> The novice has a better chance with local species than the pet
 > store type
I'm not sure I agree with this.  Cool water fish seem to be much harder to 
deal with then the warm water fish.  I know you know that most of the South 
American fish we keep, and probably most of the freshwater 'exotic' fish we 
keep are from the Equator.  If they have any 'seson' at all it's rain or dry.
Most North American fish are at best in the temperate zone.  Most of the fish 
found up here (ie:upstate New York) have a definate season.  That is they 
Breed at only one time of the year -- seem to have a definate cycle of 
'life'.  That is much harder to simulate in the aquarium - taking great 
dilagence and care.
Not something the casual aquarist is willing to do.
It's far harder to breed locals then exotics.  I agree it's seems to have 
some value beyond what I orgionally considered but I do not think it is 
something to suggest to a novice fishkeeper.
> ...however i am more concerned by the greater Apathy
 > within the aquarium field...Aquarist should be conservationally
 > proactive they are not ...they are like tourist on vacation
 > ignorant as to where they came from and what they really cost ,
 > they just want to be entertained ....
and there is harm in that?  I agree we should do more.  But not everyone 
aspires to be president.  Some of us are satified to be privates.
I have problems with people keeping fish who do not care if they are alive or 
not.  But simply because they do not choose to do anymore then to keep fish 
that look pretty does not make them bad people.
/harry/
--- FMail 1.02
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