Ethical to get fishes best suited for ponds?

It's a tough call just going on sigs. Maybe these are growout tanks? I have seen some blatantly obvious overstocking and people that defended it. All we can do is hope the person learns to be responsible and guide them in that direction when we have the opportunity.

I agree with Harlock. Going by the signature, you have no idea what size the fish are at right now. For all anyone knows the pacu could be still very small and awaiting a huge tank all of their own...

Yeah, but don't you think the guy with the sig. would have responded as such, and just ended the question right there? I mean, all he'd have to say is, "I have a huge pond, the cats and pacus and black shark are going in there in a few months", then everyone would say "ok." Instead I get the impression he defended the stock, and that would suggest to me that the tanks will be kept that way.

p.s. black sharks are huge as well (20+ inches) and active, not a fish for a tank. let alone the oscars, plecos and tinfoil barbs all in one tank. yeesh.

There are no laws pertaining to the ethical treatment of fish that I am aware of. It's unfortunate, but 90% of this hobby is the gathering of new knowledge and most importantly, experience. If he's got that many fish that are destined to be huge, he's going to experience a load of fish death, relatively soon. Perhaps that experience will teach him.

Here's what I think. Is it ethical? If you can honestly provide the animal with a lifetime home, then keeping it in a tank that's too small for the adult for a short time while it's a juvenile isn't too big a deal to me. Maybe not the brightest choice, since what's feasible now may be impossible in 5 years--but oh well. And of course, ignorance palys a huge factor--many people buy fish under the misconception that 'it will only grow the size of it's tank', or without having any clue what it's adult size shoud be. No excuse for this ignorance--information is readily available for those that care to look.

What I have a huge problem with what people do with those animals that they buy who are not good 'pet' species. This encompasses everything from birds to fish to cats to dogs to rabbits, fish, horses, llamas, lizards, snakes, and tortoises. An African spur thighed tortoise was just found outside of Cheyenne Wyoming, dead. The owner realized it might be sick, didn't want to pay the vet for meds, and dumped it. Pardon the passion, but this idiot needs to be slapped upside the head for being a rude moron, and never allowed any more pets. Ever.

This is a little off topic and I don't know this person and am NOT trying to make a judgement. That having beens said I see all too often where someone buys a fish either knowing they can't house if for it's whole life in their tank or they find out later that they can't. All too often," like 90% " of the time they won't follow through for whatever reason and up grade their tank. There are way too many posts about fish growing to the size of the tank or the inch per gallon crap," which we even see in salt water!!!"
ok I'll shut up now.

OrionGirl said:

Pardon the passion, but this idiot needs to be slapped upside the head for being a rude moron, and never allowed any more pets. Ever.

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Thats a little tame from what I was thinking I've yet to experience it, but fisherpeople (me, being PC?) in more western parts of the state have been dealing with pike infestations that have decimated trout and bass fishing. A real PITA. I saw a 1 foot goldie in tahoe a 2 years ago, any coincidance that it was near the rich part of the lake?