LFS + Pacus!!!

LFS that I just recently discovered has 4 or 5 pacus. I asked them why the heck they had pacus and he said, "because people want them" and shrugged. They also have Chinese Hi-Fins -- you know, those cute little sharky guys that grow HUMUNGOUS and look ugly as all get out as adults?

Bright spot is that my favorite LFS, although sometimes lacking in knowledge, will not carry fish like those.

Local Petsmart had a needle nose gar that and the fish guy was all bubbly over it and wanting to show us how it ate goldfish :rant:

Sometimes I wish fish keeping was like falconry in the USA. In order to keep falcons you have to Apprentice with a Master Falconer for x number of years (I forget the number) and then apply for a license to keep the bird(s). You also have to have your aviary inspected so that it meets the standards set down for that type of predator bird.

I think people who buy pacus should have to get a license and be inspected for tank size :)

Just my 2 cents and please don't spit the constitution and legal rights stuff at me :)

Roan
 
Roan,

I think they should make it MANDATORY to apply for a license to have ANY kind of animal. I've seen enough dog, cat, and fish abuse to make me want to shoot every person I see doing such a thing. People don't realize that animals are living creatures and they NEED to be cared for especially since we have basically taken over the planet. The worst part is that the commercial stores don't do anything about it either. I know the consumer is at fault but if the stores refused to sell certain fish then the consumer would be none the wiser and move on.

Just my 2 cents :)

I love my animals (dog and fish) and everyone else should TOO!!!
 
When we bought our pacu, he was our FIRST fish....and we really didn't know what we were getting into....that was 26 years and many, many gallons ago. I wouldn't have any other fish, but they are definitely NOT for everyone....they live a VERY long time, and most people just don't want to invest the time and money to properly care for them.
 
The worst part is that the commercial stores don't do anything about it either. I know the consumer is at fault but if the stores refused to sell certain fish then the consumer would be none the wiser and move on.

Trust me if the consumer wants something they will get it whether it's sold legally or not. I am fairly confident that I could have a northern Snakehead in my tank in a week if I were fool enough to buy one. Consumers drive the market whether its the white market, the grey market, or the black market.

If pit bulls were banned, there would still be dog fights, and there would still be pit bulls at the dogfights. If Pacu's were banned, there will still be folks keeping them in 30g tanks. There are more than few falcon owners out there who don't have a liscence, didn't study under a master, and probably don't take care of their birds well either. The only folks buying liscences are the ones who probably would have chosen to be responsible in the first place. People will be abusive despite the law. So the only folks that would suffer would be those who cared about doing the right thing, and being responsible.
Think of the number of arguments we see on the boards from people who own fish too big for their tanks. A good number of those folks will refuse to change things and quit hanging around here because someone suggests they get a bigger tank, or trade in their fish.
It all boils down to individual responsibility no matter what the law or anything else says. People will do waht people want to do. I am not a fan of fish stores selling these fish, but the big chains aren't about to quit and the Mom and Pop stores cannot afford to turn people away. If they do nothing will exist but the big chain stores, and then there will be little or no chance of anyone being educated.

Just my $.02 on the subject nothing more.
Dave
 
sardesign said:
I think they should make it MANDATORY to apply for a license to have ANY kind of animal.

I know i'll probably get yelled at BUT
before we do that i think we should start making it mandatory to have a licence before you can have a child. After that lets have licences for animals.
 
Pleco's are a big ticket return when they are larger, I myself Will have them in an indoor pond when they get older, I would hate to give up chubbs and morrison, Yes I named them, we're getting a nice back screened porch so i was going to build a nice big pond for some hardier fish,
 
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