There are few aquarists who would argue that we are indeed witnessing the Victorian age of fishkeeping. Fish availability in the US is at least quite remarkable. Where instant gratification may not be met with those hard to find fish, one usually can obtain any desired fish within a year or two.
How long will this last? Most projections are dismal at best. Major factors contributing to the predicted end of this great abundance of wild caught fish we enjoy and even take for granted today is most certainly linked to loss of habitat. But, this subject is another article all together.
One might envision that fifty or more years from now, aquarists would look back on this time to review the data that was collected for a given species to ensure its maintenance not just in the hobby but on the planet! If you accept this proposed scenario, then you would agree that it would appear that our hobby might represent a more noble purpose.
You may have noticed that a portion of the aforementioned vision included the phrase “data that was collected...” We all have a responsibility to collect and document vital information for the fish that we keep. This documentation can manifest itself in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways is through the generation of articles for publication in club newsletters or various trade magazines. It is important to note that although articles exist regarding water conditions and successful breeding techniques of many fish in the hobby, it is the summation of many articles on a given species that provide the overall parameters needed to keep the fish in question successfully. Therefore, it is important to document your experiences with even common species so that it may be applied to the overall knowledge of that fish.
Everyone has their own technique of breeding and keeping fish. It is quite gratifying to share and compare your experiences and discoveries with other aquarists working with your fish. I have been keeping fish for 25 years and am always learning something new. We are always looking for optimal and more practical ways to keep our fish. I would suggest that we all have a responsibility to contribute to the collective knowledge of fishkeeping. If you are reluctant to share your experiences because you have never written an article before and don’t know how, then you are missing the point. The dissemination of information is the focus. Be a responsible aquarist and document your fishkeeping successes and failures in the newsletter. The harsh reality is that the future of the fish we love are truly at stake.