Winter Hurting Fish Farmers

[Midnight Angel]

Hey guys I know this is a saltwater forum but I had to post about this. I also raise lots of freshwater fish here so I was saddened to hear what is going on these days. Anyway I got a email today about what is going on in Florida right now and it is really sad. My heart goes out to the freshwater fish farmers down there. Florida has had some really low temps. for the past few weeks and the fish are all really suffering down there. The South American cichlid farmers have really been hit hard. I brought all of my mollies, swordtails, and cichlids in this year and boy I'm glad I did. I now have lots of fish that everyone needs because of it. It could be as much as 10% of the farmers that will lose their businesses because of this cold weather. My heart goes out to them and their families.


Amy Drehmel

[xroads]

I hear you.

A friend said he saw on the news a huge pond full of clownfish that they were worried about dying. I found it hard to beleive but he said they were clownfish.

[Midnight Angel]

Where was this pond of clownfish ? I have a greenhouse and still brought my fish in because I lost so many last winter. I only had freshwater outside though. I had it heated last year but I also have turtles and tortoises. I spent so much money on heat last year and still lost salvini (the first cichlid to drop from the cold evey time.........I bet the price of these guys will go up because there is now a shortage). Anyway I can't bring in 80lb tortoise so they got the heat this year and the fish had to come in. I got fish everywhere around here. But I'm so glad I do


Amy

[Surfzone]

This has been a hard one on Florida all around they have lost manatees and a lot of oranges due to the cold weather.

[spawner]

Yea I know a guy that lost 100% everything they had outside. They had a ton of great African cichlid. Good news is that a lot of the exotic pest are taking a big hit. That was much needed

[Midnight Angel]

That poor man. I lost 75% of what I had last year. After crying on the floor (what this female fish breeder does in these situations ) over losing all my chocolate cichlids last year I brought my fish in early this year. The house smells a little like jack dempeys but hey they are still alive along with the rest.


Amy

[LargeAngels]

It is sad.

Yeah, the Iguana's are falling out of the trees. One guy picked a bunch up, threw them in the back of his car and when they warmed up from the car they attacked him causing a car accident.

[Midnight Angel]

OMG It doesn't surprise me though. I have a iguana here that I rescued that I had to put a feeding tube in just to feed it. It was so weak that crickets would try to eat it. Anyway after she got better she became so mean that I can't do much with her. It takes two people to deal with her and she whips you with her tail the whole time. If they are not handled lots when they are young they are pretty nasty.

Did the man survive the car crash Poor guy....


Amy

[enigma]

Yeah, it is a pretty bad situation down there. It is even affecting the wild populations of animals. A close friend works at the turtle hospital and she said fish are washing up on the shores. Check out this link on the turtle situation too.



The link will navigate you away from MOFIB so remember to come back

[Midnight Angel]

Well that is the worst news so far As if those poor things needed anything else working against them. Mark your friend is a angel and so are all the other people who have helped all those turtles. I hope all those guys make it and the mamatees too


Amy

[enigma]

Thanks Angel, I'll pass on the well wishes. Manatees are warm blooded, so cold doesn't affect them as much. The folks that work at the hospital work for essentially cost of living so they really are special to commit to so much for so little. Turtles in the key's especially depend on them. I've seen some real heroism with them.

[Midnight Angel]

I bet. There is a rescue center for them here too at the South Carolina Aquarium. I think people who work with the sea turtles are probably my biggest idols but seahorse breeders are pretty darn cool too. I stay off the seahorse threads here because I don't know much about them but one day I'll be picking your brain Mark. Really it is sweet that we have so many seahorse breeders now........you guys rock . Sorry got a little off topic there.


Amy

[enigma]

Definitely inspiring to see so many new SH breeders who have taken the skill so much farther than way back in the day (2001) when I was doing it. A lot of great ideas an successes!

[Midnight Angel]

Well to give everyone a idea of how bad things have gotten for the freshwater fish breeders there is now a shortage of convict cichlids. I have never bred these guys. I have known people in the past that couldn't give these fish away. They are pretty much like freshwater cockroaches. I mean that in the nicest way though. They are hard to kill and you can't keep them from breeding. I'm really shocked to see a shortage of these guys.



Amy

[Midnight Angel]

Mark it looks like ORA is now helping out with the turtles down in Florida too. I just read about it on Reef Builders fwiw. What a bunch of sweet guys and gals



Amy