I think Brucies relationship to the shop needs to be more closely scrutinised I do not thinks these fish are being kept by Brucie long term they are being kept by him until they are too big for his tank and the shop then takes them back off him. In effect the shop allows brucie to grow these fish on for them.

I'm pretty sure I know which shop it is, I am not going to name it as I do not think they are doing anything wrong as they carefully help brucie look after the fish pretty well. Yes space would ultimately be at a premium if brucie kept these fish long term but he doesn't, they are generally rehomed at the shop before they get to big for his tanks. There are obviously some exceptions to this from time to time but brucie should not be viewed as a typical fishkeeper due to his relationship with this shop meaning he is in an unusual and enviable postion with regards to the fish he is able to keep.

Equally the mere fact he can keep some of these fish and they all look well is testiment to his ability at fish husbandry, he clearly knows his stuff when managing water conditions. Yes at times his tanks are over stocked and he has fish that are perhaps to large for the aquariums they are in but this is nearly always a short term problem.

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Alan

Thweeerp!