OT: News of apparent drug problems

[kathywithbirds]

Hmmm. Didn't know there was a drug problem in the fish community. Don't they know about DARE or "just say no"?

Quote from Reefkeeping August 2007 -- Lite Issue 3


"Fish To Be Avoided: (fish that have incredibly low survivability in aquaria or are totally unsuitable for home aquaria)

Moorish Idol (a few success stories but miniscule amounts live long, difficult feeder, mystery deaths, and even when accepting prepared foods often slowly starves)

Holacanthus tricolor [Rock Beauty] (nearly impossible to meet the dietary needs in home aquaria)

Centropyge heraldi (almost always caught using drugs)
Centropyge multifasciatus (this and the venusta are very similar, they don't adapt to aquarium life well, and both seem particularly prone to Lymphocystis)
Centropyge venusta"

[Dentoid]

When I was a teen I used to SCUBA and collect the Rock Beauty angels for my tank. Little did I know, at that time, they were a difficult species. They never lived long for me. Now I know why.

[lcstorc]

I assume they are referring to cyanide. Unfortunately it is often used to catch fish and they rarely live very long.

[BoomerD]

Cyanide (drug) collection is a serious problem in parts of the world. Many of the fish coming from the Philippines and Indo-China are caught using cyanide. Not only do the fish not live long, but "juicing" also kills large sections of the reef.

[mps9506]

I wouldn't say Moorish Idols are typically caught with cyanide. They are just difficult to keep.

And BoomerD is right on about the cyanide. This is why I recomend trying to purchase fish from areas that don't typically use cyanide (it costs more, but you are supporting the long term survival of the hobby and reefs by doing this). Caribbean, Hawaiian, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Australian, and Red Sea fish are typically collected using net or slurp guns.
Unfortunately for many collectors in the Phillipines it is cheaper for them to collect with cyanide because they cannot afford to purchase nets, let alone slurp guns. In fact often times the middle man between the collectors and the transhippers requires the collectors purchase cyanide from them or they will not purchase fish from them to deliver to the transhipper. Keep in mind many collectors see very little money from the fish we are paying $30-$100 for.

The other unfortunate thing I've seen is a lot of stores posting they only sell net caught fish, but yet the kids working their have no idea where the fish are from or any way to prove that the fish are net caught without cyanide.

I encourage everyone to purchase higher quality fish from areas listed above, aquacultured or captive bred species and hope for change in the future.
There has been some positive change over the last ten years regarding this topic, but not nearly as much as many people wish.

[Melanie]

Centropyge heraldi needs to go into rehab.

[DrHank]

I'm totally with Boomer and Mike on this one. It's been going on for as long as I can remember and probably always will (for the reasons Mike indicated). I wish that there were some way that the entire community could oppose these practices. Unfortunately, the problem doesn't start at the origin, it starts with the middle man and there really isn't any way for us to know. All we can do is to avoid purchases of fish originating from that area if we can.

There are also many other fishes which should not be included in the average home aquarium. My recommendation is to avoid impulse buying. Thoroughly research a potential purchase before buying. If you aren't absolutely sure that you can provide for the needs of the animal so that it can thrive, don't try it!

[DaveK]

On the use of cyanide, I'm in total agreement. This has no place in the hobby, but we are unlikely to see it go away.

As far as fish that are difficult to keep goes, this is another issue. Obviously if you are a beginner, you should avoid these fish. Also, even if you are an advanced reek keeper, there should be no getting the fish, and "see how it will do."

However, if you wish to keep a tough fish or other livestock, and have carefully planned it's home, and set up the resources necessary to keep alive and in good health, I see no problem with that sort of person obtaining the fish or livestock in question.

Remember, things that we consider easily doable were considered impossible to keep a few years ago. 20 years ago, almost all corals were considered impossible to keep. About 10 years ago SPS corals were considered impossible to keep. Somebody has to be first, and try new methods and techniques, Yes, they will experience some losses, but long term they may allow everyone to theep them.

[prow]

All we can do is to avoid purchases of fish originating from that area if we can.

yup this is what i try to do.
one issue with cyanide is it usually doesnt show any signs, one day a seemingly healthy fish suddenly dies. you can not detect it, hard to avoid depending on your LFS and the wholesalers they use.

[kathywithbirds]

Is there a possibility a cyanide caught fish can leach out the substance? and perhaps affect other fish/corals/inverts?

[BoomerD]

FrtLoss

CyanIshArt

HCNFAQs

http://globalcoral.org/PROGRAM%2...H,%20CORAL.htm

Reefs.org: Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet - Cyanide Effects and Testing


I could post links all night and all week and still not cover everything on this subject...BUT, if you want more information, just google "cyanide fish" and you'll be swamped with links.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by BoomerD

I could post links all night and all week and still not cover everything on this subject...BUT, if you want more information, just google "cyanide fish" and you'll be swamped with links.

Reefs.org: Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet - Cyanide Effects and Testing

I wonder how much things have actually improved since this was posted 6 years ago.
Too much info out there, yet not enough. I wish I heard more "good" news come from the "industry" guys that seem to keep begging for change.

[kathywithbirds]

[cheeks69]

There have been educational efforts put forth by many in the ornamental fish trade in the US and there were threats of a complete fish ban some years ago BUT the fact is netting is more difficult especially with many of the Dwarf Angels which are masters of hiding within the rockwork and you can get alot more fish with the cyanide than using the netting method.