I think I spent a year and a half studying before I ever had water in mine. I bought a bare 180g tank thinking, "i can build this strand/ canopy and get it running with a couple thousand". (Boy was I wrong.) I had to learn and decide everything from the ground up. I still made many mistakes. But not like some of the stuff i see here
even more, I spend most time reading- trying to bedhead of the next problem
I like your idea of the experienced people approving or at least weighing in on what will work.I think it would be very difficult to educate everyone before buying the livestock. I don't think an LFS could do that. It would have to be something online like maybe everyone is required to post their tank info and experience level online (maybe on R2R
I’m new to the hobby and love wrasses. I eventually want to get a leopard wrasse. My LFS helped me with picking a tank size, went through the types of sand, showed me what I needed to start a refugium, and even looked at my stock plan to determine roughly where in my tank’s development the leopard wrasse could potentially be added. Currently my tank only has a clown, bristle tooth tang and some snails but I’m glad they didn’t just go ‘no, you can’t have a leopard wrasse newb’i answered no to this. i don't think formal training is needed, but research/questions should be asked on reefing forums or google searches before diving in. there's a lot of info out there
I did ask my LFS how they approach someone getting into the hobby and buying X fish because they WANT it. This was my conversation with them......if someone were to come in and say they wanted THIS fish. Do you ask them more about their set up before selling said fish? You know the requirements that that fish needs in order to thrive in the tank and the buyer may not. I understand you are in it to make money, but there has got to be some concern for the fishes well being. no? the sales girl said they sometimes ask, but i call BS on that.
Granted, I know what i'm looking before i go into the LFS, so i don't expect anyone to ask me about my tank specifics before selling me the fish. I have been asked one or two times, but it's rare.
Although that didn't answer the question, this will. I think that the new reefers, as well as experienced, needs to be educated before buying. Unless it's only money, and it's only a fish, then education means nothing. if it dies, oh well. they'll waste a few bills, and kill a few fish before leaving the hobby wondering why it didn't work out.
i try to research the requirements of every piece of livestock that goes into my tank. I do all I can to avoid a disaster. whether it be fish dying/fighting, etc. a little research goes a long way. our research may not always hold true once fish is in our tanks, but at least we didn't go into it blind.
this is a lot of rambling, but in a nut shell, my answer is no.
where did this % come from?
More importantly I think the LFS should be properly educated before selling livestock as often they're the problem. If the LFS isn't educated, how can I trust them to sell me the livestock? I've had discussions (bordering on arguments) with someone trying to sell me stuff when he had no clue what he was selling. Correcting me because he read a tag and knows what he has.Reef keeping is not for the faint of heart, and some of us get in way over our heads and may not realize it until we have livestock in distress or dying. There is no doubt that new reefers should always do basic research on starting a tank and maintaining the health of the animals we keep, but is that enough? Let's talk about it...
Primary Question:
Should new reefers be 'formally educated' (classes, certifications, etc.) before buying livestock?
Secondary Questions:
This is a question out of pure curiosity. Please remember our Terms of Service when agreeing to disagree.
- What are some logistical and practical barriers to this?
- Do you think this would hinder new people from joining the hobby?
- Do you think this would aid in protecting and maintaining ethics in animal care?
- Can you think of some positive and negative outcomes of requiring a formal education before buying livestock?
www.reef2reef.com
Depends on your definition of "formally". They definitely SHOULD be educated but if you mean take something like a drivers Ed class, then no. Too many people just go talk to their LFS and buy whatever. So many people online asking things that there is really no excuse not to know. The most basic of things that give away the fact that they haven't read the first thing beyond how to do the most basic of a cycle. I'm by no means an expert but I watched a couple of hours a day of videos for about 2 months before I put water in a glass box. Anyone who gets into this should have the respect of life enough to educate themselves on the basic issues that will happen and what to do when they do.Reef keeping is not for the faint of heart, and some of us get in way over our heads and may not realize it until we have livestock in distress or dying. There is no doubt that new reefers should always do basic research on starting a tank and maintaining the health of the animals we keep, but is that enough? Let's talk about it...
Primary Question:
Should new reefers be 'formally educated' (classes, certifications, etc.) before buying livestock?
Secondary Questions:
This is a question out of pure curiosity. Please remember our Terms of Service when agreeing to disagree.
- What are some logistical and practical barriers to this?
- Do you think this would hinder new people from joining the hobby?
- Do you think this would aid in protecting and maintaining ethics in animal care?
- Can you think of some positive and negative outcomes of requiring a formal education before buying livestock?
Totally agree. With all the information online there is no excuse not to be educated. I also feel a lot of people go looking for the answer they want to hear and ignore the general consensus from everyone else. I will admit I've been guilty of that myself in the past.
Honestly? I treat every life form I come across with deference. Could be a cat. Could be an ant. I don't kill any of them just for the sake of killing it. And I wouldn't collect anything live without some proper knowledge base.
