If Fish Could Scream...
The dark side of my job at a saltwater fish store.
Aquariums are calm and interesting to look at…
Fun fact they were invented In 1369. The Hongwu Emperor of China established a porcelain company that produced large porcelain tubs for maintaining goldfish; over time, people produced tubs that approached the shape of modern fish bowls.
Although it’s a thrilling pastime, filled with cool tech, new equipment, and all sorts of rabbit holes you can go down…
There’s a dark side.
Join me in what I discovered working at a fish store.
I’ve had the pleasure of being in many different fields of work…
Automotive technician
Marijuana cultivation
Copywriter
And a saltwater fish store!
Something all professions share in common is that there’s some unattractive baggage that comes with them, as I’m sure your profession does too.
What began as an interesting hobby slowly turned into well…a place I felt was more of a large-scale torturing event.
And it pulled at my heartstrings!
There are VERY few saltwater fish species that are bred to go into a tank.
(Is a bred fish for captivating any better? I don’t know)
What that means is they’re ripped from the ocean and eventually land in some guy named Greg’s tank in Nebraska…
FROM OCEAN TO GREG’S - THE X LAYER OF HELL
Fish is born into the wild world of the ocean.
Fish is captured by fishermen for the hobby. Usually by a diver but there have been some illegal methods like cyanide fishing, blast fishing, or anesthetics.
Fish then goes to its first stop the warehouse, sometimes multiple times.
Fish hops on a plane to go to either the airport or ANOTHER warehouse at a different location.
(Or from the airport to be picked up by the store.)
Now let me stop here for a second to explain something when it comes to fish. Just like a plant or even yourself, the transplant process between tanks is the most difficult process to endure.
Think of moving to a new state and how stressful that is even knowing what’s going on.
Personally just moved - it’s stressful being uprooted
Onwards with the SALTWATER FISH JOURNEY!
Enter the fish store - The next level in the purgatory of aquarium hell, and if this little or big dude has survived up to this point…they’ve seen some shit!
Along the way, they may have picked up some parasites or illnesses being exposed to cross-contamination from other systems.
It’s like a frat house for fish passing around who knows what.
Okay, ew you didn’t have to say that.
Now this fish is swimming around with other prisoners in a little box all while big alien-looking people press their sweaty foreheads on the glass to get a good peep.
THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET INTERESTING.
Greg comes in and thinks this looks cool. “I want him” followed by advice from someone who doesn’t know anything or Greg takes that advice and throws it out the window…
A. The fish is not meant to be in their tank due to growth, other fish already there, or numerous other reasons.
B. This person has no idea what they’re doing
C. Their tank isn’t kept well
After X many trips all over the place this fish finally lands in his final destination, his home, no more agony…
Greg enjoys them for a little bit and then the fish typically dies soon after followed by the cycle repeating.
Why am I telling you this?
What can you do about it?
Don’t we keep dogs and cats, what’s the difference?
Playing god and simulating the ocean that covers the span of 70% of our planet isn’t quite the same as a glass box.
Sheesh bro, this is negative - It’s just a fish chill out…
I’ve looked at a puffer fish looking back at me and these dudes are intelligent! Even though some fish are most likely mindless they know something weird is going on.
Look, I don’t know where I’m going with this but I bet you if these fish could scream the fish stores would be all…
“AHHHHHRHA!!!”
I got out of the hobby and not poo-pooing on anyone who does it because it is cool.
The other crazy part is you get desensitized.
Shipment comes in…
Slam-dunk them in the tank…
Do your rounds the next morning pulling the dead guys…
Slam-dunk them in the trash and move on to the next customer wanting to get it on.
Ahhh, all in a day’s work.
One of the cool things for me at the store was taking the sickly fish not doing so well and trying to bring them back to life.
Of course, a lot died and the owner hated that because it took up real estate, time, and resources…
But it felt nice.
Even when I was in the hobby I would ask for the fugged-up dudes so I could put them in a clean system through PROPER quarantine cycles.
And that’s that, thanks for joining me in my experience.
See ya next time!