Thoughts on returning fish when they get too big

[LydiaGreen]

It's nice to see there are some honest fish dealers out there. All we have in my town is Walmart Which is why I now have 4 tanks instead of the original one. My son wanted a tank for Christmas one year. We went to Walmart and were told that we could buy a 10L tank, set it up and throw the goldfish and pleco in the same day! I admit I was totally naive and believed it. Believe it or not, our largest fish now are the red cap and pleco that survived the original new tank syndrome and my naivety. I bought the second 10 after it was obvious that the fish were running out of room - they looked lonely without each other, so we bought a 20. They quickly ran out of room in there and we got the 44. Now, I want a 55 (although I think they have FINALLY stopped growing - all but the sailfin).

Now, I am Walmart's worst enemy. Anybody new to fish that I hear talking to the employee, quickly finds out about our experience, particularly the childrens' heartbreak, and that #1 - you HAVE to cycle a tank BEFORE you add the fish, #2 - a goldfish bowl is cruel and evil, #3 - a betta bowl is cruel and evil, and #4 - what types and numbers of fish are really appropriate for that little 5 gallon hex and it's NOT goldfish. And I won't even get started on those tiny little cups that they keep the bettas in!

Alot of times, a person just doesn't know that a fish will get that big, or they're told that BS about a fish only growing to the size of it's tank (yep, the guy selling me the fish told me that one). But, I do agree that when you get a fish, it should be forever. I couldn't part with our fish, so I just kept getting bigger tanks and filling the old ones with appropriate fish -- and now, that I'm officially addicted to fishkeeping, I'll just keep on doing it.

 

[tbone]

If sense was common, everyone would have it. But sadly this isn't true. Some people are plain ignorent, but they always THINK that they are right. Wich is the most scary thing of all. If the sale of tigers was legal thare are definatly people that would buy them. Let them play with their kids, they'd say, "Don't worry they dont get that big in captivity" "They eat regular kitty food, no problem" people 'would' buy them and even let them play with their kids. Most people I think would not be so stupid. But there are people that are that stupid. If some people weren't that stupid, we wouldnt need a law against it, now would we?

I'm not a supporter of the fanatical ways of "PETA". But I do believe fish should have animal rights placed on them. Are you aware that they have no rights? That perfumes and the like that "say" they do not animal test only apply to animals like rats or monkeys. They can do tests on fish and still say they dont animal test. Because fish are not considered a real animal and they do not have the same rights placed on them as higher order animals do. I'm not making this up. I cant find where I read this anymore to post evidence but it is true. Fish like the "zebra danio" are popular to do tests on because of its higher tollerence.

I'm sorry that I'm kind of getting off topic. But there is no other pet that gets such cruel treatment as fish by some people. Laws would probably shake up the fish buisiness and allot of stores might shut down. But I believe in the long run It would be better for both the consumor and the suplier Honestly. People would be happier that they got a fish they "Could" take care of proporly and they would be hppier and would in turn buy more (and they would look at some of us crazies with 3 tanks or more- and we'd have more if we had the money)

I know for a fact if I find a LFS that has good fish keeping practices and knowlegable staff. I will spend my money there even if I can find it cheaper. Most of the people who get sold or buy tank busters out of ignorence on their part or greed on the sellers part, wind up scrapping their tanks and quitting the hobby. So the fish store is not creating a very good return customer atmosphere by doing this. The person who buys the tank buster is only doing themselfs disservice to with all the hard work that goes into a fish they have to struggle to keep.

This is very wishfull thinking, and or a pipe dream. But fish shoult have a minnimum tank size LAW. I"m serious. It would be hard to implement and hard to inforce but it would be nice if it were true.

 

[African Dick]

WHY WHY?! Why would you buy a Fish that can bust your tank?! Is taking 5 mins to google the max size REALLY that difficult?! and if you can't accomodate the right tank because of money issues or room issues then maybe your in the wrong "interest" Fish are not DISPOSABLE, they are just fragile. I have had 14 dogs and 3 cats and NONE of them have needed as much special attention and care as my fish. but I LOVE MY FISH! I cry when ever a betta or ADF dies. Perhaps I am crazy but these are living creatures too and they desearve as much of good (though short alot of time) life as possible. They are unlike any of creatures you can keep as pets and so entertaining.

They are living creatures, but what is wrong with keeping a fish that will grow to large for your tank. Chances are in the wild the average fish would not come close to living as long as in the aquarium enviroment. He would be eaten or killed in some way. Now I don't think someone should buy like 12 pacus and put them in a ten gallon, but pressing size a little is not that big of a deal to me. Right now I have a common pleco, 8 exodons, 2 convicts, 1 pictus, 1 raphael, and a red devil. I just wanna see what happens. Right now the exodons except the convicts but beat the red devil's ***. The catfish are ok because of the many hiding places.

 

[tornangel012]

But you aren't even planning ahead for the outgrowth. I have a 90 gal, 55 gal, 45 gal, 2 10 gals, 2 gal, 20 gal ALL at my disposal and I'll start the Juvies out in a 10 gal maybe and then move them up as they grow but I would NEVER buy anything to out grow my 90 gal! That is just Dumb. You are limiting the possibilties for that fish life.

It's like taking a kitten putting it in a bottle. Sure in some respects it is more safe then then wild at the same time it will only grow to the maximum size of the bottle and die because it Still doesn't have all the adequte space it needed to grow and get a full life. but yah sure it didn't get run over by a car or eaten by a wild animal.

NO I don't think it's ok at ALL unless it was pure newbie ignorance. I mean WHY would you want to do that to a living creature?

 

[Riso-chan]

I'm glad to read that there are many people here who atleast consider the needs and happiness of fish of all kinds. It is a great misfortune that that one species on this planet that has the ability to say it is the most intelligent is often the one species that has a lack of common sense. Where'd our instincts go, huh? Adding to that statement, I'd like to quote comedian Carlos Mencia, "The problem with the world is that there are too many stupid people, and nobody to eat'em." Hilarious and sadly true. There is no natural predator keeping us in check, but if the day comes that this changes, boy, would that change your way of life. Just enjoying a rant

 

[Riso-chan]

:OT: Did they jack the prices up to pay for the fish?, huh :thud: The prices are jacked up in Japan as it is, I can't remember what a beer cost in this bar , but paying anywhere from $10 to $40 for a beer is ridiculous! :duh:

BTW, What's it like living in Japan? I want to travel there one day because I love their culture and art styles. Are you Japanese, or do you have family there? Sorry if I'm being nosey, but I love to hear about other coutries.

 

[ashdavid]

BTW, What's it like living in Japan? I want to travel there one day because I love their culture and art styles. Are you Japanese, or do you have family there? Sorry if I'm being nosey, but I love to hear about other coutries.

I not Japanese and I have a family here. Lifestyle here can be difficult, but in other aspects it can be easy. I personaly don't mind it, but doing sports, which I love is difficult. And everything is expensive compared to the States. Keeping fish is good though, the only problem is that everybodys house is small, which means small tanks, and this is where I get annoyed b/c people try to put fish like red tailed cats/arapama's in little 180g's ect. And most of the lfs dont mind selling these fish either. Get some really good arowana's I must say. :soda:

 

[African Dick]

What if this was a dog or a cat or some other higher animal. Would you say' "Oh well I can't keep it got to big. I guess I will take it out back and shoot it."

It is just now way to treat a living creature.

First of all I would not just take it out back and shoot it. I would try to find it a proper home/decent store that would take it. If I had no luck with that then I would probably just feed it to my dogs. The fish are happy right now even with the aggressive combination I have. They will probably be happy for a year or so, and that is probably longer than they would have made it in the wild anyway. Everyone is so critical on returning or euthanizing fish when they get too big yet they feed their fish feeder goldfish(they are living creatures as well) and see no difference.