Saltwater Rescue Center, Saltwater Speciality Shop, Aquaculturing Center.

QUESTIONS:

I read “ON-THE-NET” and *** (they) quoted the difference between tank-raised, captive breed and would like to know what you have experienced? Is this the way it really is? (Note: I do not repeat names just respond to the questions. I have removed the name.)

“When many people say tank-raised, what they really mean is captive-bred. *** CLAIMS they are one of the very few retailers of saltwater aquarium fishes that are currently offering true tank-raised fish, and this article will explain what THEY mean when THEY say tank-raised. Simply stated, a tank-raised fish is a fish that was collected as a post-larval juvenile (usually considered a development stage of their own, and "juvenile" refers to a post-larval stage that is not fully grown and not sexually mature…) just settled onto the reef. This fish is then raised in captivity before being sold to a retailer and then to a marine aquarium hobbyist (like you). When most saltwater fishes reproduce, many offspring are produced to insure that a few will survive to adulthood. The majority of the larval and post-larval fishes that do not survive to adulthood do not survive as a direct result of predation and various environmental factors. (AND CENTRAL FILTRATION SYSTEMS). These fishes, the ones with a very low chance of surviving to adulthood, are the ones that collectors of fishes for tank-raising target. As such, tank-raised fishes exert less pressure on a reef than wild-caught adult fishes in most cases. Once collected, these fishes destined for tank-rearing are frequently shipped to grow-out facilities in import countries like the United States. Because these post-larval fishes are so small, they are less expensive to ship and mortality is relatively low, especially when compared to adult fishes which require more water and produce more waste during shipping. Once at the grow-out facility, the small fishes are weaned onto a captive diet and allowed to mature in captivity for a period of four to six months until they reach market size.”

RESPONSE: THIS IS A BUNCH OF HOOEY!

As a diver, collector, hobbyist, and store owner I have found that most creatures are not feed their original food source. They want to feed them foods that are not known to them. NOBODY is feeding these creatures, flakes, pellets or goldfish. NO brine shrimp or garlic in the Ocean. NOBODY is target feeding these creatures. There are nutrients that we can not duplicate in our systems the ocean can provide, however by feeding them a more “Natural” food source they can adapt. Most fish that are collected “properly” DO NOT come in sick, or diseased. At least the many wholesale facilities I have visited DO NOT grow out these fish before they sell them either. They may hold them (at the very least), but they mostly ship out within days of receiving them. The stress due to change in water parameters, diet and C.F.S. is the result in killing these creatures. Copper and U.V. Filters they use to so call keep parasites under control and low salinity has not worked for 40 years, but they keep on doing the same old thing. In the last 12 years of retail I’ve not heard of “grow-out facilities“.

“Tank-Raised” or “Captive breed” means fish that has been BORN in captivity. NOT collected from the wild. NOT a pregnant female released its babies in a tank, but pairs of creatures mating, breeding and hatching its babies in an aquarium! Example: If a Pregnant female is collected in the wild and gives birth in an aquarium some places will call the babies “Tank-Raised”. Not my definition of tank-raised or captive breed, not most peoples conception of the meaning. Clown fish and other species will breed in captivity and the eggs will hatch into baby clown fish. That is the “TRUE” tank-raised results. The parents may have been wild caught but the babies are now truly tank-raised or captive breed. I may be Blondie but it comes from a box. Do you home work. Don’t fall for what ever the so-called experts throw at you. Webster has great definitions.

Four to six months - Don’t understand this one? MOST facilities do not keep anything for 4 - 6 months before they sell it.NOTE: In bold is the highlights in the statements I pointed out.

DEFINITIONS:

Dictionary:

post-

prefix

1. after, later, postwar 2. behind

post orbital

lar·va n

1. insects immature insect: the wingless immature worm-shaped form of many insects that develops into a pupa or chrysalis before becoming an adult insect.

2. zoology immature amphibian or fish: the immature, early-stage form of frogs and other animals that undergo marked changes during metamorphosis.

ju·ve·nile (adj)

4. biology not yet mature: used to describe a plant or animal that has not yet reached maturity.

cap·tive(n) (plural cap·tives)

1. prisoner: a person or animal that is forcibly confined or restrained, especially somebody held prisoner.

3. forced to use or accept something: forced by circumstances to buy, accept, or pay attention to something, usually because there is no other option or no means of escape.

Breed (n) (plural breeds)

1. biology distinct animal or plant: a strain of an animal or plant with identifiable characteristics that distinguish it from other members of its species, especially one whose characteristics are preserved by controlled mating or propagating.

v (past bred [bred], past participle bred, present participle breed·ing, 3rd person present singular breeds)

1. vti biology mate and produce young: to mate and give birth to offspring.

2. vt agriculture raise animals or plants: to reproduce and raise animals or plants, especially for commercial purposes or for shows and competitions.

3. vt genetics select animals or plants: to select animals or plants as part of a process of improving or preserving their special characteristics.

4. vti produce or be produced: to produce or create something, or be produced or created.

While we are on the subject, we also would like to define the “TRUE” meaning of terms. Some states will consider Aqua-culturing part of Agriculture. Why is it considered Agriculture? (See definitions Below) So the definition is land based. Whether the “land” meaning ground or covered in water (Ocean). We in the aquarium trade, defines these terms from a different point of view. We do not consider animals and plants in the same category.

Some may say we are SPLITTING HAIRS

AQUA-CULTURED:

IN A CLOSED and/ or controlled ENVIRONMENT.

AQUA-FARMED:

PROPAGATING (FRAG) CORALS IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT.

MARI-CULTURED:

CULTURED IN THE OCEAN IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

MARI-FARMED:

ROPED / FENCED OFF LAND (OCEAN WATER) TO GROW OUT CORALS, OYSTERS ETC. FOR SALE, OR AQUA-CULTURING.

cul·tured (adj)

2. biology grown in nutrient substance: grown in a nutrient substance in a laboratory.

3. artificially produced: created artificially rather than by natural or organic processes.

6. growing biological material in special conditions: the growing of biological material, especially plants, microorganisms, or animal tissue, in a nutrient substance in specially controlled conditions for scientific, medical, or commercial purposes.

2. agriculture cultivate: to cultivate plants or crops.

ag·ri·cul·ture (n)

farming: the occupation, business, or science of cultivating the land, producing crops, and raising livestock.

Farm (n) (plural farms)

1. agricultural land and buildings: an area of land where crops are grown or animals are reared for sale, for commercial purposes, together with appropriate buildings.

2. place producing particular animals or crops: an area of land or water where particular animals, birds, fish, or crops are raised for commercial purposes (usually used in combination)

a trout farm .

3. farm buildings: a farmhouse or group of farm buildings.

4. land used by industry: a piece of land on which something is stored, produced or processed, especially on an industrial scale (usually used in combination)

an antenna farm.

v (past farmed, past participle farmed, present participle farm·ing, 3rd person present singular farms)

1. vti use land for agriculture: to use land for growing crops and rearing animals for sale.

2. vt rears something commercially: to rear animals, birds, or fish commercially.

TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE:

http://seasaveaquariumsociety.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=70