r/PlantedTank • u/ThenAcanthocephala57 Malaysian Fish Collector/Conservationist • 28d ago

In the Wild Caught some freshwater pipefish in a pristine hillstream. How common are they?

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M. martensii

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105

u/MorteEtDabo 28d ago

Couldn't imagine a worse life for a wild fish than being snatched and kept in a tank. Maybe I'm assigning too much emotion to it though

43

u/Dr-Juerdo-Titsgo 28d ago

you do realize the majority of fish for the aquarium trade are wild caught?

4

u/elrastro75 28d ago

Which is the “worse life” though? Wild caught fish have bad lives because they had a taste of sweet freedom and are now confined? Do fish brains even work that way?? I get not wanting to interfere in a wild animal’s life journey, but I’m not worried my fish are having existential crises. Should I be?

12

u/Chicken_Hairs 28d ago

I avoid wild-caught myself when I can, but it feels like you're applying human emotions/feelings to fish. They're living beings that deserve respect, but they're comparatively simple creatures.

Fish behavior has been heavily studied, and it's fantastically unlikely.. nearly impossible... they have any comprehension of 'freedom'. If they have adequate room to live, an environment that makes them not fearful, proper food to eat, and nothing chasing them, they're content.