Marine Aquarium Expo 2012 Day 1

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Atticus818, Mar 31, 2012.

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  1. Atticus818

    Atticus818 Eyelash Blennie

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    1,281
    Location:
    Southern California
    Hey guys/gals;

    Just got home from MAX 2012. Was pretty cool this year, a lot of people, much more than I expected. When I arrived well over an hour after they opened the line was still over 100 deep.

    The raffle looked awesome, definitely had some appeal for those that needed some new gear. Tons of big name vendors, from Seachem and Caribsea, to the more local smaller operations, like Dr. Tim, and local fish stores galore.

    I did find only 1 issue of some pretty sad animal treatment during the whole thing by a vendor who will stay nameless, basically trying to market bags that require no air, because they can "breathe." I am not necessarily concerned with their bagging of the animals, which is commonplace in this hobby, so much as their attitude towards the livestock they contained.

    Each bag had an individual or pair of fish ranging from common damsels to much rarer groupers and anthias. Each bag contained approximately 1/3 cup of water and no oxygen, again because of the bag "breathing." No heaters, no water movement, no space to swim; nothing. Breathing bags do not negate the waste produced by these various forms of livestock, the quality of the water must be atrocious. They are vacuum sealed, not rubber banded to stapled like traditional bags. When asked how long they were in these conditions by a fellow attendee, the women replies, "They have been in these bags since Friday and will stay just like this for 3-5 days." When asked how the testing process went, she said to the guy that they had seen them last as long as a week before they die like this, much longer than a standard bag.

    The whole attitude by the woman running the booth left a bad taste in my, and other fellow attendees mouths. I cannot speak for the company as a whole, but my experience prompted me to try and raise awareness that these animals are placed in our care, and should be handled with the utmost respect. If you run across cases of animal mistreatment it is your duty to speak up for those that cannot speak for themselves.


    Other than that experience, MAX was a great event with great people.
    Now photos!

    Please feel free to add your photos to this thread if you made the event.
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    Atticus818, Mar 31, 2012
    Atticus818, Mar 31, 2012
    #1

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  2. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2000
    Messages:
    13,466
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Thanks for posting pics. Sorry to hear about that vendor though.
    Solatube told me that they'd be there again. Anything new?
     
    Matt Rogers, Apr 3, 2012
    Matt Rogers, Apr 3, 2012
    #2