What is a chinese wels catfish?

[wednesday13]

Wow that story deserves it's own thread , wednesday13 were your fish destroyed or were they handed back to you?

Search “Silurus Glanis overdue upgrade” my boys story is told...and ends there... States/lawmakers do not give a rats behind about you, or an animals life. These “battles” have been going on since the early 90’s. It all started with people keeping large cats ie. lions/tigers...moved onto reptiles... and now onto fish. “Cancel culture” at its finest. I “get it”... save the enviorment blah blah... what gets me is the state who seized and iced my fish breeds and releases non natives every year by the millions ???. Carps, hybrids, bass, etc. if u want to crack down on 1 person at the end of the chain who was just a lolely “collector” u should follow the same rules urself to set an example. Not make one out of a by standard of the industry who purchased a fish legally 4 yrs prior to any law changes ??‍. I urge all of you to use no scientific names at all, do not provide scientific names with pictures either it only helps the opposition.

 

[Tain]

wednesday13
Sorry for going off track but I remember reading about this story in older threads, and seeing this again now just reminded me of how messed up the whole situation was handled, and how it must have affected your entire view on fishkeeping.

I was recently having discussions linked to this topic with regards to what would happen if I kept a species that would later end up on the list of banned invasive species. In my case my main concern was the bullhead species (Ameirurus) that's currently legal here in Sweden but will most likely be banned within a year or two since we have had some trouble with the black bullhead lately. But to summarize what the Swedish law says (from my understanding): If a fish has been legally acquired but then later end up being banned and therefore become illegal to buy/keep/sell the owner is still permitted to keep and house the fish for the remainder of its life, but is not allowed to ever: release it, breed on it, sell it, or even let family members take care of it; it must always stay in the care of the original owner, or alternatively be euthanized. IMO this should be the only way to deal with situations like these, and to read about how you seemingly did everything right and still ended up being treated the way you did... It just isn't fair. However, I should also add that I personally believe that the ban itself is fairly reasonable, it's just the way it was handled that's IMHO completely f****d up.

I'm not quite sure about the purpose of this post but just wanted to share a little bit about how it works in Sweden (and perhaps other EU countries?) and, idk, maybe show a little bit of support to you and the situation.

As mentioned, sorry to the OP for swerving off topic, and also for continuing to discuss this very unfortunate event that's already been discussed in seperate threads.

 

[wednesday13]

wednesday13
Sorry for going off track but I remember reading about this story in older threads, and seeing this again now just reminded me of how messed up the whole situation was handled, and how it must have affected your entire view on fishkeeping.

I was recently having discussions linked to this topic with regards to what would happen if I kept a species that would later end up on the list of banned invasive species. In my case my main concern was the bullhead species (Ameirurus) that's currently legal here in Sweden but will most likely be banned within a year or two since we have had some trouble with the black bullhead lately. But to summarize what the Swedish law says (from my understanding): If a fish has been legally acquired but then later end up being banned and therefore become illegal to buy/keep/sell the owner is still permitted to keep and house the fish for the remainder of its life, but is not allowed to ever: release it, breed on it, sell it, or even let family members take care of it; it must always stay in the care of the original owner, or alternatively be euthanized. IMO this should be the only way to deal with situations like these, and to read about how you seemingly did everything right and still ended up being treated the way you did... It just isn't fair. However, I should also add that I personally believe that the ban itself is fairly reasonable, it's just the way it was handled that's IMHO completely f****d up.

I'm not quite sure about the purpose of this post but just wanted to share a little bit about how it works in Sweden (and perhaps other EU countries?) and, idk, maybe show a little bit of support to you and the situation.

As mentioned, sorry to the OP for swerving off topic, and also for continuing to discuss this very unfortunate event that's already been discussed in seperate threads.

No worries man, chit happens ??‍?... my case was a case of federal law vs. state law... federally the fish was banned, np... ur still allowed to keep the fish in 49 other states here if purchaced before the ban. Your even allowed to sell it within ur current state. My state chose to take it even further and make the fish illegal to possess regardless of the federal law. Nothing i could have done. Might have had a chance to fight in court but our government is setup where the state laws almost always take precedent over federal. I read alot of old court cases and found no1 wins against the state. There was even a reptile guy before me helping the state zoo breed certain types of endangered “invasive” snakes. The state used the guys friends from the zoo in court against him. Some things just arent worth fighting for. Just more money for lawyers and further bs to drag it all out. Not worth my time ??‍. Take the hit and move forward. We will never b able to predict future laws/bans that change the hobby and the only way to protect urself 100% is to not ever share a picture or “evidence” of what u may or may not own in the 1st place. Its a shame whats happening to the “hobby”, even zoos are having problems these days with their “permits” for certain species being revoked or not renewed. “People” do not want you to have pets at all. Period... live your own life and keep it to yourself. Social media made the hobby great to share and trade info. It will now be the downfall of it all. We made it easy for “them”. Scientific names with pictures provide all the evidence needed for a warrant and seizure without any further info. We got too good at fish keeping... the higher u climb... the harder u fall ???

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It looks like the OP got their answer, so that's my excuse to chime in down the other road...

... Its a shame whats happening to the “hobby”, even zoos are having problems these days with their “permits” for certain species being revoked or not renewed. “People” do not want you to have pets at all. Period...

While this may taste overly pessimistic, the birds-eye pic is kind of logical. With the improvement in shipping and communications, more people are able to keep and do keep fish that are dangerous to the environment and the eco-havocs have been on the front pages for many years now. So the authorities get stricter and louder orders through the years to clamp down, and so they do. However well or not, is a different question, but the cause and effect seem obvious and logical.

Big systems, governmental systems are usually not agile and efficient, not graceful but cumbersome, rigid, almost stupid taking an easy way out and following the letter of the law but not upholding the spirit of the law, which is most fair but also the most hard, and they chew up and spit out little guys like mango pits, with office warriors getting promotions for the "preventive kills". When they do enough of this in more important spheres of life than fish keeping, people rebel against their own government and then woe to everyone, and our case is one of the smallest droplets in the bucket.

Again, although pessimistic, I fear there is some meat behind your statement as Florida Wildlife Commission has just denied my application again to keep any regulated species whatsoever in the aftermath of my being open and honest with them in regard to my application to keep the regulated species in the Fall of 2019. I basically invited the FWC myself. The ranger who investigated me was on my side and asking up the FWC chain not to punish me, perhaps kill the regulated fish but not to punish me, but the beaurocrats up the chain didn't care too much, they cared a little but wouldn't listen to their guy in the field. They had paperwork to follow. The paper explained to them almost everything they must do. Heartless, soulless, ruthless state-law enforcing machine. And yet, I understand it. I am used to it. I blame only myself. Live and learn. The foregoing is just a picture corrected for reality in my head.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Feel for you guys.
Although there are already a number of fish I miss keeping, even here in the uk where winter gets to -10 most years at some point. The odd crazy person still believes the fake news when “someone catches a piranha in a local pond” (as if), and calls are made to ban the next wave of none native fish.

 

[wednesday13]

It looks like the OP got their answer, so that's my excuse to chime in down the other road...


While this may taste overly pessimistic, the birds-eye pic is kind of logical. With the improvement in shipping and communications, more people are able to keep and do keep fish that are dangerous to the environment and the eco-havocs have been on the front pages for many years now. So the authorities get stricter and louder orders through the years to clamp down, and so they do. However well or not, is a different question, but the cause and effect seem obvious and logical.

Big systems, governmental systems are usually not agile and efficient, not graceful but cumbersome, rigid, almost stupid taking an easy way out and following the letter of the law but not upholding the spirit of the law, which is most fair but also the most hard, and they chew up and spit out little guys like mango pits, with office warriors getting promotions for the "preventive kills". When they do enough of this in more important spheres of life than fish keeping, people rebel against their own government and then woe to everyone, and our case is one of the smallest droplets in the bucket.

Again, although pessimistic, I fear there is some meat behind your statement as Florida Wildlife Commission has just denied my application again to keep any regulated species whatsoever in the aftermath of my being open and honest with them in regard to my application to keep the regulated species in the Fall of 2019. I basically invited the FWC myself. The ranger who investigated me was on my side and asking up the FWC chain not to punish me, perhaps kill the regulated fish but not to punish me, but the beaurocrats up the chain didn't care too much, they cared a little but wouldn't listen to their guy in the field. They had paperwork to follow. The paper explained to them almost everything they must do. Heartless, soulless, ruthless state-law enforcing machine. And yet, I understand it. I am used to it. I blame only myself. Live and learn. The foregoing is just a picture corrected for reality in my head.

Can’t beat urself up about it my friend... i too take the blame myself. Its because were just good people. Sadly this battle has been going on long before our time in the hobby even. I think its brushed off or not taken seriously until it hits close to home. Oddball shared his similiar story when asian aros were banned yrs ago. I found old articles of a man in ohio who went as far as having a stand off with the police when snakeheads were banned. Were just the new kids on the street these days i guess ??‍?... believe alot of it has to do with money also. States figured out they can make money on additional permits for something people enjoy so there gonna take advantage of that. If you find the right person to pay, im sure ur permits will “appear”. Sad the world works that way but it makes sense. I was told i had 2 yrs to apply for a permit by 1 officer. I was also told no such permit even existed by another ?. They basically wanted me to call and turn myself in for a law i didnt even know i was breaking. All fine, live and learn as u said. Life goes on... what gets me is all the other “negligence” i see and nothing happens. I will never rat someone else out, even vendors, but its hard. “Things” are still being imported under different names these days and being shipped to different states they came in from. My fear is even more “crack down” for the little guys like us from others straight out stupidity. Tough to sit back and watch it all burn. I fear even converstaions like these here dont help the cause either. Just more attention being risen on a subject they try to keep under wraps. Y i had to get out all together. Ur tougher than i am Vik ?lol... i respect you and ur cause very much. Every time i see the name Silurus its a red flag. My 1st thought with the original post here was “narq” ??... new member wanting to know the “differences” ?. Sounds pretty fishy to me...

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Can’t beat urself up about it my friend... i too take the blame myself. Its because were just good people. Sadly this battle has been going on long before our time in the hobby even. I think its brushed off or not taken seriously until it hits close to home. Oddball shared his similiar story when asian aros were banned yrs ago. I found old articles of a man in ohio who went as far as having a stand off with the police when snakeheads were banned. Were just the new kids on the street these days i guess ??‍?... believe alot of it has to do with money also. States figured out they can make money on additional permits for something people enjoy so there gonna take advantage of that. If you find the right person to pay, im sure ur permits will “appear”. Sad the world works that way but it makes sense. I was told i had 2 yrs to apply for a permit by 1 officer. I was also told no such permit even existed by another ?. They basically wanted me to call and turn myself in for a law i didnt even know i was breaking. All fine, live and learn as u said. Life goes on... what gets me is all the other “negligence” i see and nothing happens. I will never rat someone else out, even vendors, but its hard. “Things” are still being imported under different names these days and being shipped to different states they came in from. My fear is even more “crack down” for the little guys like us from others straight out stupidity. Tough to sit back and watch it all burn. I fear even converstaions like these here dont help the cause either. Just more attention being risen on a subject they try to keep under wraps. Y i had to get out all together. Ur tougher than i am Vik ?lol... i respect you and ur cause very much. Every time i see the name Silurus its a red flag. My 1st thought with the original post here was “narq” ??... new member wanting to know the “differences” ?. Sounds pretty fishy to me...

I don't think I am tougher, it's just that my business model of making a living (read a job) is directly related to our beloved fish keeping, while for you it has been extensive but a hobby. You are just sitting on a hard place. Me too but my prison cell also features a rock ceiling 2" right above my head haha....

Thank you for the English word of the day. I had to look up:

"The word narc is slang shorthand for "narcotics agent," a federal agent or police officer who specializes in laws dealing with illegal drugs. Narc is sometimes also used to mean "police informant," someone who secretly gives inside information to the police, informing on others who are engaging in illegal activity."

I tend to believe people and I am taught to even cover up their shortcomings, "carry the burden of each other" if one had to quote. Don't cross to the dark side, Luke! There is no kindness, no light there and the views suck. To date I was probably asked half a dozen of times in my YT videos comments the same question about the difference between Chinese wels and wels ever since Roderigo started bringing the chinese wels in. I struggled to explain or they struggled to understand, it would seem, in half the cases. I loved your summary here. Right on the head.

But regardless, I think those were just kids, rookies and were sincere but if there was an informant among them, or all of them were false-flag provocations, it doesn't chip a tiny bit off me. I'd still do what I did - I choose to be open, honest, transparent and fully legal and sincerely helpful as I can. In my line of business, I don't see how to be anything else and not get institutionalized sooner or later. We as men don't enjoy the psyche strength of our ancestors no more it seems. All snowflakes... We'd never make it in the WWI or WWII.

 

[Goban]

It is Silurus Meridionalis, heard its more aggressive towards tankmates. easy way to distinguish them is by the whiskers below the mouth. Wels got 4, Meridionalis got 2 only

 

[Mitchell The Monster]

I have a supposed “Chinese wels” grown quickly to 12” not stuck at that mark for 2-3 months now. Eating pellets and frozen thawed foods

 

[fatboy8]

I have a supposed “Chinese wels” grown quickly to 12” not stuck at that mark for 2-3 months now. Eating pellets and frozen thawed foods

I have one as well I bought from a reputable vendor. Same thing has happened. He came in I think at like 10" then stalled at like 16-17" after a year. Now mine seems to have a nasty temper towards tank mates. Tried moving a Jardini into the tank and it didn't last the night. Meanwhile the few live feedings I've given it over the last I guess 4 years I've owned him he's terrified of them. Awesome fish and a great alternative to a wels or wallago. Eventually I'll pick up a gold one just a matter of time. wednesday13 what did the state ever do with yours?