Hot Take? Should new reefers be 'formally educated' before buying livestock?

[dkline]

I believe it should fall on the vendor and the industry in general to guide new reefers. Petco selling a $50 dollar blue tang to someone with a 20 gallon tank is an issue. If the tang was priced at $200 dollars and included information about the actual needs of the fish on their display tank it would help. They should have QR codes so people can quickly look up information about the fish they are thinking about buying. Higher prices on fish that are more challenging to care for will make consumers put more thought into what they are doing. The "if it dies, I'll just get another one" mentality will not happen as often when there's more cost involved.

This goes for all livestock. Retailers that provide more information up front will help the consumer make a more informed decision. All to often it's just a name with a picture and a price. Displaying care level requirements would be great to see on livestock displays.

You can't make a person learn about reefing but you can make them curious enough to want to learn why something is more difficult to keep than others.

I think about that all the time. If were a store owner I would try to have information on each creature that details where they come from, what helps them thrive, what they should be fed and how often, what living conditions they need. For coral what par number (not just medium par or high par etc. ) they like normally and what exact levels I am keeping them at in my store. Where they are typically found in a reef. Most stores just have item and price. Kind of silly for living things that need specific care to survive.

 

[goppman]

Maybe tank builders can standardize tracking of tanks through a number like a VIN. Before making purchases a customer is required to enter the Fishtank ID number. If that is a valid ID for the items they are purchasing their purchase is validated. If not the transaction doesn’t clear and they can not buy those items.

 

[Vito2390]

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?
I think a basic level of education will help newbies avoid common mistakes. I learned this when I was writing a research paper on this topic. It doesn't have to be too formal and sometimes that makes all the difference. Just like writing 150 word paragraph essay requires focusing on structure and clarity. I found this guide helpful when learning how to structure things properly. A little preparation goes a long way to a better outcome. What do you all think?
Secondary Questions:

• 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?
This is a question out of pure curiosity. Please remember our Terms of Service when agreeing to disagree.

It’s a tough call, but I think formal education for new reefers would be beneficial. Understanding the complexity of marine ecosystems and the specific needs of different species isn’t something that can always be learned through basic research alone. Classes or certifications could help people avoid common mistakes that lead to livestock suffering or dying.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If the question were rephrased in a more basic way such as "should people understand and educate themselves" there can be a clear answer. Yeah, it would be best for any hobbyist to be prepared through education.
Thats impossible to implement though and even if a college degree were required, many people would buy whatever they wanted amd house them how they wanted regardless...

It wouldnt make a difference in the long run...

 

[JTP424]

So let me add another layer: What do you think about requiring proof of an adequate living environment (photos, videos, etc.) before a transaction occurs? I'm sure lots of us can think of at least one time your jaw fell to the floor when you saw a fish meant for a 150g in a 25g.

I think this is an interesting take...
Often times adopting/rescuing dogs and cats can require "in-home" inspections to ensure the animal is going to a home that can handle their size and temperament.
Unfortunately with the variety of fish/costs this is difficult to apply a "one-size fits all" approach, you run into some common sense concepts, i.e. someone wants a clown, they're "cost effective" less of a pain, you can get one easily.
You want the $350 designer angel etc (I don't know expensive fish sorry) you have to make sure you have adequate resources etc.
Of course there's no way to regulate this or define these non-subjectively. Just an interesting discussion

 

[BryanM]

No, but they should do research to avoid being irresponsible.