Making Fashion Statements A series by “The Undergravel Reporter” In spite of popular demand to the contrary, this humor and information column continues. As usual, it does NOT necessarily represent the opinions of the Editor, or of the Greater City Aquarium Society. he New York Times recently did an article on “The Six-Figure Fish Tank,”1 about custombuilt aquariums costing, well, six figures. The owners of these tanks usually pay someone else to do tank maintenance, and are more concerned with mood lighting than biotopes, species compatibility, conservation, or animal husbandry. For them, the aquarium is a showpiece, bragging rights, a way to “one up” the neighbors. Professionally designed and maintained tanks should, at least in theory, mean that the fish, plants, and any invertebrates are receiving adequate care. They might do some good if someone seeing one of these show aquariums is encouraged to become a real aquarist, But, I doubt that the goldfish inside the sole of a woman’s shoe (top right photo) is in anything even approximating a healthy environment. At least the “portable fishbowl” (photo below and to the right) has some air space above it, even if it lacks filtration. When will people learn that fish are neither ornaments nor toys?
T
1
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/garden/ 19aqua.html?_r=1&hp
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13848395@N08/1403341691/
Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S (NY) Modern Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)
September September 2010 2010
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