Fish Collector
Insider Info
To those not in the game, the hobby of fish collecting may seem rather
static. Fish keepers (as they prefer to be called), however, are passionate
about their pets and many go overboard in the beginning, buying more tanks
and fish than they can easily maintain.
It's not advisable to start too small either. Says collector Richard Brown,
"Buy as large a tank as you can comfortably afford and accommodate, because
a large tank is a more stable environment than a small one."
And a lot of things can go wrong. Fish keeping is a complicated hobby.
Overfeeding, algae and snail plagues, water quality, diseases, and parasites
are just some examples. Says Toni-Ann Mistretta of Texas A and M University,
"Read, read, read, and get on the Internet and read, read, read before you
buy anything."
Probably the most important issue in fish collecting today is ecology.
The marine aquarium trade is a $200-million global business, but methods of
capturing tropical fish can harm other species and damage coral reefs. The
industry is active in coming up with solutions.
Fish collectors must learn to be respectful of their pets' experience.
Fish are swiftly removed from their natural habitats and may be traumatized
by their new environments in your home.
Most fish keepers consider their fish pets. Says Mistretta, "I feel sick
when one dies. Granted, you can't get quite as close to them as with a cat
or dog, but you do get attached. My adult discus [a type of fish] all have
names -- all 18 of them!"
A humane death for your sick pets is one consideration for hobbyists. Flushing
them is a no-no. Many Web sites offer articles that tell you more than you
may want to know about putting a fish out of its misery. Chemicals seem to
be the way to go.
Many experts advise that keeping the water clean is the most effective
way to keep your fish healthy. Says Alan Aprea of the North Jersey Aquarium
Society, "My number one single piece of advice would be to tell new hobbyists
to do frequent partial water changes on a regular basis. There is no better
thing that you can do to benefit the health of your fish."
Aside from all the technical stuff, why do people like to keep fish? Explains
Aprea, "I consider the hobby to be relaxing, although you can make it as challenging
as you want if you choose to keep or breed difficult species. Finally, fish
people are just good people -- those willing to spend that much time and effort
in caring for fish are generally the kind of people worth spending time with."
Getting Started
Which fish should you start with? If you guessed goldfish, you'd be wrong.
According to some literature, they tend to be full of diseases, bred with
abnormalities and, due to different water temperature needs, cannot be housed
with tropical fish. More experienced fish collectors do keep them, however.
The hobby can be costly. Says Miecia Burden, president of an aquarium society,
"The tank setup can be expensive, anywhere from $100 to $1,000. But if you
set it up correctly, the maintenance doesn't take a lot."
After that, the sky's the limit. You can buy many kinds of fish for a few
dollars, others for $20 to $50, and specialty fish can cost several hundred
dollars.
First, you need to decide which type of tank you will have. It can be freshwater,
saltwater, or brackish water (a combination of the two). That will help determine
the types of fish.
A freshwater tank is the easiest bet for beginners. Some examples of good
first fish are schooling fish, such as white mountain minnows, rainbow fish,
and cory catfish. A saltwater tank owner might start with damsels or mollies.
Mollies might also start a brackish water tank. But you must do your homework
first and talk to your local fish club, shop or breeder.
Says Mistretta, "When starting out, it is really hard to get good advice.
Every fish store person has an opinion, but few really know what they are
talking about. The best thing to do is find a local breeder. If they are successful
enough to get fish to breed, they generally know what they are talking about!"
Joining an aquarium club is a good way to begin networking your way to
a knowledge base. Says Aprea, "The primary benefit is the opportunity to meet
with other aquarists, many of whom are far more knowledgeable than you are.
Secondary are all the events we host."
These include monthly meetings, fish shows and auctions, workshops, field
trips, parties and picnics. To find a club in your area, check the Internet.
There are fish clubs and societies throughout the world.
Fish collecting is a phenomenally popular hobby and job opportunities abound.
You could seek work at your local pet shop, a public aquarium, an aquarium
club, or as a breeder. Burden, although she doesn't breed fish for a living,
says those that want to "can make a lot of money."
Remember that your goal in collecting fish is not only to keep them alive,
but to give them the quality of life that all living creatures deserve.
Associations
American Cichlid Association
Internet
:
http://www.cichlid.org/
Publications
Diskus Brief International
Internet
:
http://www.diskusbrief.com
Links
Fish Link Central
Links to books, software, games, and other fish sites of interest
Fish Information Service (FINS)
Archive of information about aquariums
Back to Career Cluster