overcrowded sharks

[spottea]

This may not be the right place to ask, but I know you can point me in the right direction. I was in a LFS today, which was crowded and smelly with too many fish, but that's beside the point.
They have small sharks for sale, which looked OK, but what upset me, and still upsets me whenever I think about it, was the large tank on the ground with 2 huge nurse sharks in it, just laying next to each other. They were at least 4-5 feet long! They weren't for sale apparently, and could only move a few feet. When I suggested politely to the store owner, that they might be too crowded, he said that they don't move (in real life) but only when they're fed! I said they need to move a bit, but was ignored. I left the store, but I want to know who I can contact to maybe inspect the store, or find the sharks a better home. I'm not a big shark fan, but still, any animal or fish deserves to be cared for humanely. Maybe The Humane Society? Or do you have a better idea.
Thanks for your input.

 

[darthgoby]

Just out of curiousity, do you mind telling us where this store is?

 

[Artemis JT]

Yeah. Pretty crazy. An lfs near me had 2 black tips and a nurse in a 3k gallon pond.

Cool fish, just need lots more space then they're given.

 

[Artemis JT]

I don't really see the humane society doing anything about it. There isn't much you can do about fish abuse, it seems no one seems to care if it isn't furry

The only thing i can think of is telling the name of the shop and seeing if anyone would go there and try and get the owner to sell the sharks. But there isn't really a large number of people who would do that...

 

[mandy21]

Personally, I would call the human society and see what they have to say. I watch plenty of animal planet and I always see cases of humane society/aspca as well as other animal welfare organizations doing stuff about snakes and alligators. If they can't/won't do anything, I would ask the for suggestions as to who to contact. Heck, contact PETA if nothing else. I know they wouldn't be okay with it and certainly would give info as to who to contact if they wouldn't do something themselves. They consider fish in the same realm as furry critters.

 

[spottea]

thanks Mandy. I'll do that. someone must care.
Chris

 

[spottea]

It's Atlantic tropical in Cerritos , southern California. It's a horrible place. I don't know why I went in really. I was just browsing local fish stores looking for a small tank.

 

[jenjen2008]

If the humane society/ASPCA don't want to deal with it, you can also try your local animal control agency. I know in California there are very specific laws on how much space each animal in a pet store is REQUIRED to have. It's been a few years and I don't remember what is required anymore.

I can only hope they will do something about it. All creatures deserve more than that especially if that is their permanent home.

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

As much as I hate em, I would contact PETA if it came to that. The pet store deserves it.

 

[SpockthePuffer]

I read on a forum somewhere that a game and wildlife people actually deal with stores selling fish too. At least, I'm pretty sure thats what I read... It wouldn't hurt contacting them either, I think they are the ones that could put the store out of business.