Why does everyone hate our hobby?

[Flippers4pups]

Been talking to my neighbor about reef keeping as of late. Of their own accord they wanted to come down and see my reef. They were blown away and was very impressed.

I've had nothing but good things said to me about reef keeping.

 

[ca1ore]

Is not about age is not about experience it’s a hobby aka pass time, but this is taking away from the OP intensions, it’s about others not us reefers or family and friends etc that are feeling some type of way about what we all do including me and you even with what ever expertise in reef keeping you posses we are exploiting the ocean for ornaments purposes

What ..... ! Never mind .....

 

[HawaiianReef]

A lot of reefers I have met in my short time in the hobby so far don't consider their livestock as ornamental. The ones I've met Love the animals in their tanks. Most name them. They are treated as pets. I talk to my fish as I go over to the tanks to see them. While some people wont take their dog to the vet for heartworms, reefers will leave work, set up a hospital for a sick fish and stay up all night long watching them and doing whatever it takes to help them.
As far as cruelty of having them live in a tank. We often set up a tank with peaceful tankmates so our pet fish dont stress out from being a potential meal. If activity like this happens, we act on it and help them by separating them. This doesn't happen in the ocean. It's a jungle out there and they're on their own.
If I were a fish, I'd want to be in an aquarium with good water, balanced meals every day and no bullies around trying to eat me.
But thats just me.