Drs Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria.com Promoting the Hobby

[TuskFish]

Here is some info and pictures from their website.

HTH

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/gene ... agesid=377

 

[Anonymous]

A source for more affordable saltwater feeder organisms would make a big difference regarding captive breeding.

Labor costs prohibit growing much of what you seek cheaply, but you pretty much know this That fact of the matter is, the scale of economy of the live food trade is just not there in terms of supporting the size of operation needed to produce the stuff cheaply enough.

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe in the past, but the need for live foods is growing, and someone may find it makes sense to invest in it to make them reasonable and available.

 

[Anonymous]

The sources for the supplies ( a clean source of specific species of phytoplankton) are very lacking. Can you help us with our efforts to raise and grow, as hobbyists,to raise the offspring of our captive pets?

Can you get clean cultures of Rhodomonas, Tetraselmis and T Isochrysis that won't cost us $200 bucks? How about a small batch Artacia tonsa so I can flood the market with CB seahorses that live and thrive and have outstanding colors? Can I talk you into into checking out the breeding forum and helping those who want to breed and really change the industry?

Do you understand what it takes to produce, keep and maintain such clean phyto cultures/plates? It's not cheap. There's a BIG reason why not many people do.

I do know how difficult it is to maintain a clean culture in my basement, but I wonder if I had access to those cool hoods the hospital uses when they make our IV drugs if I could do it. Keep large vats in a sterile environment, maybe reverse pressure rooms like our hospital uses for TB patients. I wonder if a large company such as yours or Races could afford a piece of equipment like this and be able to provide a small culture for hobbyists at a reasonable price, using the sterile techniques hospitals use.

I think cost would not be an issue for Race. It would just have to come from a desire to give back to a hobby that has given him so much.

 

[Anonymous]

We use those but do you know what a Tech or Phycologist runs these days? Not cheap. The cultures have to be maintained themselves, plates need to be taken/stored, culutres have to be divided and shipping them is quite a hassle. Not to mention the amount of demand is extremelly low compaired to the cost of the labor.

Positive pressure is the term your searching for.

 

[Anonymous]

We have negative pressure rooms but maybe positive pressure will work on Race?

I just clicked on this thread because of the title: "Promoting the hobby". I was hoping it was a thread about someone doing something to make the hobby better, and my thought was just my opinion of what could help make it better.....

If it is not cost effective, maybe it could be a tax write off for a large company?

 

[sdcfish]

Race.....I commend you as well for putting together the informative and educational tv production.

We are also trying to help out on the awareness campaign by producing a dvd for our stores. We will discuss acclimation, quarantine, holding and husbandy techniques.

I also want to put these video clips on our website so people can click and learn.

I have some other projects that I want to accomplish which I don't want to give away just yet, but we also are on the same train you are.

Great job F&S.......this is where the industry is heading....keep raising the bar!

Eric

 

[naesco]

Race.....I commend you as well for putting together the informative and educational tv production.

We are also trying to help out on the awareness campaign by producing a dvd for our stores. We will discuss acclimation, quarantine, holding and husbandy techniques.

You do should be commended for your efforts in raising the bar.

How does industry deal with those importers who selfishly dump fish on the market with zero concern for their suitability, care in transport and care in facilities thus creating cheap cheap prices making it difficult for ethical industry to compete?
Thank you
Wayne Ryan

I also want to put these video clips on our website so people can click and learn.

I have some other projects that I want to accomplish which I don't want to give away just yet, but we also are on the same train you are.

Great job F&S.......this is where the industry is heading....keep raising the bar!

Eric

 

[sdcfish]

How does industry deal with those importers who selfishly dump fish on the market with zero concern for their suitability, care in transport and care in facilities thus creating cheap cheap prices making it difficult for ethical industry to compete?
Thank you
Wayne Ryan


Wayne,

I am not sure I agree that this is happening. Assuming that there are wholesalers that sell fish that are not suitable, I guess we would have to identify who they are first...then educate them.

I would also think it starts with educating everyone in the chain.

Please tell us where you think there is a problem.

Thanks

Eric

 

[naesco]

From previous posts I understood that there are importers in the LA area that accept fish from questionable sources with their cost being the only consideration.

They are than transhipped to other wholesales making it difficult for ethical importers such as yourselves to compete.

IMO, there should be a level playing field.

If this is the case I propose that you all meet and set some minimum standards so that all industry is not tainted with the same brush.
This would go a long way in ensuring that in the future our hobby does not have restrictions placed on it by governments as the industry would be able to show that they are self-regulating.

Thank you
Wayne Ryan

 

[sdcfish]

LOL...that makes two of us now that hasn't figured out how to do this quote thing

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Eric

 

[JeremyR]

Eric,

You have cleaner wrasses & carnation corals on your list every week.

 

[IconicAquariums]

Eric,

You have cleaner wrasses & carnation corals on your list every week.

So does every other wholesaler. There are always a number of unsuitable species, but apparently shops/hobbyists buy them.

 

[JeremyR]

Wayne,

I am not sure I agree that this is happening. Assuming that there are wholesalers that sell fish that are not suitable, I guess we would have to identify who they are first...then educate them.

I would also think it starts with educating everyone in the chain.

Please tell us where you think there is a problem.

Thanks

Eric

Obviously, but if you re-read the above quote, you'll see why I posted that. Every other wholesaler isn't in here saying they don't sell unsuitable stuff, and just because every other wholesaler does it doesn't mean they shouldn't be held accountable, and just because shops/hobbyist buy them doesn't make it right either.

 

[IconicAquariums]

I know Jeremy Eric knows what he sells better than any of us, and if shops continue to buy the animals & request them if unavailable vs. losing business to other wholesalers, then common sense says to continue bringing them in.

It's one in the same with DFS selling the same animals with the same story.

Since AUS opened up, have you seen any decrease in species like Copperband Butterflies or Elegance out of the Indo-Pac? No, because the $ is the bottom line.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, Jeremy, but as long as stores are willing to order enough of them to make it profitable for the wholesalers, you'll never stop the importation of such animals.

Money trumps everything...it's the American way.

Peace,

Chip

 

[JeremyR]

I know money trumps everything, sad as it is. However, I"m not the one who posted in a public forum that I don't sell unsuitable animals

 

[JeremyR]

Having said that... I"m not going to start stocking carnations & cleaner wrasses. You have to draw the line somewhere.. if I can't personally keep it alive, I don't sell it.. that's the rule.

 

[Raskal311]

I don’t know how often we would advise people not to buy a certain fish just to have them go down the street to buy it. Now we just give them the advice and tell them if they still want it we could special order it for same day pickup.

 

[naesco]

I don’t know how often we would advise people not to buy a certain fish just to have them go down the street to buy it. Now we just give them the advice and tell them if they still want it we could special order it for same day pickup.

I understand the problem LFS and wholesalers face.
IMO Raskal, wholesalers should not offer them on their list but make them available by special order. That way they will not simply be checked off to buy on a list.
The same is true for LFS. If the majority do as many of you do there will be fewer sold to hobbyists reserving the option of a special order for them.
I really wish industry could set up an organization so that everyone would be on the same page and educate (force) the bad guys to buy in.
Wayne Ryan