Out of the aquarium- onto the soapbox!

Before we get too far into this, I want to point out that todays piece is strictly MY OPINION. It's editorial in nature, and you may even find it offensive. For that, I actually don't apologize. I wanted to say a few things that have been on my mind of late, and some of them are highly opinionated and perhaps not pretty. I'm not trying to "pick a fight", but I am voicing a few concerns that I have about the hobby. At the very least, they are contrary to a lot of what you might read in the aquarium media, and as such, are polarizing to some.

Well, someone has to say this stuff, and it might as well be me.

Seems to me that we are in a sort of "New Golden Age" of adventure in aquariums- do you agree? (click to read more...)

I tend to agree. I sometimes feel a little ashamed when relating to people that I *gasp* mix fish from different continents that like similar water conditions and thrive in similar niches. Why yes, yes that is a cyprinid in the background of my photo on the South American Cichlid page... but, you know, the main subject was the cichlid...

I've also seen my fair share of snobbery come from people who look at someone's very creative and cool, albeit non-traditional and possibly a little creepy, aquascape and mock it. I think we've got some creative folks who don't post tank photos because people make fun of their choices of decorations.

Becca said:

I tend to agree. I sometimes feel a little ashamed when relating to people that I *gasp* mix fish from different continents that like similar water conditions and thrive in similar niches. Why yes, yes that is a cyprinid in the background of my photo on the South American Cichlid page... but, you know, the main subject was the cichlid...

I've also seen my fair share of snobbery come from people who look at someone's very creative and cool, albeit non-traditional and possibly a little creepy, aquascape and mock it. I think we've got some creative folks who don't post tank photos because people make fun of their choices of decorations.

Click to expand...

We're on the same page there!
-Scott

I'll preface my comments with the admission that aqua-scaping, in contests or otherwise, really isn't my jam... but it relates to the larger issue of injecting competition into keeping fish (and the hobby).

Some people really like to compete - it get's them excited and energized. Others don't - and it's just not something that appeals. Awards, prizes and accolades are explicit ways to highlight excellence in our hobby (or some aspect of it). You have to compete to win.

The issue is that fish competitions - whether they be aquarium beautiful or fish shows or BAP or whatever - tend to emphasize very narrow models of fishkeeping.

Really "winning" at BAP requires churning through many species...vs. keeping a few species for a long time. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. But BAP penalizes the specialist (or someone keeping several tanks of a single CARES species vs. many species). That someone doesn't win BAP doesn't mean that they're a bad fishkeeper.

For example, to really win at fish shows requires keeping fish in quite un-natural ways - isolation, feeding them color enhancers...and getting them used to being displayed in a too-small-bare tank. Generally, fish that are kept in community or breeding settings won't be "perfect" enough to win. Some people have bunches of tanks with one or two (divided) fish - optimized for fish shows and others have communities. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. Technical fish judging is quite different than awarding fish that visually appeal (although judging frequently conflates the two). That someone doesn't "win" fish shows doesn't mean that they're not good at keeping fish (often just the opposite).

You've described the issues with aquascaping competitions. Similar issues with judging. With AquaMania / Big Fish Deal, we set out to make the competition fun and to encourage a diversity of entrants (technical and non-technical). To make it fun just to participate, win or otherwise. I think most everyone feels appreciated for participating. We also have focused on both popular and technical judging (and associated prizes). Maybe this could be a model for other competitions...

Matt

Becca said:

I tend to agree. I sometimes feel a little ashamed when relating to people that I *gasp* mix fish from different continents that like similar water conditions and thrive in similar niches. Why yes, yes that is a cyprinid in the background of my photo on the South American Cichlid page... but, you know, the main subject was the cichlid...

I've also seen my fair share of snobbery come from people who look at someone's very creative and cool, albeit non-traditional and possibly a little creepy, aquascape and mock it. I think we've got some creative folks who don't post tank photos because people make fun of their choices of decorations.

Click to expand...

dogofwar said:

I'll preface my comments with the admission that aqua-scaping, in contests or otherwise, really isn't my jam... but it relates to the larger issue of injecting competition into keeping fish (and the hobby).

Some people really like to compete - it get's them excited and energized. Others don't - and it's just not something that appeals. Awards, prizes and accolades are explicit ways to highlight excellence in our hobby (or some aspect of it). You have to compete to win.

The issue is that fish competitions - whether they be aquarium beautiful or fish shows or BAP or whatever - tend to emphasize very narrow models of fishkeeping.

Really "winning" at BAP requires churning through many species...vs. keeping a few species for a long time. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. But BAP penalizes the specialist (or someone keeping several tanks of a single CARES species vs. many species). That someone doesn't win BAP doesn't mean that they're a bad fishkeeper.

For example, to really win at fish shows requires keeping fish in quite un-natural ways - isolation, feeding them color enhancers...and getting them used to being displayed in a too-small-bare tank. Generally, fish that are kept in community or breeding settings won't be "perfect" enough to win. Some people have bunches of tanks with one or two (divided) fish - optimized for fish shows and others have communities. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. Technical fish judging is quite different than awarding fish that visually appeal (although judging frequently conflates the two). That someone doesn't "win" fish shows doesn't mean that they're not good at keeping fish (often just the opposite).

You've described the issues with aquascaping competitions. Similar issues with judging. With AquaMania / Big Fish Deal, we set out to make the competition fun and to encourage a diversity of entrants (technical and non-technical). To make it fun just to participate, win or otherwise. I think most everyone feels appreciated for participating. We also have focused on both popular and technical judging (and associated prizes). Maybe this could be a model for other competitions...

Matt

Click to expand...

Hi Matt,

Great points. And the reality is that the bigger issue is what you said- it's about fun and participation! The thing that always gets me about the aquascaping competitions is the air of elitism, exclusivity, and the the "cultural trickle down" of arrogance that suggests that what is presented/perfoms well/wins in these contests is the ONLY way...a dogmatic attitude that is both palpable and contrary to what the hobby is all about, IMHO.

I think that AM/BFD is a model for what a real "fish show/competition" is all about. The typical "sterilized", "sanitized", "deconstructed" contest entry model reminds me of dog shows or something....So seemingly inconsistent with the values that we share as hobbyists.

Keep up the good work and good vibes!

-Scott