Florida TRopical Fish Farmers Suffer Huge Losses

[danielp]

Article in the Chronicle this morning said that as much as 50% of the Tropical fish stock in Florida farms could be lost due to the sever freezing temps that hit Florida.

The article went on to say that about 50% of tripical fish store stock comes from these farms.

[algarciajr]

I read the same article, sad.

[CichlidFan]

You would think that these farms would have some sort of heating system in place for such an emergency???

CF

[FIREFISH]

Well that truly sucks. I bet they will have heating for the next one??

FF

[Complexity]

I doubt they'll add a heating system after this. The expense of obtaining and maintaining a heating system that is used so infrequently is probably more than the cost of the lost fish.

[TaTeR ToT]

no doubt, i mean how often does this happen in florida.
i hope it doesnt affect the geophagus stockists at lfs.

this is truly sad.

[Complexity]

My fear is that they'll raise prices, citing how "rare" certain fish are after so many died.

[armthehomeless]

My fear is that they'll raise prices, citing how "rare" certain fish are after so many died.

That is exactly what I was thinking.

[subsailor]

from what i understand talking to a contact over at a farm out there, the farm with the most loss is the petsmart farm.

[armthehomeless]

Guess we'll have to see what happens to the price of fish at Petsmart....

[Lawslady]

Petsmart or not, still sad!

[billansor]

That is tough... and thinking of fish suffering is not fun, especially the types that have no way to adjust for colder temps......

Using a heating system is not unheard of for some of these places years and years and years ago... like some 30 to 40 years ago, but then most of the issues were smaller ponds and such. Now days with almost everyone having a fish tank.... well demand is bigger..

Still, when I think of what it costs to do fish right in a wholesale type environment... it becomes almost prohibitive to compete..

Bill

[danielp]

Will be interesting talking to our LFS contacts to see how things are being passed along.

They are aready feeling some of the recession pinch and now they may be faced with having to raise prices and or not having access to stock at all.

This is further proof that Mother nature is the greatest equalizer in existance.