| As an aquarium professional I would like to discuss | | | | expensive pieces of coral come from aquaculture, |
| the pressure our hobby as put on the worlds reefs | | | | they also are adjusted to the life in an aquarium |
| and what we can do to minimize damage. First and | | | | through generations of captive fragging. |
| foremost we must promote responsible reef keeping | | | | There are more reasons to aquaculture than I can |
| by learning and researching these wild animals we | | | | think of but here are a few reasons. |
| wish to care for out of their natural environment. | | | | 1. You can do this at home! Many people pay their |
| Management through collector and consumer | | | | hobby expenses or make a living from selling their |
| education as well as captive farming and aquaculture | | | | aquacultured corals. |
| we can make this hobby sustainable. | | | | 2. Wild corals generally come with parasites or foreign |
| The aquarium hobby is a complex hobby to say the | | | | animals you don't want in your aquarium.; |
| least, this makes research the most important | | | | 3. Wild colonies will be shipped in unhealthy and for |
| component in this hobby. The net is full of resources | | | | the most part will not adjust well to your aquarium |
| that will help you in your decision of your newest | | | | causing lack of color and health as well as death. |
| animal you want to add to your aquarium. There are | | | | 4. Aquaculture put less stress on the worlds reefs. |
| many things you need to ask yourself when you are | | | | Although some countries like the Filipino government |
| adding a new animal to your reef. | | | | has failed to protect its coral reefs and ornamental |
| 1.Are my current animals compatible with this new | | | | fish this doesn't mean we can't prevent further |
| addition. | | | | destruction by sustaining our own captive inhabitants. |
| 2.How difficult or sensitive is the new animal to water | | | | 5. Less costly. Most aquaculture corals are less costly |
| conditions. | | | | than a wild caught animal as they don't have to travel |
| 3.What is the success rate of this animal in captivity. | | | | as far and aren't imported. |
| Does keeping them in an aquarium cut their life span | | | | Finally the last thing we can do to promote the health |
| in half.(In the wild Mandarins live to be 15 years old, in | | | | of world reefs and maintain a sustainable marine |
| captivity most don't live over 2 years.) | | | | aquarium trade is to educate the consumer and |
| 4.What are this animals food requirements, water | | | | collector. Organizations like Reef Check and MAC |
| temperature, or salinity etc. | | | | challenge hobbiest and collectors to maintain |
| 5.Are you purchasing this animal from a responsible | | | | standards and care of ornamental marine life. |
| store or supplier (Stay away from stores that will | | | | Education to consumers and collectors will help the |
| just sell you a fish to make a sale, or sell corals that | | | | effort worldwide for a sustainable aquarium industry. |
| they know don't survive in captivity for long periods | | | | In essence there are many ways we can all help to |
| of time.) | | | | maintain and keep this hobby sustainable. First by |
| These are just a few of the questions you need to | | | | educating yourself about your new animals or |
| ask yourself before making the purchase of a new | | | | upcoming purchases. Second by promoting |
| animal. | | | | aquaculture and purchase of aquaculture animals |
| Next I want to get into the subject of Captive bred | | | | rather than their wild counterpart. Third consumer and |
| fish and Aquacultured corals. This to me is a very | | | | collector education will help the worldwide effort in |
| important role in the aquarium industry. Not only do | | | | promoting a successful marine aquarium industry. |
| some of the most beautiful prized and most | | | | |