UltraMarine Magazine Issue 48 Back Issue

Would you? Could you? And should you? Are my three questions for this issue. I’m referring of course to Nathan Hill’s article about Barry Cranwell’s system in which a clarion angel features.
As most aquarists will know this is a rare fish and an expensive one.
So that my first question: would you spend thousands of your hard-earned on a fish? I suppose it’s relative, my most expensive specimen cost £150, which is probably more than I paid for my first ever tropical tank all those years ago.
The ‘could you’ question is perhaps irrelevant for some. Personally I couldn’t spend that much, not just because I don’t have it, but if my significant other found out then I’d be sleeping in the car for a month. For some folks they can and that’s the end of it.
Lastly though, the question of ‘should’ needs to be addressed. Clarions are expensive, because they are rare and perhaps desirable, at least to some, because they are so very expensive. So a personal plea from me to everyone considering purchasing rare fish: do please look after them and perhaps ask yourself the ‘should you’ question, please don’t make an already rare species a little rarer.