Drs Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria.com Promoting the Hobby
- Thread starter Race
- Start date
JeremyR":31d3ws1s said:
At the border, Jeremy.
1. By instituting stateside random cyanide testing and charging stateside importers under the Lacey Act and putting them in gaol. Prohibiting the import of fish and coral from offshore exporters involved and reporting them to local authorities in the country of export.
2. Instituting mandatory regulations concerning the type of bags used, the quantity of fish in the bags and charging importers who deal in those companies that refuse to comply.
3. An alsolute prohibtion on the import of certain fish and coral which have no chance of sucess in hobbyists tanks and charging importers in the same way ivory importers are charged. (In Canada it is a $20,000.00 fine for the first offence.
4. An absolute prohibition on the import, except to aquaculture facilities of wild species that are presently available aquacultured. In this way the aquaculture industry will be encouraged to grow and expand.
Jeremy, if the hobby is to survive, you have get on the reeform team and make these things happen. It does nothing to pretend that nothing will happen or you are doomed.
Wayne Ryan
Jeremy,
It may not be the USDA, not sure. You are dead wrong though on current standards for birds, dogs, cats, small animals, cattle etc. There have been huge gains in America over the past 30 years, especially in the breeding, transportation and care of dogs and cats and laws pertaining to them. Same in birds, cattle, horses, sheep and swine. I just so happen to be a transportation accredited veterinarian and can certify these animals for both intrastate and interstate transport as well as dogs and cats for international shipping. I am quite familiar with how far we have come in this area.
Yes, there are still the Mike Vicks and the California slaughter houses and the PetsMart abuse but it is far less today than 20 years ago and now it means prison, not a misdemeaner. Cannot enforce it all but those that are caught pay a price. We have seen huge improvements in animal care.
I have no problem with regulation in the aquatics trade. For 25 years I have dealt with the FAA, EPA, APHIS, DEA, USDA, FDA, Board of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy and I find them all fine to work with, if you comply. No problems on my end, I like regulation when it comes to animal health. My friend and former MSU dean, Dr. Lon King heads up the CDC, Zoonotics division, great cause. Do not fear it, embrace it.
If we do not clean it up we will have a little dose of PETA on West 104th and in our retail shops. In fact I would be surprised if they are not already working there. Time to respect the livestock and clean up the trade, even if it costs us. Time to support the Quality Marines of the industry and reject sick and inferior livestock. Don't buy it and they will not harvest and import it. Consumers should reject all livestock that is sold without a health guarantee, period. Reject low priced, cheap livestock,---- take away the market and leave them in the ocean. Let the hobby shrink if it needs, focus on a better quality specimen for the hobbyist.
It may not be the USDA, not sure. You are dead wrong though on current standards for birds, dogs, cats, small animals, cattle etc. There have been huge gains in America over the past 30 years, especially in the breeding, transportation and care of dogs and cats and laws pertaining to them. Same in birds, cattle, horses, sheep and swine. I just so happen to be a transportation accredited veterinarian and can certify these animals for both intrastate and interstate transport as well as dogs and cats for international shipping. I am quite familiar with how far we have come in this area.
Yes, there are still the Mike Vicks and the California slaughter houses and the PetsMart abuse but it is far less today than 20 years ago and now it means prison, not a misdemeaner. Cannot enforce it all but those that are caught pay a price. We have seen huge improvements in animal care.
I have no problem with regulation in the aquatics trade. For 25 years I have dealt with the FAA, EPA, APHIS, DEA, USDA, FDA, Board of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy and I find them all fine to work with, if you comply. No problems on my end, I like regulation when it comes to animal health. My friend and former MSU dean, Dr. Lon King heads up the CDC, Zoonotics division, great cause. Do not fear it, embrace it.
If we do not clean it up we will have a little dose of PETA on West 104th and in our retail shops. In fact I would be surprised if they are not already working there. Time to respect the livestock and clean up the trade, even if it costs us. Time to support the Quality Marines of the industry and reject sick and inferior livestock. Don't buy it and they will not harvest and import it. Consumers should reject all livestock that is sold without a health guarantee, period. Reject low priced, cheap livestock,---- take away the market and leave them in the ocean. Let the hobby shrink if it needs, focus on a better quality specimen for the hobbyist.
Race":3ucx6pch said:
I agree. Big companies don't need the attention or the risk of bad publicity if inspectors come around. My experience is that because Petco hire minimum wage types, the salespersons have little knowledge in the marine hobby side of things with the result that screwups are likely. They will get out of marine.
Wayne Ryan
Please understand that I am not actively advocating USDA or other intervention, I merely stated that I thought things would eventually head in that direction. If that time ever comes, I will work with and support it.
Having some controls in place within the industry may help our image and keep radical, antigroups out. Right now we are fighting ourselves as we are split down market lines, that hurts the image. We also need to get the commercial death shops out of the trade, wholesale, etail or retail. Fish and Coral are precious organisms which should be well cared for. We need to raise that awareness and concern to the nonaquarium owning public. We do not need to know we care-------- the public needs to know we care, hence Kevin Kohen's national messages.
This is my last post on the subject and I wish all of you well.
Thanks, Race
Having some controls in place within the industry may help our image and keep radical, antigroups out. Right now we are fighting ourselves as we are split down market lines, that hurts the image. We also need to get the commercial death shops out of the trade, wholesale, etail or retail. Fish and Coral are precious organisms which should be well cared for. We need to raise that awareness and concern to the nonaquarium owning public. We do not need to know we care-------- the public needs to know we care, hence Kevin Kohen's national messages.
This is my last post on the subject and I wish all of you well.
Thanks, Race
Hi Race,
I have to say I've been to quite a few aquaculture facilities, but yours looks the best I've seen. But I haven't been to the one that claims letting people in will bring diseases. :roll: Or to any with secret locations.
I admire your transparency and compliment you for growing the hobby in a sustainable manner. .Do you know what type of MH bulbs are being used on the coral systems. I'm interested in the brand, wattage, and color temperature. Also what brand fixture are you using?
Thanks,
Mitch
I have to say I've been to quite a few aquaculture facilities, but yours looks the best I've seen. But I haven't been to the one that claims letting people in will bring diseases. :roll: Or to any with secret locations.
I admire your transparency and compliment you for growing the hobby in a sustainable manner. .Do you know what type of MH bulbs are being used on the coral systems. I'm interested in the brand, wattage, and color temperature. Also what brand fixture are you using?Thanks,
Mitch
- Location
- State College. PA
Mitch;
i got a chance to visit the facility at the Coral Conference and Frag Swap last year. It really is a beautiful facility.. the best I have seen. They open it up for everyone to see. Even allowed taking of pictures !!!
They were running 400W 20000W Double ended lamps in ICECAP fixtures and ICECAP ballasts, on a light mover.
sanjay.
i got a chance to visit the facility at the Coral Conference and Frag Swap last year. It really is a beautiful facility.. the best I have seen. They open it up for everyone to see. Even allowed taking of pictures !!!
They were running 400W 20000W Double ended lamps in ICECAP fixtures and ICECAP ballasts, on a light mover.
sanjay.
Mitch,
We use a variety of Kelvin bulbs including 10's, 14's and 20's. All of the Halides are DE 400 watt Ice Cap bulbs on Ice Cap fixtures and Ice Cap electronic ballasts. We also utilize T5's for the animals that do not require the intensity, or newly obtained stock that needs to be adapted to captive lighting conditions. A variety of different T5 bulbs from a variety of manufactures are used.
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
We use a variety of Kelvin bulbs including 10's, 14's and 20's. All of the Halides are DE 400 watt Ice Cap bulbs on Ice Cap fixtures and Ice Cap electronic ballasts. We also utilize T5's for the animals that do not require the intensity, or newly obtained stock that needs to be adapted to captive lighting conditions. A variety of different T5 bulbs from a variety of manufactures are used.
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
Mitch,
IMO all halide bulb shift color spectrum as they age so I replace every halide bulb in our facility every six months, and use a PAR meter to adjust the light fixtures over the raceways so we do not burn or bleach the corals when we install new bulbs.
Although I would love to sit at my desk and answer questions here on R.org, I have a great deal of responsibility in our facility, and must bow out from posting in this thread, or any other today. Time management is critical in this day and age for me, so please feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] if you have any questions at all.
Cheers!
Kevin
IMO all halide bulb shift color spectrum as they age so I replace every halide bulb in our facility every six months, and use a PAR meter to adjust the light fixtures over the raceways so we do not burn or bleach the corals when we install new bulbs.
Although I would love to sit at my desk and answer questions here on R.org, I have a great deal of responsibility in our facility, and must bow out from posting in this thread, or any other today. Time management is critical in this day and age for me, so please feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] if you have any questions at all.
Cheers!
Kevin
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