• Re: Tropical fish campaig

    From Michi Henning@1:278/230 to All on Fri Dec 19 20:44:00 2003
    "Jordi Casamitjana" <jordi@casamitjana.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:60659087.0312190126.7fc6715c@posting.google.com...
    For your interested, Advocates for Animals (Scotland, UK) are
    launching a campaign called GLASS PRISONS, EMPTY LIVES about the
    problems of keeping tropical fish. You can see it at:

    http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/glassprisons/glassprisons.htm

    Interesting article. Although, personally, I wouldn't go as far as calling
    my fish "sentient"...

    One thing that repeatedly comes up in the article is how the fish can
    "see its reflection in the tank's front glass." That appears to be impossible to me: the fish look right through the glass from the inside, just as we
    look right through the glass from the outside. Any reflection would be
    very faint and almost invisible because, at an angle of close to 90 degrees, glass reflects very little light.

    Some bias there too. For example:

    "If we add fish taken for the food industry, then 90% of each of the world's large
    ocean species, including cod, halibut, tuna, swordfish and marlin, have disappeared from the world's oceans in recent decades, according
    to the Canadian analysis. (5)"

    While this may be true, I don't see what it has to do with keeping
    aquarium fish, given that none of the mentioned species are kept
    in aquariums. So the point is thrown in for its alarmist value and,
    on casual reading, it is likely that many people will not notice its irrelevance.

    I do feel sorry for the thousands of poor bettas though. Being forced
    to hang motionless in a few cubic inches of water is cruelty in my book.
    (And having kept bettas before, I know that they like to swim around
    a lot if they have the room to do so...)

    And I have no doubt that Finding Nemo will contribute toward a larger
    than usual share of aquarium fish dying in the few weeks after christmas (which, incidentally, seems to be the time with the highest death rate for
    any kind of pet...)

    Cheers,

    Michi.

    --
    Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
    ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com
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  • From Jordi Casamitjana@1:278/230 to All on Sat Dec 20 11:48:00 2003
    Interesting article. Although, personally, I wouldn't go as far as calling
    my fish "sentient"...

    How would you define "sentient". Do not you think that fish have
    senses and brain?


    One thing that repeatedly comes up in the article is how the fish can
    "see its reflection in the tank's front glass." That appears to be impossible to me: the fish look right through the glass from the inside, just as we
    look right through the glass from the outside. Any reflection would be
    very faint and almost invisible because, at an angle of close to 90 degrees, glass reflects very little light.


    The ability to see areflection from inside a tank depends on two
    things: to have eyes with a brain to interpret images, and that there
    is more light inside the tank than outside the tank. Both occurrences
    are common in the case of fish and aquaria.

    If you can see the reflection of the fish in the tank walls, then the
    chances are the fish can also see it.


    Regarding you 90 degrees explanation, you seem to live in a different
    universe than mine (forgive me the sarcastic tone). In my universe, I
    only can see my reflection in a mirrow if it is placed at 90 degrees
    from my eyesight.

    It is different when you a trying to see your own reflection through a
    galss that has a light in the other side shining towards you. If you
    then move away from the light you will see more reflections in the
    glass, but not yours.

    In the case of fish, because in most occasions the light inside the
    tank is more intense than the one outside, reflectiins inside will
    occur. But when you turn the tank lights off, then the reflection
    ceases.


    I do feel sorry for the thousands of poor bettas though. Being forced
    to hang motionless in a few cubic inches of water is cruelty in my book.
    (And having kept bettas before, I know that they like to swim around
    a lot if they have the room to do so...)


    I agree with you there.
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  • From T@1:278/230 to All on Tue Dec 23 06:27:00 2003
    I suppose i best sell my glass aquariums and purchase larger rubbermaid containers... Just so the fish can not see thier refelctions... Actually I have had fish that seemingly enjoyed thier own reflections, tinfoil barbs
    are rather vain ...

    Tim..


    "Jordi Casamitjana" <jordi@casamitjana.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:60659087.0312200412.79bcb9a5@posting.google.com...
    Interesting article. Although, personally, I wouldn't go as far as
    calling
    my fish "sentient"...

    How would you define "sentient". Do not you think that fish have
    senses and brain?


    One thing that repeatedly comes up in the article is how the fish can
    "see its reflection in the tank's front glass." That appears to be
    impossible
    to me: the fish look right through the glass from the inside, just as we look right through the glass from the outside. Any reflection would be
    very faint and almost invisible because, at an angle of close to 90
    degrees,
    glass reflects very little light.


    The ability to see areflection from inside a tank depends on two
    things: to have eyes with a brain to interpret images, and that there
    is more light inside the tank than outside the tank. Both occurrences
    are common in the case of fish and aquaria.

    If you can see the reflection of the fish in the tank walls, then the
    chances are the fish can also see it.


    Regarding you 90 degrees explanation, you seem to live in a different universe than mine (forgive me the sarcastic tone). In my universe, I
    only can see my reflection in a mirrow if it is placed at 90 degrees
    from my eyesight.

    It is different when you a trying to see your own reflection through a
    galss that has a light in the other side shining towards you. If you
    then move away from the light you will see more reflections in the
    glass, but not yours.

    In the case of fish, because in most occasions the light inside the
    tank is more intense than the one outside, reflectiins inside will
    occur. But when you turn the tank lights off, then the reflection
    ceases.


    I do feel sorry for the thousands of poor bettas though. Being forced
    to hang motionless in a few cubic inches of water is cruelty in my book. (And having kept bettas before, I know that they like to swim around
    a lot if they have the room to do so...)


    I agree with you there.
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  • From Kay@1:278/230 to All on Thu Dec 25 15:03:00 2003
    Jordi Casamitjana wrote:

    For your interested, Advocates for Animals (Scotland, UK) are
    launching a campaign called GLASS PRISONS, EMPTY LIVES about the
    problems of keeping tropical fish. You can see it at:

    http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/glassprisons/glassprisons.htm

    Also, few days ago they launched one about exotic pets:

    http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/exotics

    They have both being launched in anticipation of the possible buying
    frenzy this Christmas of exotic pets/fish as a consequence of the
    popularity of 'Finding Nemo' and the 'Teenager Ninja Turtles' films.


    Jordi

    This group wants no tropical fish to be kept as pets or a hobby, They
    are like PETA who does not want us to have ANY pets at all.

    Kay
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  • From Bassett@1:278/230 to All on Sat Dec 27 06:42:00 2003
    Why is it that people like this come along every so-often, spreading there propaganda like a cancer, expecting everyone else out there to "Bow to
    there Wishes" and comply with there deranged ideas and thoughts.
    Could I suggest that you crawl back under your rock and stay there...
    People are not interested in your crap,,, Many,Many people in this world,
    only have an
    animal as a companion or friend, and they have nothing else.
    But I will be taking a very close look at your web sites, and if I can do anything to disrupt, or stop your stupid deranged ideas, I will...


    bassett


    Jordi Casamitjana wrote:

    For your interested, Advocates for Animals (Scotland, UK) are
    launching a campaign called GLASS PRISONS, EMPTY LIVES about the
    problems of keeping tropical fish. You can see it at:

    http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/glassprisons/glassprisons.htm

    Also, few days ago they launched one about exotic pets:

    http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/exotics

    They have both being launched in anticipation of the possible buying
    frenzy this Christmas of exotic pets/fish as a consequence of the popularity of 'Finding Nemo' and the 'Teenager Ninja Turtles' films.


    Jordi
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  • From Kay@1:278/230 to All on Wed Dec 31 20:51:00 2003
    Bassett wrote:
    Why is it that people like this come along every so-often, spreading there propaganda like a cancer, expecting everyone else out there to "Bow to
    there Wishes" and comply with there deranged ideas and thoughts.
    Could I suggest that you crawl back under your rock and stay there... People are not interested in your crap,,, Many,Many people in this world, only have an
    animal as a companion or friend, and they have nothing else.
    But I will be taking a very close look at your web sites, and if I can do anything to disrupt, or stop your stupid deranged ideas, I will...


    bassett



    Plus to add to the insult this is posted in an aquaria newsgroups,
    knowing it would disturb this and other aquaria groups.

    Kay
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  • From Bassett@1:278/230 to All on Fri Jan 2 07:05:00 2004
    You will also notice, that these people never answer a post, never account
    for there propaganda, and also never answer an e-mail.
    I might add, that I sent them a 500 odd word e-mail, asking where there information comes from, Where they aware that everything complied with
    CITES guidelines, etc.. Needless to say My e-mail went unanswered. No
    surprises there..
    I may be guilty of posting the links on this news group, But while I will
    not apologies for my actions. I will say, that's its very handy to know what these nut cases are up to. IF people don,t react, all sorts of legislation
    get proposed
    and passed, and before you know it, our hobby will not be ours much longer.
    bassett
    .
    "Kay" <neveryour@mind.com> wrote in message

    Plus to add to the insult this is posted in an aquaria newsgroups,
    knowing it would disturb this and other aquaria groups.

    Kay


    Bassett wrote:
    Why is it that people like this come along every so-often, spreading
    there
    propaganda like a cancer, expecting everyone else out there to "Bow to there Wishes" and comply with there deranged ideas and thoughts.
    Could I suggest that you crawl back under your rock and stay there... People are not interested in your crap,,, Many,Many people in this
    world,
    only have an
    animal as a companion or friend, and they have nothing else.
    But I will be taking a very close look at your web sites, and if I can
    do
    anything to disrupt, or stop your stupid deranged ideas, I will...


    bassett




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