Thank you for the thoughtful feedback
@MnFish1 — we genuinely appreciate it and welcome opportunities like this to engage in honest discussion with other passionate hobbyists. This is what Reef2Reef is all about. As a small company like ours, what's most important are our hobbyist we serve, as we will always be, hobbyists first...so let's jump right in, and address each point...as
@revhtree shared, there are many ways to skin a cat...
Flat edge concern...you’re absolutely right to consider contact points. The FishScooper’s flat edge is gently beveled and not sharp or rigid like some rimmed plasticware. It was specifically designed to glide along glass and substrate, not to press the FishScooper against a fish in hopes it swims in. Our rounded corners were designed to trap fish in your tanks tight corners up against the glass, without snagging delicate fins or scales — a flaw we’ve seen too often with traditional net frames and even some food-grade containers. Unlike the behavior often observed when using nets, the FishScooper was never intended to be used to zip and zag like a wild car chase in a tank, lol. Although, I understand, it's natural for people to think the same technique applies as nets.
With FishScooper, it's more about allowing the fish to swim inside (which happens all the time due to the high transparency) and then lifting the scooper upwards out of the tank while the fish has a tendency to swim downwards. Stores and hobbyists are shocked how fast this happens, but I totally get it if one hasn't yet experienced using the FishScooper firsthand. To comment on the point further, most also believe the FishScooper will have drag as they naturally try to relate it to a specimen container...this too is also false. A square container doesn't have the same curvature that prevents the drag found in the FishScooper, nor close to the high level of transparency we intentionally designed. Additionally, we were intentional about how we designed the base of the FishScooper, ensuring it isn't an overly enlarged square to maximize the hydrodynamics. Why did we choose a square? We wanted to increase convenience allowing the FishScooper to be self-supporting, allowing you to rest it down on a solid surface allowing for proper inspection of your fish, or a fun photography session. This was achieved over several re-creations and versions of the FishScooper, and months of adjusting our mold.
Bacteria & parasite transfer...we fully agree — no tool instantly sterilizes itself. However, the FishScooper is one solid, non-porous piece, meaning it can be
visually inspected and easily fully sanitized between uses, unlike mesh nets that trap waste, mucus, and pathogens in fibers. Of course we still encourage proper disinfection protocols, especially between tanks or systems, just like with any transfer equipment.
Fish injuries from sellers...this is a exactly the reason as to why we developed the FishScooper....We've been fortunate (though in actuality unfortunate) enough to observe firsthand the operations of some wholesale fish distributors...which in some cases, emphasize speed over health in handling the fish as their main objective is flip the fish. Any one who has a direct relationship with an LFS has heard countless stories of fish coming in sick or completely stressed out, needing immediate recovery before even thinking about going on display. While this doesn't apply to all wholesalers, inevitably, we can all agree retail nets cause stress, scale damage, and ripped fins at times, especially in times where speed is correlated with profits. Simply put, why take the risk? FishScooper may not solve 100% of all problems, but we certainly feel we're moving the hobby in the right direction. We’ve also partnered with stores who now exclusively only use the FishScooper for livestock transfers to avoid the troubles mentioned above. Some customers even bring their FishScooper when visiting their LFS or new stores to ask them to use it, to inspect their fish prior to purchase, and of course, use it to catch their fish to minimize the stress, hence safeguarding their new addition to their tank. So while it’s not a magic wand, it
reduces the chances of injury significantly during handoffs.
Tupperware vs. FishScooper...we love creative reefers — and yes, we've heard it all. The mayonnaise jar, Tupperware, colander, etc. are all better than a net in many situations. But what most containers
lack are reach, angle control, and floating ability. Not to mention, who wants to clean out a mayonnaise jar and then submerge it into their tank?
FishScooper offers a long ergonomic handle for deep tanks, some can even avoid placing their hand into the tank at all...or slightly worse, getting bit by that bully clownfish lol. FishScooper's buoyant design allows it to float at the surface, making acclimation, dips, and multi-tasking safer and easier.
Scooping with rocks...we agree: no tool is perfect for every scenario. In highly aquascaped tanks with lots of rocks, patience and planning are always required. However, this is no different than a net...as nets too, can cling to rocks, sending your precious aquascape you spent months building...tumbling in a matter of minutes. Most hobbyists are comfortable with the fact that in situations requiring the removal of a fish, you likely will also have to move some rocks out of the way, and possibly even lower the water level, to then use a trap. The second you put a net into the tank, the fish dip -- and hide under the rocks out of fear, knowing exactly what is to come. With the FishScooper, if you use its multipurpose capabilities, notably one being a feeding tool (look to our signature for quick reference, or visit our instagram for plenty of videos @fishscooperofficial), you'll see the fish eagerly diving right into the transparent FishScooper with comfort and ease. You would never see this happen with a net. Devil's advocate here...yes you can use a specimen container, but it doesn't provide the long reach, exposing your hand to the tank which can spook SOME fish, of course not all. Not all of us have been lucky enough to train our fish to eat of our hands (yet). Overall, the voluntarily swimming into the FishScooper with minimal chase is not only pretty cool to see— but particularly when comparing the process to a net, that requires active pursuit, it hands-down makes it a more effective and safer option as a whole.
Our number one goal here is to make the hobby safer and more compassionate while bringing ease to hobbyists' tanks, maintenance, and routines— not to claim we’ve solved every fish handling issue. One thing that is sometimes overlooked, is the ability for FishScooper to comfortably allow the fish to remain submerged in water, never taken out of the water for the period of time experienced when using nets...not to state the obvious... but this causes a period of suffocation for the fish, even if it is temporary or short-lived.
All in all, with all that has been shared, the FishScooper may not be for everyone, and we're okay with that. But one thing we're confident about, is that it is already improving the lives of hobbyists, and for that, we are very proud of what the FishScooper has already achieved by providing hobbyists the option.
Receiving photos from customers who have already adopted the FishScooper showing us their fish, the messages from international marine biologists who are stoked to see the innovation taking place within the industry/hobby, and of course, the stores who now offer the FishScooper to their customers in hopes of also making a difference, is all that matters to us.
Thanks again for being open and transparent. We're always looking to evolve based on constructive feedback like yours, and we truly appreciate it.
