untold numbers - thousands, perhaps even millions - die before ever leaving the store from preventable health conditions, and it is common to see sick, dead, and dying fish on display even in stores that pride themselves on animal care (ie. Petco/Petsmart).

Those who survive long enough to make it to their new homes do so with no adoption screening and often no age limit (some without even so much as a guarantee that the animal will survive more than a day!). The result is often prolonged suffering in undersized, unclean, unsuitable living conditions, perhaps alongside aggressive tankmates, before dying of a shortened lifespan (knowledgeable, responsible, and perhaps equally importantly humane fishkeepers, even among those devoted enough to the hobby post on web forums, seem a rare phenomenon). Those that lose their owners' interest due to upkeep, overbreeding, prohibitive size, or any other reason may find themselves released into non-native habitats, returned to pet stores, dumped on shelter staff ignorant of their care needs, killed through gruesome home methods, or shuffled through to the next owner with only a shadow of hope that they will not suffer the same fate again.

If we consider the dismal state of the fish industry, it is readily apparent even from surface examination that these animals are suffering and dying on a massive scale that trumps perhaps every other species championed by shelters and humane groups. They have little to no legal protection, a low standing in our culture, and perhaps the greatest (and only preventable) crime of all, virtually no advocates (PETA anthropomorphising bettas as social butterflies does not count). Humane outreach programs, legal funds, and even grassroots protests ignore the issue of fish in pet stores for more handsome quarry like ending dog fighting, stopping puppy mills, or reducing rabbit homelessness. Rescues for fish are few and far between (and often, in my experience, fraudulent), with sanctuaries virtually non-existant. Thus, no one speaks out to prevent the suffering of fish in the pet trade, and no one is there to pick up the pieces when the inevitable happens.

Here at ACS, fish ARE a major concern. At one time, they made up the bulk of our residents. These animals have experienced all the horrors (and then some) ever experienced by rescued dogs and cats, but their suffering occurred legally, unpunished, and often unquestioned, right in the public eye. They are constant reminders of the progress that needs to be made in bringing the animal welfare community around to the plight of all animals, not just the cute, furry ones that are visually appealing and great for fund raising. They need impassioned advocates unafraid to draw the comparison between the worst abuses of mammals and birds and the commonplace suffering of fish.

Until that day comes, ACS would like to suggest the following:
1. If you wouldn't buy from a store that sells milled puppies or wild caught exotics, don't buy from a store that sells fish! Fish in chain stores tend to come from a small handfull of massive production breeders or are wild caught depending on the species. Likewise, if you normally oppose purchasing animals from pet stores, carry that philosophy over to fish!
2. Look to your classifieds, craigslist, petfinder, shelter listings, etc. if you think you'd like to adopt a fish. Most major cities will have postings every day for fish who are no longer wanted for a wide range of reasons. If you simply must buy, support a responsible, humane breeder with good credentials - though remember that ideally, living beings should never be reduced to products.
3. Carefully research before you adopt or purchase any fish. Flipping through a book published in the 80's, going to Yahoo! answers, or reading one web page does not suffice. Go to the websites of serious enthusiasts, talk to other keepers on forums for experience, read up on the species habitat and diet in the wild - misinformation is common, but outright ignorance is simply inexcusable.
4. When you see ailing fish in pet stores, speak up. Stores need to know that it is not acceptable for any animal in their care to be suffering or denied basic care needs. Consider how you would react if it was a dog, cat, or rabbit in the same state, and act accordingly. Be polite, firm, and if possible public so that other shoppers become aware of the problem as well.
5. Try to avoid the "sympathy purchase"- you are putting money in the hands of abusers. Many stores will relinquish ailing fish free of charge if asked, particularly if you display a level of expertise. Just remember to never bring home an animal you do not have the time, funding, and knowledge to help.
6. Educate whenever you see a fish being mistreated, be it in stores, private homes, or places of business. Ignorance is massive and pervasive when it comes to proper fish husbandry; even stores are often happy to learn the proper care of a given species. Just as you would try to educate a friend letting her unspayed cat breed willy-nilly, do not remain silent on behalf of fish. This is complicity with cruelty.
7. Above all, be an advocate! Whatever your talent may be - humane law, rescue, fostering, education, protest, letter writing - use it to help fish in addition to any other causes you champion. If you live in a state where fish have legal protection, DO report abuses. If you have space in your home, money in your wallet, time on your hands, and knowledge in your head, consider fostering or adopting fish needing homes. Got a talent for education? Write caresheets, post on web forums, or just talk to people about issues pertaining to fish in the pet trade. And always feel free to be your local fish store watch dog, making sure management keeps an eye on the conditions of animals in the store.

Stocking Waterways: When Will We Learn?

Ren — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:02:36 GMT

Summary: The stocking of waterways for sport fishing endangers native fish, wildlife.

Suggest to any reputable ecologist that you intend upon releasing even a single individual of a non-native species into a local environment, and you can expect the tongue lashing of the century, complete with threats to call the authorities. Invasive species have long been the bane of local environments as human activity spreads everything from feral domesticated beasts to ornamental plants, right down to bacteria and viruses into new territories. Fear of introduced species has resulted in laws harshly restricting pet ownership, heavy fines for releasing non-native wildlife, and calls to assist state and federal government eradication measures.

Ironically, the primary source of recent introductions of non-indigenous species may be government environmental agencies themselves. For years, despite common sense and empirical data contradicting such actions, waterways across the United States have been deliberately stocked with non-native fish, an action sanctioned by the DEC and F&W. The reason for these introductions is to provide "sport" for fishermen, thus drawing tourism and license dollars - it is, in essence, yet another example business interests trumping environmental concerns.

Public apathy about fish has permitted the immediate risks of disease, competition, and predation to native populations to go on ignored. What is not so easy to turn a blind eye to is the devastating ripple effect fish stocking is showing throughout the food web. Amphibians, for example, are subject to heightened predation and disease risk when large predatory "fishing stock" are introduced to their environment. In July 2001, the Society for Conservation Biology discovered a link between fish stocking and the spread of Saprolegnia ferax, a devastating fungus common in fish hatcheries that results in an increased death rate of amphibian embryos. In 2008, the Ecological Society of America linked poor health in Herring Gulls to fish stocking, noting that introduced trout and salmon in the great lakes created a sharp dip in small fish populations that serve as the Gulls' natural prey.

These are only two examples out of many; fish stocking both historically and present day has consistently been linked with environmental devastation. The practice persists only because the sport fishing industry is favored over environmental concerns. Rather than requiring that fishermen simply make due with native fish or travel should they wish to fish for larger species, we have catered to a recreational bloodsport at the cost of our native ecosystems, breaking one of the cardinal rules of environmental protection: if it doesn't belong, don't put it there.

Text (c) Lauren Weeks
Image (c) Andy Noyes

Fish In Need of Homes - NY State

Ren — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:49:13 GMT

Oscar w/Tank - 4/29
Location: Colonie, NY
Species: Oscar (1)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: (518) 557-4576
Original Post: http://albany.craigslist.org/pet/661108316.html
i have an oscar that i dont particularly want. when my roommates moved out they left him/her in my care. i have my own animals including a fish tank that i have to care for and i dont want to have something else to feed. he is only in a 10 gallon tank now, but everything is included. it is my tank and supplies so i am looking for $20 for everything. please contact me (518)577*4576 ask for Heather.

2 Cichlids/1 Oscar - 4/26
Location: Gansevoort, NY
Species: Cichlid (2), Oscar (1)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: 298-8607
Original Post: http://albany.craigslist.org/pet/656979375.html
One Electric Blue Johanni, 4 inches.
One Yellow Zebra, 4 Inches.
One Sm. Oscar, 4 Inches.
All 3 fish are healthy and growing. Sizes estimated. All 3 cost about $8.00 in stores, looking to re-home ALL 3 for $10.
Call 248-8607, hoping to re-home these guys today.

Pink Convicts - 4/23
Location: Watervliet, NY
Species: Pink Convict (many)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: legalreefer2@yahoo.com
Original Post: http://albany.craigslist.org/pet/653345850.html
I have baby Pink Convicts,,there from the Cichlid family..Go to Yahoo search,,tpye in PINK CONVICTS...you ll see....FREE FREE FREE....NOT TO BE USED AS FEEDERS.....THERES A LIMIT...5....they breed like rabbits...

Tiger Oscars - 4/15
Location: Albany, NY
Species: Tiger Oscar (3)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: comm-643318954@craigslist.org
Original Post: http://albany.craigslist.org/pet/643318954.html
I have (3) LARGE tiger (kinda plain in color) oscars (7+ inches in size) for FREE! You'll need to bring your own cooler to transport them... Yes I said cooler! (they're too big for a bucket) I bought these fish from a guy on craigslist earlier this year and discovered after I got them home that they were sick. With the help of Eddie's Aquarium I treated them and have nursed them back to health. The only reason why i'm parting with them is because they're being extremely aggressive with my other oscars. Drop me a line if interested. Please include in your email what size tank they'll be going to.

Dalmatian Mollies - 4/27
Location: New Windsor, NY
Species: Dalmatian Mollies (many)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: comm-658448653@craigslist.org
Original Post: http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/pet/658448653.html
adopt 4 dalmation mollie baby fish. just born 8 weeks ago. ready for new homes. these are tropical fish and last about 2-3 years. gets along with all tropicals.. adopt 4 babies for adoption fee of $5.00 please just had 20 mores babies last night. too many for my small tank

Butterfly Koi - 4/17
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Species: Butterfly Koi (many)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: comm-645645301@craigslist.org
Original Post: http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/pet/645645301.html
4-6" butterfly Koi available. Currently have over 60 fish. Going Quick!!!!! Contact for details. $10 each or 5 For $40!!!

Fancy Guppies - 4/29
Location: Ithica, NY
Species: Fancy Guppy (many)
Details: See Post
Contact Information: comm-661463824@craigslist.org
Original Post: http://ithaca.craigslist.org/pet/661463824.html
I have several Fancy Tail Guppies.
Male and Female various ages.
Rehoming fee of .50 each.

Many fish in Rochester: http://rochester.craigslist.org/search/pet?query=fish

More listings soon.

A Better Place for Bettas : Fish In Need of Homes

Ren — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:22:33 GMT

This sticky topic is used for postings of fish in need of adoptive homes by state. They can be fish you are looking to place yourself, fish you saw on petfinder or craigslist, or postings from rescues. Posted fish will be removed as placed or once the adoption listing has been inactive for a month or more.

Please include AT LEAST the following in all posts:
- Location (as detailed as possible)
- Species
- Any details about age, size, appearance, special needs, etc.
- Contact information
- Link to original posting (if applicable)

F.L.A.R.E. Forum : Welcome/Forum Use

Ren — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:12:55 GMT

Welcome to the F.L.A.R.E. Forum! This forum is a resource for those interested in activism for fish welfare and rights, as well as rescue efforts. It is a temporary forum until the F.L.A.R.E. webpage is up and running. Need or have ideas on how to help fish? Want to discuss ethical issues pertaining to the uses of fish in society? Need to vent about pescetarians? Post here! There's just a few simple rules:

- Please do not post content or links promoting content supporting cruelty or exploitation of fish.
- Keep all posts respectful; while debate is permitted, arguments are not.
- DO NOT post promoting or organizing illegal activities such as liberations; it is disrespectful to Best Friend's philosophy.
- Action alerts welcome but do not post false or defamatory claims, nor encourage harassment or illegal direct action.
- If you are posting information or news articles, please provide a link to your source.

Thank you in advance for following our rules and guidelines. Enjoy posting!

Tiny Mud Puddles and Other Lies

Ren — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:53:10 GMT

Summary: Myths and Misperceptions About our Beloved Bettas

Introduction
Like goldfish before them, bettas are fast rising in the ranks of America's most popularly owned aquarium fish. Hardy, attractive, and capable of surviving in smaller quarters than most species, bettas have surpassed the goldfish as the "ideal" bowl buddy for the office, dorm, and home. However, this widespread popularity has come at a high price: many bettas suffer horrendous abuse and neglect at the hands of their owners. Perhaps the greatest tragedy about this unfortunate situation is that the majority of bettas who are mistreated are harmed unintentionally, out of ignorance or even misinformation.
The key to helping improve the lives of bettas is to dispel the myths propagated by pet stores and industries about this fascinating and unique species of fish. Most betta owners would never keep their fish in sub-standard current conditions if they were made aware of proper betta husbandry, and the first step to this is calling the misinformation for what it is. This article hopes to serve that purpose, so please share it with everyone you know!

Dispelling the Myths
General Husbandry Myths
Myth: Wild bettas live in tiny mud puddles and thus do not require clean water or space.
Reality: The wild ancestors of today's domesticated Betta splendens yield from rice paddies, swamps, wetlands, and shallow ponds in South East Asia. These bodies of water, though shallow, are quite expansive; rice paddies typically span many acres. Male bettas form sizable territories during breeding season, sometimes as large as a square meter, and are only found in "puddles" during the dry season - a time of year where many bettas will die due to crowding, poor water quality, and inadequate food supply. It is also noteworthy that these bodies of water, though dark from tannins in fallen leaves, are not unclean - plant life provides a sort of natural filtration, and the replenishing of water during the wet season maintains a healthy, clean aquatic environment. The suggestion that bettas or any fish thrive in filthy water is contradictory to logic.

Myth: Bettas prefer tightly confined spaces and will "freak out" or die in larger containers.
Reality: Most owners who report bettas becoming distressed or dying in larger tanks had this experience because of something done wrong during acclimation, set-up, or husbandry while in the tank. In a well-planted tank with appropriate filtration (or lack thereof), compatible tank mates (or, again, lack thereof), proper acclimation, and suitable water parameters (including temperature), there is no reason that spaciousness should stress or kill a betta. Indeed, a slightly larger tank, in the range of 2.5-10g (preferably 5g+), may even be beneficial; one of the leading killers of bettas is inadequate physical activity, resulting in fatty liver.

Myth: A cup or bowl is the ideal habitat of a betta.
Reality: In a room of the appropriate temperature, and with frequent enough water changes, it is true that bettas can survive short-term in a cup or bowl. However, this is far from being an "ideal" home for a betta. Cups and bowls are prone to temperature fluctuations, rapid declines in water quality, and generate stress during the frequent 100% water changes typically required to prevent fin rot and dangerous waste build-ups. They are also positively correlated with curled fins and obesity, both of which can be caused by insufficient physical activity.
In actuality, the ideal habitat for a betta is a heated tank of 2.5-10 gallons (preferably 5g+), that is longer and wider than tall. It should have live or silk plants and at least one hide for the sake of the betta's sense of security, and water quality should be maintained through cycling, filtering, or frequent water changes. And it should certainly be covered to prevent jumping - a problem we often see in cups and bowls.

Myth: Betta-in-a-vase products mimic the betta's natural environment and create a stable internal ecosystem
Reality: One of the most dangerous elements of the betta fad is the betta-in-a-vase craze. These vases are undersized, over-exposed, fail to maintain adequate temperature, and often do not provide space for air-breathing. It should be easy to see through the suggestion that they mimic the betta's natural environment; what natural environment could a tall, narrow container half-filled with marbles with a plant plopped on top possibly be emulating? Certainly not a rice paddy, that's for sure! What's more, the assertion that the plants roots will sufficiently manage ammonia and waste production in the small container is preposterous; even in aquariums filled with aquatic plants, filtration and gravel cleaning are required.

Myth: Bettas kept in vases survive by eating the plant's roots; feeding and cleaning is not needed since this is a self-sustaining environment.
Reality: Bettas are carnivores (insectivores) by nature; in the wild, they eat a variety of insects, and occasionally the eggs and fry of other aquatic species. While they might intermittently nibble at plant matter if hungry enough, they can not obtain adequate nutrition from plants. Any betta actively consuming the roots of a plant is likely doing so as a last resort while attempting to stave off starvation. They absolutely must be fed an appropriate carnivore diet. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the vase is not a self-sustaining environment. True, a starved betta will not produce as much waste as a well fed one, but bettas absolutely need water changes - especially when kept in inadequately sized containers like a vase.

Myth: Bettas, even in small and unfiltered tanks, do not require frequent water changes as they thrive in unclean conditions.
Reality: Tying back to the myth regarding the ideal water conditions of bettas, it is a common misconception that the species is found in dirty, muddy puddles, which has convinced some novice aquarists that clean water is not demanded of the species and could even be harmful. In reality, the opposite could not be more true. The selection for decorative and show finnage types in bettas has created fish that are in fact highly sensitive to water quality; unless conditions are pristine (right down to hardness and pH, even!), you can expect crown tails, half moons, and other long finned bettas to suffer deterioration of the finnage. The poor circulation to the extremities of these lofty fins also makes them a prime target for bacterial infections, a problem only exacerbated by unclean water. Make no mistake: there is no such thing as a fish that thrives in waste-laden, filthy water!

Myth: Bettas do not require heating or filtration.
Reality: While this is technically a myth, there is no simple counterpoint for a number of reasons.
It is true that bettas can survive without a heater or filter, but only under highly specific conditions. For example, in a room heated to at least 76 degrees, a betta does not need an actual heater, but under normal room temperature conditions, they absolutely do. The ideal range of the species is 76-82 degrees (with a survival range of around 72-86), which under most conditions demands a heater.
In regards to filtration, opinions are split. The benefits of a cycled, filtered tank are numerous and well supported. Unfortunately, the combination of yielding from stagnant water and having large, cumbersome fins can make filtration stressful, so many keepers (including traditional thai breeders) do not filter or cycle. Both methods seem to work so long as clean water and consistent water parameters are maintained. (You can read more on this issue when I add the document "Bettas And Filtration: What You Should Know" to our Resources shortly)

Myth: Bettas are not tropical fish.
Reality: Many pet stores will tell customers that cold cups are not problematic because bettas are not tropical fish. I'm sure the people of Thailand would be interested to learn that they are living in a temperate climate! Bettas, like many other tropical fish, have an ideal temperature range of 76-82 degrees. They survive perfectly well in temperatures upwards of 86 degrees, but they can not thrive in temperatures below 72. While they may be hardy enough to survive outside of their ideal range, cool temps typically result in lethargy, constipation, fin rot, and an increased susceptibility to disease.

Myth: It is best to keep bettas in cool temperatures as it results in a longer lifespan.
Reality: Because bettas are exotherms, it is true that their metabolism is directly related to the temperature of their environment. As such, there is some foundation to the suggestion that colder temperatures will reduce metabolism and thus, in theory, lengthen lifespan. However, what this theory neglects to consider is that cold temperatures are correlated with susceptibility to parasitic infestations and illness, which shorten lifespan. What's more, colder temperatures result in lethargy, and low levels of physical activity are closely linked to fatty tissue degeneration - one of the number one killers of bettas.

Myth: Because bettas do not use their gills, there is no need to oxygenate their water.
Reality: While bettas do have a labyrinth organ that permits them to breathe air, this does not mean that they do not gill breathe, nor does it mean that there are not risks to keeping them in oxygen deficient water. While healthy bettas do not demand aeration to stay healthy, aeration should always be provided during medical treatments, if the fish is suffering gill distress, or if the fish is having trouble surfacing. Oxygen poor water contributes to anaerobic bacterial blooms, stresses the gills, and in extreme cases of weak fish who can not surface, may result in death. The adaptations bettas have evolved to survive in stagnant water are not an excuse for improper care during sickness.

Myth: Bettas are inactive fish and thus demand minimal space
Reality: Most bettas who are inactive are behaving as such because they are cold or ill. When provided with appropriate space and temperatures, they are an extremely active, inquisitive fish. Some heavier finned fish may be less active, but a betta who is inactive is most likely unhealthy.

Myth: Bettas must be kept in distilled water.
Reality: Because bettas come from soft-water, acidic environments, many pet stores incorrectly recommend keeping bettas in distilled water. While there is some debate over this topic, a general consensus is that distilled or R/O water must be conditioned with some degree of trace minerals; purely distilled water is not healthy. Bettas do demand a certain amount of essential trace minerals in the water, and unconditioned distilled water is prone to fluctuations in pH as it often has a poor buffering capacity. In short, unless you have the resources to properly condition R/O or distilled water, your betta is safer in dechlorinated tap under most circumstances.

Myth: Bettas only need to be fed once or twice per week.
Reality: This myth comes from stores that keep bettas in extremely cold conditions, resulting in a sluggish metabolism and a minimal requirement for calories. A betta kept in a properly heated and appropriately sized tank demands feeding most days (typically daily with 1-2 fasting days per week), even if fed a wholesome diet of quality pellets and live/frozen food. Tropical temperatures and the naturally active nature of this inquisitive species mean high energy demands.

Myth: Bettas only bubblenest if they are happy.
Reality: Bubblenesting is not an expression of joy or pleasure; it represents the betta's urge to mate. Mating is the ultimate instinct of any creature outside of survival; even in unfavorable conditions, most young male bettas will still bubble-nest. Water changes, temperature spikes, or viewing other bettas will also often encourage bubble nesting behavior. In other words, a betta blowing bubbles in a cold, dirty ½ gallon bowl isn't doing so out of pleasure, but out of instinct. Do not use such a behavior to excuse improper care under the pretense of the animal being "happy."

Myth: Bettas are too stupid to require behavioral enrichment.
Reality: It is a common misconception that fish are unintelligent. This assumption has resulted in bettas and other fish being kept in dull environments. For an intelligent species like bettas, an environment void of behavioral enrichment can result in neurotic stress behaviors such as pacing, excessive hiding, tail biting, etc. It is strongly suggested that in addition to plants and hides, a betta should be offered a variety of non-threatening stimuli to keep them active, engaged, and entertained. You can read on suggestions for behavioral enrichment in our "Bored Betta?" article.

Myth: There is nothing wrong with fighting bettas because they can not feel pain and enjoy fighting.
Reality: As of 2003, scientific studies on the anatomy and behavior of fish offered conclusive proof that fish react to painful stimuli and possess the nocireceptors required to feel pain sensations. This means that fighting bettas does result in undue pain and distress, even if carried out in a professional and controlled manner. The suggestion that fighting is "enjoyed" is nothing more than a flimsy attempt to defend cruelty; bettas in the wild, like any animal, fight to protect territory out of necessity. In captivity, fish bred and trained for aggression are pitted against one another in a confined space, unable to retreat as they may in the wild. It is not a matter of enjoyment; betta fighting is an exploitation of a natural instinct for human gain, at the expense of the animal's health and safety. While we respect that fighting was an integral part of the history of betta domestication, it is not a responsible or humane husbandry practice.

Tankmate Myths
Myth: Male bettas only fight with other males; this aside, they are peaceful community fish.
Reality: Most male bettas will fight with anything that even remotely resembles another male in finnage or coloration. Some will attack any fish indiscriminately, regardless of its appearance. It is inherently risky to house bettas with other fish. Some bettas are too aggressive to be kept with any species, and many community species will damage the finnage of a betta. This species does best when kept solitarily due to its special environmental and social needs. However, community keeping is possible with careful monitoring and appropriate tankmates if the betta's personality permits. Communal housing should always be approached on a case by case, individual basis!

Myth: Female bettas are peaceful and can always be housed together or in tropical community tanks.
Reality: Many female bettas are equally as aggressive as males - with added speed and mobility due to their short finnage! "Sorority" tanks (consisting of all female bettas) are only possible in a well-planted environment under highly specific population and gallonage conditions, and even then injuries and deaths are commonplace. Likewise, female bettas will often attack and injure community fish, especially ones who resemble bettas. Male and female bettas are almost equally solitary; the safest way to keep females, like males, is alone. If you do wish to keep a sorority or community tank with females, you must monitor closely, and read up on setting up such a tank safely.

Myth: Bettas are completely unsuitable community fish and can only be housed solitarily.
Reality: While the safest way to keep bettas is solitarily for both the betta's sake and that of its would-be tank mates, it would be inaccurate to suggest that bettas can never be housed with other fish. Placid males and females can often be housed in a well-planted community tank with mellow, dully-colored fish, as well as some aquatic invertebrates or amphibians. Careful monitoring is demanded, and the positives and negatives of the housing situation should be thoroughly evaluated prior to mixing species, but the community betta is not an impossibility. Keep an eye on the resource section for a document detailing acceptable betta tankmates.

Myth: Bettas can be kept with goldfish since both live happily in bowls.
Reality: This myth is multi-dimensional. Bettas are arguably unsuitable for keeping in bowls due to the difficulties in maintaining appropriate temperature. Goldfish should never be kept in bowls due to their waste output, oxygenation needs, and growth potential. Improper housing aside, the two species are incompatible. Bettas are small, solitary, aggressive tropical fish which require soft, acidic, still water and pristine conditions. Goldfish are large, social, fin-nipping coldwater fish which demand harder, slightly base, well-oxygenated and filtered water. They are also massive waste producers and hosts to many parasites. In short, the two species are utterly incompatible, and should not be housed together under any circumstances - especially in bowls!

Myth: Guppies and bettas make great tank mates.
Reality: Some betta keepers do successfully keep female bettas or passive males with female or wild type guppies. However, it is not suggested or encouraged to mix these two species. Male guppies in particular have bright colors and flowing finnage that can illicit aggression from male and even female bettas. Countless guppies have been wounded and killed by bettas due to inaccurate compatibility suggestions; it simply is not worth the risk.

Myth: Male bettas can be kept with groups of female bettas.
Reality: Many pet stores suggest keeping a male betta with a small harem of females, and some betta keepers have tried this set-up with limited short term success. However, in the long run, such an arrangement almost always results in the injury or death of the females, male, or both; male and female bettas were not made to co-habitate outside of brief periods of mating and will aggress upon each other. Male bettas should never be kept with any member of their species.

Myth: A male and female betta can be housed together as mates in the same tank.
Reality: Bettas are a solitary species; they do not form mate bonds and thus will not recognize one another as companions; this is dangerous uncritical anthropomorphism. The only time one should attempt to place a breeding pair of bettas together is during the actual mating; a male and female betta housed one on one is asking for a massacre. Even with a careful introduction and supervised mating, injuries and deaths during reproduction are not uncommon. Male and female bettas simply should not be housed together, period.

Myth: Female bettas need other females for company and will become lonely and depressed without others of their kind.
Reality: Anthropomorphism is a grave enemy of fish. Bettas are a solitary species; they do not need companionship and will not become "lonely" or "sad" without the company of other bettas. Overall, other bettas simply create territory disputes and a need for a pecking order. Sorority tanks can be safely formed, but please understand that it is done for the owner's preference and not for the needs of the fish involved. Those wishing to keep social fish would be well advised to consider a schooling species instead of bettas.

Can you think of a myth that is not mentioned here? Message me and I will add it to the list!

Conclusion
Despite its popularity as an aquarium fish, the betta is still largely surrounded by myth and misinformation. A combination of inaccurate information from vendors and a poor understanding of the social and environmental needs of the species among aquarists has lead time and time again to the mistreatment of bettas on both a private and industrial scale. Thankfully, the word is slowly spreading about the needs of this unique and wonderful species. The days of cold ½ gallon bowls are slowly fading away as more and more responsible aquarists acknowledge that the betta deserves the same standard of care of any other tropical fish - with extra considerations for their unique needs. Please feel free to share this article to help dispel the myths and promote responsible betta husbandry!

Image and Text (c) Lauren Weeks
Original posting @ ultimatebettas.com

Updates on the Sanctuary

Ren — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:17:43 GMT

Picture: Noci the crayfish enjoys a spacious new environment after surviving cruel and confined conditions

Although A Better Place for Bettas can no longer accept new betta residents, there is still plenty of buzz among the existing fish. It's been a long time since our last update; we've welcomed plenty of new faces and said our tearful goodbyes to old timers. Some, like Innoby, have been with us since we first opened in 2004. Others, like Conflict, arrived within the last few months. The present counts for residents include: 35 bettas, 5 goldfish, 2 Dojo Loaches, 2 Chinese Algae Eaters, 1 Rosy Red Minnow, and 1 Crayfish. Updated photos and stories will be added to the "my pets" selection of my profile (Username: Ren) shortly, so please stay patient as changes are made.

Noci, the Louisiana Red Swamp Crayfish pictured above, is our newest resident - she actually arrived after the decision was made to no longer accept fish, but who can resist such a pretty face? Noci and several other crayfish were confiscated by animal control and turned over to an exotics rescue that found them a bit challenging. Crayfish are highly territorial and need pristine water conditions for health and wellbeing - two needs difficult to accomodate when you have over a dozen of them! Lucky for Noci, a 20g environment just opened up here (read about Loxia's sad passing below), so she now has full run of a habitat set up to mimic the conditions she would live in were she wild. Currently she is battling a common parasitic infestation, but is expected to make a full recovery. Watch for her profile, coming soon!

The last betta admitted to the Sanctuary, Visla, is a red veil tail male who was released by a well-intentioned but ignorant activist into a large display tank containing koi at a local pet store. His fins were severely damaged, and the poor guy was found stuck to a filter, unable to fight the current in his weakened state. A worker discovered him brought him to A Better Place for Bettas, where I am happy to report his fins are quickly growing back! His turn of bad luck may have been his lucky break; as a red veil tail, his prospects of finding a home were poor to begin with - just another reason why we need to stop the "fish mills" producing these wonderful animals and stick to adoptions and responsible private breeders only.

In the coming months, we'll also be making room for a long-awaited Chinese Algae Eater arrival. The young male is being surrendered by his owner after he did what CAEs do when they start to feel their wild oats - protect their territory by attacking and killing fish they see as a threat! He unfortunately killed several guppies before the source of the mysterious fish deaths was discovered, but is now separated and awaiting transport from PA this coming June.

I'd love to say everything has been recoveries and rescues, but that simply isn't the case. We lost several near and dear long time residents this year due to age and other unpreventable causes. In a tragic turn of events, Grizraz died of egg binding at age four after stress from a lip injury incurred when she spooked and struck her face on driftwood caused her to go off food. She was cremated, and is survived by Tangaloor Firefins and two of their filter-bound accidental offspring (Monkey and Prodigy), who now share a 100g tank - and eagerly await the arrival of their 300g indoor pond this spring! Clarence, Shokora, and Jeff Klee all died at age five from kidney failure. Loxia's facial deformities prevented him from eating as he grew, and he eventually grew weak and had to be euthanized.

Every loss was devastating, but rescue and public education has endured in the memory of these wonderful fish. For Earth Day 2008, Friends of Fish held a tabling event at a local college with educational materials on issues facing wild and captive fish, with a focus on sustainability and the environment. The event was a huge success, with leaflets on overfishing, shark finning, sustainable sea food, and responsible fishkeeping distributed to attendees young and old.

A Better Place for Bettas hopes to launch its educational website this summer, complete with detailed husbandry advice, pertinent ethical issues, and profiles on past and current residents. Keep your eye on "Resources" for the official webpage, as well as the launch of F.L.A.R.E., an advocacy group for those who have animal rights rather than welfarist leanings.

A Better Place for Bettas: The New Mission

Ren — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:18:52 GMT

As of 2008, A Better Place for Bettas will no longer be accepting fish, and will slowly be letting its population decline to no more than 10 resident bettas at any given time. Due to the downward trend of the economy and schedule conflicts on my own part, I feel it is best to phase out the Sanctuary to a more manageable level. However, we aren't giving up on betta rescue - not by a long shot! From now on, A Better Place for Bettas will have a strong focus on public education, foster and placement, and listings for bettas in need. We are working on an in-depth website compiling information on betta husbandry and ethical issues, and will also be creating a small sub-forum on a sister site (address will be announced at the forum's launch) listing bettas in need across the country. For now, our residents are enjoying their lives at the Sanctuary, and Friends of Fish will still be utilized to post educational information on betta "fissues." Keep your eye on the blog for updates on residents, activism tips, and other FoF/ABPfB updates!

Deadly Delicacy: Shark Finning

Ren — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:00:24 GMT

Summary: A brief introduction to the practice of shark finning

Every year, an estimated 100 million sharks are killed solely for their fins. Wrenched from the ocean in pain and terror by hooks and in nets, these highly intelligent, wholly sentient beings have their fins hacked from their bodies while still alive and fully conscious. Some will be butchered, their meat sold in Asian marketplaces at a lower price than the prized fins, but most will simply be dumped back into the ocean, maimed and dying, to perish on the ocean floor. This wasteful practice represents one of the most egregious acts of cruelty against wildlife, yet is seldom addressed due to cultural fears and misconceptions about these magnificent beasts.

The cause of this wasteful, cruel, and unsustainable slaughter? An Asian delicacy called Shark Fin Soup, which sells for as much as $100 per bowl. This wasteful dish is typically served to wealthy tourists and rich businessmen at special events; it is not made to sustain locals. In countries like China and Japan, fishermen work long hours in dangerous conditions for minimal pay. The allure of selling the valued fins is obvious; it can generate a much-needed supplement to a paltry income. Therefore the shark fishermen and poachers supplying the fins can not be fully laid to blame; demand is the root cause of finning and should be eliminated.

Sharks are already severely endangered from over-fishing, deaths as fishing bycatch, depleted food sources, and pollution - in the last 10 years, shark populations have dropped by 80%, with several species in imminent risk of extinction. Because they mature slowly, reproduce slower still, and have a high juvenile mortality rate, the death of any shark is a serious blow to wild populations. And since sharks are the only apex predator in many ocean ecosystems, the declining numbers of sharks are producing results similar to the extinction of wolves in much of their range: an overpopulation of prey species, which in turn out-compete other rarer fish and decimate the ocean's flora and invertebrate life. In short, any damage to shark populations is damage to the entire food web.

Shark finning must be stopped; it is inexcusably cruel, ecologically unsound, and utterly unnecessary. Here are a few suggestions of how you can help stop shark finning before it is too late:

+ Never use or consume ANY shark products; this includes meat, leather, teeth, bones, and of course fins. Sharks are imperiled as it is, and there is no way of knowing if these are byproducts of finning.
+ If vacationing in Asia, do not order shark fin soup nor support establishments selling it.
+ If traveling with your business, encourage your company to boycott such establishments as well.
+ Inform friends and family vacationing overseas about the wasteful practice of finning to deter their interest.
+ Refuse to attend events (often weddings) where shark fin soup is served, and let the host know why!
+ Support conservation and animal welfare groups fighting to stop the practice of shark finning.
+ Voice your concern about shark finning and shark fishing as a whole to UN representatives in the US and Asia; the UN often spearheads global fishing regulations.
+ Protest the 2008 Beijing Olympics; make it clear that you don't support countries that support finning!

Text (c) Lauren Weeks
Image (c) Marine Photobank

Oceans in Peril: The Threat of Unsustainable Industrial Fishing

Ren — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:42:38 GMT

Summary: An introduction to the threats of industrial fishing from an ecological and economical perspective.

Introduction
Over 1 billion people in the world rely on fish as their primary source of protein. Commercial fishing is an $80 billion industry, the primary livelihood in many developing nations. And presently, scientists predict that we may see a global collapse of nearly all of the world's fisheries by the year 2050 should current trends continue. In addition to the loss of livelihood and nutrition such a catastrophe would inevitably result in, the loss of biodiversity and rate of extinction that would be associated with - is associated with - unsustainable industrial fishing practices could permanently damage marine and freshwater ecosystems. Indeed, with the status of over half of our fisheries "collapsed" and 90% "in decline or depleted," the ocean's delicate ecosystem in particular is changing dramatically already. Essentially, all industrial fishing today is unsustainable fishing. Major change is needed now, or we face what may be one of the greatest ecological and economical disasters in human history - all for the sake of palette.

Commercial Fishing Methods
Today's modern fishing practices are a far cry from traditional, more sustainable methods utilized by coastal communities for centuries. Much like modern agriculture and farming, the goal of commercial fishing is to catch as many fish as inexpensively as possible, often with minimal regard to the surrounding environment. As a result, several dangerous methods of fishing have arisen that are taking a deadly toll not only on lovable marine mammals and charismatic sea turtles championed by conservation groups, but perhaps most importantly on the vast and diverse (but ever-dwindling) fish populations that support the entire ocean food web. Below are a few common methods of industrial fishing:
+ Bottom trawling is a method of fishing in which a heavy weighted net or dredge weighing as much as several tons is dragged along the ocean floor to catch bottom-dwelling species such as scallops, shrimp, cod, haddock, and flounder. The problem with trawling is twofold: one, the fine netting makes it an indiscriminate killer, with several tons of bycatch (non-target species captured and disposed of) killed for every ton of target species captured. Two, the heavy netting destroys the sea floor, leveling coral beds, destroying plants, flattening the seascape, and essentially "clear cutting" all structures on the ocean floor vital for the creatures that dwell in it. Trawling is perhaps the most destructive form of fishing, with new technology proving less sustainable instead of less destructive despite ample research outlining its dangers.
+ Long Line Fishing is a method of fishing in which miles of line with hundreds of even thousands of baited hooks are trailed behind a fishing vessel to catch large species like tuna, swordfish, and halibut. Criticized for the common phenomenon of sea bird and shark bycatch, methods have been developed in an attempt to reduce the problems associated with this indiscriminate form of killing. However, even with strict regulations, the problems associated with long line fishing are rampant. As recently as 2006, fisheries in Hawai'i had to close down long line operations due to excessive sea turtle bycatch despite staunch restrictions on acceptable long line methods.
+ Gill Net Fishing involves the use of netting aimed specifically at catching large species of fish; small species can slip through the holes whereas large species can not fit more than their heads through, (cruelly) trapping them by the gills. Gill net fishing is considered somewhat more sustainable than methods like trawling since it is more discriminate, but it also focuses on large, slowly reproducing species like tune - a problem in and of itself. Shark and dolphin bycatch is also implicated in gill net fishing, though regulations demanding shorter nets have reduced the problem.
+ Drift Net Fishing is akin to gill net with one key difference: drift nets are not anchored like gill nets, and therefore are less discriminate. Massive bycatch of marine mammals and sea turtles as well as illegal poaching of threatened fish species in Japan brought to light the problems with drift netting, which today is highly restricted and banned in international waters. Net lengths of over 2.5km have also been banned, and as of 2008 the US and Japan are among few countries still using this method in their waters.
+ Purse-Seine Fishing is a method in which a hanging, weighted net is drawn closed around a school of surface-dwelling fish, preventing them from swimming down or outwards to escape. Used to catch anchovies, sardines, mackerels, etc, it is also one of the most prolific tuna catching methods. While it tends to result in less bycatch (though dolphin bycatach is common) than most types of fishing, its "success" in capture especially is contributing to shark declines of many species, particularly tuna.

Impact of Over-Fishing on Wildlife and Ecosystems
It is a daunting task to grasp the full impact that intensive industrialized fishing has had on world fisheries. Scientists are only now starting to come to grasp with the realization that our oceans are in serious peril. Problems generated by commercial fishing range from the immediate and obvious - such as the destruction of the ocean floor by trawlers - to the more insidious, like biodiversity-lacking oceans increasingly dominated by small, fast-reproducing fish. The implications of this shift are yet unknown but will doubtless impact all levels of the food web; already we see that booming populations of small fish may be proving competition for dwindling krill stocks with baleen whales.
A lack of viable breeding populations for large species of overexploited fish is of serious concern, with catches showing smaller and less healthy populations of popular staples like tuna, swordfish, and cod. Many fisheries lack sustainable populations but are still heavily exploited. Extinction of many such species is a realistic - nay looming - concern in many areas, a true tragedy considering the long and rich natural history of such fishes.
For marine mammals, sea birds, and sharks, the impact has been threefold - not only are they killed as bycatch and forced to compete with humans for dwindling food resources, but seals and sea lions in particular are deliberately and often viciously killed to prevent competition.* Sharks have been impacted the most, with almost every species considered threatened and endangered - a true challenge to conservationists due to the slow maturation and lack of successful captive breeding programs to replenish wild stocks. Time will only tell how serious the issue of overfishing (which essentially all commercial fishing currently comprises) will prove to our oceans and marine wildlife - sooner rather than than late if current practices persist.

Impact of Over-Fishing on Humans
Ironically, the primary human victim of over-fishing may be the fisherman himself. A lack of sustainable methods, reasonable quotas, and international management often results in spur of the moment bans mid-season, or severely restricted seasons that reduce income and generate frenetic and dangerous working conditions. Permitting fishermen to capture fewer fish over longer periods of time with more targeted and sustainable methods would not only benefit ocean life, but fishermen as well in the long run. Doubtless better management will also benefit those who rely on fish for sustenance, as it would not only protect fisheries but perhaps result in a return to some of the sustainable traditional fishing methods, bringing a source of income to many instead of an over-taxed, corporate controlled few.

Conclusion & How You Can Help
In short, we have much to lose from continuing to follow the present path, and much to gain by changing our ways. The problem with commercial fishing is not a far-fetched horror stories conceived by environmental activists; it is a genuine ecological disaster in the making, one that will forever change not only our oceans, but our own lives and livelihoods as well. Unfortunately, the fishing industry is too massive and profitable to change on its own, which is why you as the consumer are vital to demanding change. Friends of Fish recommends refraining from the consumption of any and all fish for humane issues that will be discussed in a future article. However, purchasing only sustainably farmed and/or captured species, boycotting heavily exploited species, and supporting legislation protecting marine life is also helpful to shifting the tide of consumer demand in a direction better for sea life and humans alike. As members of developed nations who do not rely on fish as a primary source of protein, selectiveness is within our power - and as stewards of the world around us, it is vital that we act now.

* The primary motivation behind seal clubbing in Canada is not furs as one might think, but is actually a government-sanctioned "management" program to reduce the species' population due to competition with fishermen in over-taxed fisheries.

Text (c) Lauren Weeks
Image (Shrimp Bycatch) (c) Marine Photobank

RE: Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

Marion — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:15:33 GMT

It sounds like you made a similar mistake I did a couple of years ago, quails. I gave in to impulse, and didn't do my homework. To make a long story short I ended up with a pair of 1.5 inch fantail goldfish in a ten gallon tank which, I was told at the pet supply story, would be adequate, flakes were a complete food, etc.

A few months later one of the pair was floating at the top of the tank one morning. Only then did I go online and start researching. Turns out fantails, require 2 gallons of water per inch of fish. Two years and several hundred dollars later I have a single six inch goldfish in a 25 gallon tank and hoping that she doesn't grow much beyond the maximum size that I've read is average for the species, 7 inches.

Getting back to your fish problem, however, I suggest you read the news article in this Community Chinese Algae Eaters: An Undeserved Reputation? , and the lengthy comment following that article for some information on the species. You may find a solution to your problem that will permit you to keep the algae eater.

If not, try Cattees' suggestion and look at some of the many fish related websites for suggestions on how to find a new home for the fish (check the Resources of this community for links), and as a last resort check with a local Petco to see if they do fish adoptions, return him to the store where you got him, better yet, look for a store that specializes in tropical fish and ask if they will take him. Such a store, serving a niche market, is more likely to tell customers in advance about the habits and risks of fish they are interested in keeping to build customer loyalty.

Please don't flush the fish! Contrary to common misperception they do feel pain, and he would die a slow and miserable death in the sewer for the "crime" of being a CAE.

I hope this helps!

Marion

Friends of Fish Forum : Angels

kycady — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:43:45 GMT

I just lost my two Angels & am happy to see this forum. They were going on 5 years old. One had an accident... and died... then the other passed 1 mo. later... I buried them in my garden... They were incredible... people have told me they've never seen such beauties.(Picture of Beaujolios attached)... thanks for this Forum... I now have 2 5 year old Hachets; 2 5 year old Black Tetras, and 4 2 to 4 year Clown Loaches & 1 1 year old Cardinal Neon Tetra in his own tank.

Love fish....

RE: RE: Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

bogiedew — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:27:39 GMT

Or perhaps you can contact a smaller store that just specializes in aquarium fish and see if they have any contacts they can hook you up with..like one of their valued customers..maybe they can help you find someone to adopt him.
Where I buy my pet food, it is also an aquarium store and I always see the guys working in there talking to their customers for a long time, so I am sure they have relationships with these people..I am sure they can help you.

RE: Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:16:39 GMT

quails,

If you have a Petco store near you, you could take him there. They have a "Think Adoption First" program for fish and others. They will take him off your hands and adopt him out to someone who can give him a new home.

Good luck!

RE: RE: Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

cattees — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:04:21 GMT

Perhaps a posting to a fish knowledgeable Yahoo! group may assist in finding this guy a new home. Good luck!

RE: Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

bogiedew — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:24:07 GMT

Can you not return him back to the store so he can live in the aquarium he used to live in?

Friends of Fish Forum : Algae Eater NEEDS A New Home

quails — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:32:40 GMT

My Chinese Algae Eater has become too aggressive for my tank, and I think its time he found a new home. He is between 2 and 3 inches and is brown colored.

As a relatively new tank owner, when I saw the CAE in the store it looks like an effective, harmless fish for cleaning my tank.

I recently discovered that CAEs are not really a good community fish, and I'm afraid I no longer have a place for him in my tank.

The problem arose after my gourami's eye was eaten out. I believe the CAE is responsible, and instead of just flushing him, I would like to see him go to a good home.

If anyone can recommend any solutions to my problem, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks