Thanks Julie for the comments made with regard to my posts on Aquarium
stores. However I must make a few points: I live in what is probably
Australias unlivliest capital where, in my opinion there is only one good
store. The rest of them fall into the category of "not interested in
promoting natives if I have to go to more trouble than what I already do to
make a buck". You must remember that this is my opinion. I agree with what
you said but I think a lot of these stores, if they stocked natives, would
not do any good to the Native Fish Industry. A lot of these shops cant even
keep conditions right for there bread and butter lines and ,IMHO, if the
conditions are not correctly maintained for our native fish then the fish
appear dull. This in my mind could actually be bad for the promotion of our
Native treasures. After all a neon maintains its colour wether it is happy
or not. I have found that other States within this country are different to
this one where they actually have a few GOOD shops to select from. St Kilda
Auariums in Melbourne is a very active Native Fish stockist, you can
generally get most things from there from Desert Gobies to G. Brevipinnis
(although I wonder where these fish come from).
Re: ANGFA posters. I think these are a step in the right direction but think
they are a long way from actually showing people what is out there. These
posters are generally (if at all ) stuck on a wall where people dont take
much notice of them. Quite often people need something right in front of
them for them to see it. I dont want to give the impression that I think
Native fish keepers are elitists. We are here because we enjoy our hobby and
would like to see it promoted in a beneficial way, however I really dont see
this being done in this State. 99% of people *I* have met are oblivious to
the concept that native fish exist beyond Callop (Yellow Belly to you
Easteners).
IMHO!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry the wording didnt flow, Im in a rush.
Andrew H