Would you buy fish pictured out of water?

[ca1ore]

FWIW, when I move a fish from QT into a bucket and onto the display ..... guess what, I scoop it out with my hands rather than a net. Easier on the fish and no tangling.

 

[ScottR]

If you saw the way fish are handled after they’re caught in the ocean, you’d probably think nothing of this. Fish also get netted anyway when moved from tank to tank.

 

[samnaz]

If you saw the way fish are handled after they’re caught in the ocean, you’d probably think nothing of this. Fish also get netted anyway when moved from tank to tank.

True but outta sight outta mind...

 

[tehmadreefer]

 

[BighohoReef]

I move my fish when acclimating and dipping with my hand as much as possible because I do not want any of the bad water going with the fish using a plastic container. I have had too many get there gill spikes and fins stuck in a net and cause minor damage. Taking a couple extra seconds to snap a picture is no big deal. If a fish is stressed it normally doesn't have much color. If your worried about explaining nemo to your kid try explaining that nemos dad was actually his mom? The only thing Disney got right was the fact Dori the Regal was goofy. And don't get me started with Bambi! The Owl would of cleaned up with Thumper and his family in real life.

I'm similar with the acclimation process we definitely had a challenge with getting the puffer into the tank without adding water from the bag. A

 

[BighohoReef]

I asked a vendor I respect about this once, and they said that it's usually done as part of the process of moving the fish from one container to another. I don't know if that's just their practice or if that's the common practice, but it made me feel better. If it really is for a moment when the fish was already going to be out of the water, then I can see the logic of taking the photo then.

Thank you for the vendor follow up. I'm partly amazed they can catch the fish in their hands. In the end, this is probably common practice for most that keep/sell fish. I suppose I just need to get over my aversion to seeing this... I would still question buying from them but I would love to know more about their fish care practices.

Funny as I'm writing this post the internet tracking gods have decided to torment me for my curiosity

@SALGADO AQUATICS maybe you can chime in since I got your banner. Would love to get your thoughts on this practice. Share with the community!!! Not a blast or complaint, I just want to understand Thank you in advance!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

...... however, it is quite common. It can be quite hard to get a good picture of a swimming fish ….. that's why some places do it. Ironically, the most humane/caring thing you can do for any animal is to leave it in its natural environment.

There it is... they are simply defeating photography. It seems cruel, but at the same time, fish brains are really small. They may not even remember it. I dunno, humans presume too much on lower species.

 

[Fezbearer]

I'm still dodging that question... teaching avoidance is okay right

It's a parental survival skill.

 

[najer]

No, I hate seeing pics like that and would never buy from them.

 

[BJEDVM13]

I’ve always assumed it was performed after acclimation and prior to adding to the system, so a couple of seconds for a picture is probably the least stressful thing the fish has endured to that point. ‍

 

[vetteguy53081]

Although weird, it is becoming common as it is hard to take a pic of a fish that does not stay still. You are seeing actual fish and colors with this method

 

[BighohoReef]

I'm doing some LFS research this week gonna stop by all the locals and ask them what they think. Post the finding on Sunday when I can do a full write up. Would love to know if any of your LFS has a good explanation.

Stay tuned

 

[Squidward]

I don't mind it. It really is hard to take decent photos of your fish. Not everyone has expensive nikon/canon cameras that know what they're doing. Divers Den put their fish in a small container of some sort to get their photos if I remember? Taking a photo with fish in the hand shows how big or small it is compared to someone's hand as well.

 

[LOVEROCK]

You are questioning handing fish in a hand , we put them in a glass box

 

[flabryth]

You are questioning handing fish in a hand , we put them in a glass box

Dude you get the idea behind this...stop trolling and add something real to the conversation.

 

[Zionas]

Many online stores in China do this to their fish. My LFS doesn’t do it. I am not keen on this practice either.

 

[ThRoewer]

Instead of a photo, especially an out of water photo, I would rather prefer a 1-minute video of the fish in its tank, ideally during feeding. A still photo, whether in the water or out of water doesn't really tell you much about the fish, and an out of water picture can hide injuries and other issues.

 

[Zionas]

I think all of us here are more demanding than the average customer but demanding in a way benefiting the standards of the industry and hobby. If every hobbyist out there were as picky as us, the hobby would progress at astronomical speeds lol.

 

[AZMSGT]

I think Humans tend to get to wrapped up on allot of things.
Honestly, if they are taking a quick picture while transferring a fish from a plastic bag full of ammonia and putting the fish in holding tanks.. I'm ok with it. Now if the fish looked like a dried up sponge, I would be concerned. But all the fish out of water shots I have seen they are glistening wet.

Getting pictures of a fish in the water is a pain especially if you are dealing with large numbers. It takes far less TIME to snap a quick picture while transferring a fish than trying to get the best shot. Don't judge, but walk a day in the shoes of the vendor and then see how you feel. It's easy to be a keyboard commando and ridicule others from home.

When I have gotten new fish I don't use a net. I pour the bag of water and fish into a colander and then slide the fish in to my tank. During this time it would be ideal to snap a shot if I were to do it.

 

[Zionas]

If I were a vendor I would aspire to become one like HumbleFish or Elliott Lim of Marine Collectors. Theirs would my retail standards. If a customer doesn’t understand that paying more upfront for a clean, pre-quarantined Fish is saving them money and time in the long run, I’d gladly not do business with them. They don’t know how good they’re having it, maybe something else would suit them better.

HumbleFish is someone I really admire. When I asked him whether he ships internationally, he declined and said that he does not want me to have a dead fish once it reaches my hands. That’s class. Not only did I not think along the lines of “wow this guy is refusing to give me service”, instead of thought “wow if only everyone in the industry cared as much about the livestock as he does.”

Your average seller in my country, “show me the money.” They’d gladly sell a Bandit Angel to a total beginner, and if it dies, they tell you “c’est la vie.”