Are we judgmental against certain fish/corals

[Jay Z]

Random thought for the day.

We may be taught racism as we progress in life through news and media, company you keep and personal experiences. No one is born racist.

That being said, do we overly categorize certain fish and corals based on others/personal experiences with them in our tanks?

Does one random murder in the fish tank demonize that fish forever? Or was that fish a product of its environment? Bored, under fed, fed something that triggered the rampage, just wanted the food, just a evil fish. Or will every fish that looks like it do the same?

I know most the internet says triggers are mean and not reef safe, yet many of us have them, and have no issues. Xenia will over run your tank in 24 hours, same with aiptasia, wish I had growth out of anything that quick.

I've always believed to give everything a fair shake and not to judge. Anyone else try this for there reefing approach?

 

[Quietman]

Interesting points...I'll join in.

I judge corals and fish much like I come to opinions about people...based on what they do not on who or what they are. I have made conscious decisions against some livestock because of how they are reported to behave in my first display tank. Xenia can take over, Damsels are "jerk fish", Dwarf Angels will nip, etc.. I want nothing but peaceful coexistence as much as possible with competitive species. So much so that I'm still debating Clown fish and Euphyllias. This is not a judgement against a species - well perhaps it is, but it's earned judgement.

Side note: I am considering GSP on the back wall of display - I know it can spread but I've heard it's easily trimmed, just keep it away from your rocks. So there, my token 'unwanted'. :)

I did say first tank because even while still in early stages of this tank, I have and was always fond of and even debated starting with setting up a tank less mindful of my aesthetics 'as a whole' and just stocking what I think are lovely and perhaps less desirable inhabitants. Starting with, from the ocean, air shipped to my door, live rock and everything that would have on it, Xenia for sure (they are lovely and fascinating), mushrooms, Damsels, more aggressive crabs, algae (some of which is gorgeous).

Long way around...certain species are not compatible with our wants and yes, we make judgments on those 'known' behaviors. Lot's of people have agressive or perhaps 'less attractive' species, but hopefully it's because of a decision on what they want in a tank and not because of lack of awareness of their characteristics or a "looked good in the store" purchase.

Begin rant...
What I do not care for though (and I don't see this here on R2R much and frequently it's called out against) is the "beginner coral" label. Also, the "it can't be desirable because it doesn't have fancy name and it's not new" label. The former is just silly (well, so's the latter), but the former makes people feel bad because they like soft corals or GSP or Xenia or whatever. The latter is potentially damaging as it tends to move us away from sustainable livestock in the search for the all that is new and comes with some perceived status.
...Rant over. :)

 

[Jay Z]

I have a lot of polyps, zenia, and gsp. I am mindfull of what others have said about them. I have found them not to be "monsters". I'd rather enjoy my personal view than try to impress the forums. My gsp is the slowest growing of the 3.

 

[Quietman]

Sometimes I suspect those "Xenia overrun tanks" are due to lack of maintenance. But then I hear about people saying they can just pop up willy nilly all over your tank. Part of why I want to have some, in a separate tank, just to see what's what. Plus the darn things are mesmerizing to watch.

 

[Quietman]

I have a lot of polyps, zenia, and gsp. I am mindfull of what others have said about them. I have found them not to be "monsters". I'd rather enjoy my personal view than try to impress the forums. My gsp is the slowest growing of the 3.

Wait! Polyps are problem species....I just bought a dozen....out they go!

 

[Auquanut]

I've always kept GSP and rainbow clove polyp. Easily managed if you stay on top of them. And @Quietman, My GSP is climbing a side panel in my tank. Looks awesome.
I have always stayed away from pulsing xenia though because of all of the horror stoies about it spreading like wildfire. So I guess I am somewhat prejudiced.

 

[Sailingeric]

My GPS has not grown much in nearly two years, while my devils hand is taking over. I have 5 damsels and 4 clowns and have had no issues at all with them being butts like a lot of people say they are.

 

[Billldg]

I feel that the human mind is conditioned to be attracted towards certain species of fish and corals based on their preference. Then we zero in on our likes and start to become even more narrow-minded because we have to defend our decisions. Then the internet took it further and allows people to be judgmental and not attach a face to their decision. Just my two cents.

 

[fish farmer]

I feel that the human mind is conditioned to be attracted towards certain species of fish and corals based on their preference. Then we zero in on our likes and start to become even more narrow-minded because we have to defend our decisions. Then the internet took it further and allows people to be judgmental and not attach a face to their decision. Just my two cents.

This hobby is basically all about pretty colorful fish and corals, maybe a few weird unique fish and difficult corals. There are a lot of fish in the sea, but when I go to the LFS all I see are the pretty ones and usually BIG pretty ones. There are many small fish I would love to see in the hobby, but never do.

I only recently added a little blue LED addition to my 14,000K LED fixture. It makes those weedy wagon wheel mushrooms glow. It even makes the texas trash palys pop a little.

I'm tempted to try xenia again. I grew it extremely well under MH, but it failed under PC's the last go around, might have to try it again with LED's.

 

[Dragon52]

I have a form of Xenia in my tank because the wife liked the way it flows,lol. It's plain looking to me, whitish grey no color really. I had to remove some of it a cpl weeks ago cause it started to get too big & grow on my back glass. I think I'd rather have GSP or even the Blue rather then this stuff.