Anybody else "lease" fish?

[Demo]

This is something i started to do about a year ago, and I thought it was a great idea for those that want cool fish, that they cannot necessarily keep. My idea is that i will buy a fish i like, that will get too big for my tank. However, BEFORE I buy it, I find it a home for when it gets bigger. (LFS in my case) I have a 55, so for example, I had a perrunno catfish, i bought it for 40 dollars when it was 3 inches, Today, At 10 inches, i brought it back for a 10 dollar credit. I think that its a pretty good idea for those of us that do not have giant tanks (or budgets) The "rate" of the fish ended up being 30 bucks, for 6 months, which is 5 per month(not bad). It lets you have a fish you cannot keep, for a given amount of time, than move on. Currently i have a redtail that will go back in another 2-3 inches, and i just started on a TSN. For my LFS, they will take it if its 12 and under, not for very much money, so you dont win (or at least i dont) but it lets me enjoy fish i normally could not have. thoughts?

I AM NOT RECCOMENDING STUFFING A BIG SIZED FISH INTO A LITTLE TANK, AND NOBODY SHOULD READ THIS AND THINK OF IT AS AN EXCUSE FOR THEM TO DO IT. my fish have a guaranteed home when they get larger(and i list most on here too incase anybody wants them)

 

[Warborg]

Some of my LFS(mom&pop ones) take any fish that a costumers brings in because they are scared the costumers may dump them in a river.

So it becomes a 'lease' by default.

 

[Demo]

Some of my LFS(mom&pop ones) take any fish that a costumers brings in because they are scared the costumers may dump them in a river.

So it becomes a 'lease' by default.

surprised to hear that, around here, its flush or eat them. Mine just has a way to find them a home, and i think they enjoy seeing the big fish swim around.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

so the LFS is their future home?

I highly oppose to this kind of leasing base on the following reasons.

Commitment: Buying a fish is having a commitment to keep it healthy and happy for life. They ain't stocks where you can buy or sell them. You should try them as children. Certainly you don't just dump your children into an orphanage just because you can't house them.

Responsibility: This is not the most responsible thing to do. You purchase the fish, its your responsibility for taking care of it's wellfare. By just getting a small one, dump it at a LFS when it gets big just to buy another one, thats totally irresponsible as you don't have to worry about what will happen to the large one you dumped and you can sit back at home and watch your new baby fish while your big fish suffer in horrible conditions. And I highly doubt you would visit the LFS to check on how your fishes are doing there.

Future: Have you ever think of the future for those monster-sized fish which you return to the LFS? I doubt they would have like a 1000g (for example) to house a RTC comfortably when they grow to adult size. Most of them would probably be shoved in a small tank like 10-90 gallon in the store for display. Also not many fishkeepers would buy a fully grown monster, mainly for price and remaining lifetime of the fish. Most of them get juveniles as they would live a longer life and cost WAY much cheaper. So the grown up fish you abandon is doomed to spend his entire life in a cramped tank. If you are giving them away to a large pond owner, I could find that acceptable. But a LFS would definately not keep them in optimum conditions.

Alternative: If you want to view monsters, pay a ticket to visit a public aquaria. At least your conscience would be clear knowing those fish have a large pond for them to live happily in there for life.

Like most MFK members would say, If you can't keep it, don't buy it. Simple
Just because your LFS accepts them doesn't make it right.
Two wrongs don't make a right

 

[CLDarnell]

Some of my LFS(mom&pop ones) take any fish that a costumers brings in because they are scared the costumers may dump them in a river.

So it becomes a 'lease' by default.

I was thinking the same thing. The LFSs here will give you credit if its of any value. If not, at least they will take it off your hands.

I don't think you should ever get a fish, dog, cat, etc with the intention of not keeping it. Fostering is the exception of course. Most impressive, big fish aren't known to be truly impressive until they reach adult status. Plus, it's kind of the theory behind our hobby...raising fish in decent environment and having them grow old

I can see the OPs point...but I think a bigger tank or smaller fish are in order.

 

[EvilKid]

+1 LFS just stick them in cramped display tanks that are to small for them. I would much rather give it away for free on here as long as I knew it was going to a good home with plenty off growing and swimming room. However I much rather get a larger setup that can house them for life and wouldn't consider getting one I don't plan on upgrading for.

 

[Demo]

I actually do check on them at the LFS, and they have GIANT tanks there, not sure on gallonage, but they are about 6-8 feet long, and 2 deep. The LFS doesnt really do it for everybody, nor do they advertise it, but im friendly over there, they also dont charge alot for the fish, a 10 inch RTC gets the same price as the baby ones, they know, as i do, that there isnt much of a market for them, and personally, to me, its not about the money. they have a few token customers that buy the big fish(a few of mine disappeared, and im told to guys with big tanks.) I can certainly respect other opinions on here, and i DO wish i could keep them for life, i try to sell on here first (after all, your all about monster fish) Some of them have sold.

You may call me shallow, but i do care bout the fish's well being, which is why i take very good care of them and check on them (not that they need it)

Going a little further, and I may be entirely wrong on this, dont most people that build a new 2000 tank, want to get a fish a little bigger than 3 inches. If i were to make a monster tank, i wouldnt want to wait 9 months while i grow out my fish.(and have to dump the stock of the tanks it would be in) I would also assume they would look around for the local idiot that got the fish for his 20 and realizes its touching both sides as a "rescue" anyway, at least thats how i pick my fish, i ALWAYS pick the underdog(for better/worse) I grow them to about 10-12 inches or until they seem like they are really pushing the limits of the tank. At 10-12 inches (for a RTC) there is still alot of growing time, plus the expenses i already spent on the fish to make it as fat and healthy as it is. It may not be for everybody, but the LFS (and maybe why they do it) knows that the fish they will get, will be fed until its little heart is content, and in great health. I guess i am almost paying them to let me grow out their fish, but its better than stuffing the RTC in a 55 until its near dead, than tossing it into the local fountain in town. Thoughts?

 

[Jc1119]

so the LFS is their future home?

I highly oppose to this kind of leasing base on the following reasons.

Commitment: Buying a fish is having a commitment to keep it healthy and happy for life. They ain't stocks where you can buy or sell them. You should try them as children. Certainly you don't just dump your children into an orphanage just because you can't house them.

Responsibility: This is not the most responsible thing to do. You purchase the fish, its your responsibility for taking care of it's wellfare. By just getting a small one, dump it at a LFS when it gets big just to buy another one, thats totally irresponsible as you don't have to worry about what will happen to the large one you dumped and you can sit back at home and watch your new baby fish while your big fish suffer in horrible conditions. And I highly doubt you would visit the LFS to check on how your fishes are doing there.

Future: Have you ever think of the future for those monster-sized fish which you return to the LFS? I doubt they would have like a 1000g (for example) to house a RTC comfortably when they grow to adult size. Most of them would probably be shoved in a small tank like 10-90 gallon in the store for display. Also not many fishkeepers would buy a fully grown monster, mainly for price and remaining lifetime of the fish. Most of them get juveniles as they would live a longer life and cost WAY much cheaper. So the grown up fish you abandon is doomed to spend his entire life in a cramped tank. If you are giving them away to a large pond owner, I could find that acceptable. But a LFS would definately not keep them in optimum conditions.

Alternative: If you want to view monsters, pay a ticket to visit a public aquaria. At least your conscience would be clear knowing those fish have a large pond for them to live happily in there for life.

Like most MFK members would say, If you can't keep it, don't buy it. Simple
Just because your LFS accepts them doesn't make it right.
Two wrongs don't make a right

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. I dont look at my fish as display items. I look at them as pets. Hell, a few of the plecos I own can live some 20-25 years which means they'll outlive my dogs by two to three times. My family has interaction with them and name them just like we would any other animal. They recognize us and we all enjoy having them in our home.

That being said, i would never buy a fish that I knew would grow too large to house. I HAVE bought fish in the past that grew far too large, but that was out of my own ignorance and it was a mistake that I was sure to never make again. Its real easy to look at the little pacus or common plecos at Petsmart and make the mistake of impluse buying these fish without researching them, but you're actually doing it knowing full well that these fish will grow too large for you too keep. To me, that's just totally irresponsible considering there are literally thousands of available species that will fit into the most modest sized home aquariums without ever ougrowing them.

Seriously, why would you ever buy(excuse me ,lease) a redtail cat, when there are hundreds of species of cats and plecos that stay small and are far more manageable and beautiful? it just doesnt make any sense to me to knowingly house these fish without a care in the world what happens when they've outgrown YOU. Redtails get huge and there shouldnt be a large market for them. They should be kept by a select few, namely folks on this site who can and will properly house them before making the decision to buy them.

Everyone is entitled to make mistakes, but to me this is just irresponsible fishkeeping at best and animal cruelty at it's worst. Guaranteed homes huh? i dont know that many city aquariums that have room to properly house the cats youre keeping but you take your LFS's word on them having a home right? The fish store is just as irresponsible and has just as much to blame for this as the people who do it. Hopefully these fish will end up in some farm pond so they can at least have a shot at a decent rest of their lives, but unfortunately most will get crammed into inappropriate sized tanks, will have stunted growth and will end up dying a long slow painful death.

Sorry, but you asked...........

 

[Demo]

Unfortunately, I gotta agree. I dont look at my fish as display items. I look at them as pets. Hell, a few of the plecos I own can live some 20-25 years which means they'll outlive my dogs by two to three times. My family has interaction with them and name them just like we would any other animal. They recognize us and we all enjoy having them in our home.

That being said, i would never buy a fish that I knew would grow too large to house. I HAVE bought fish in the past that grew far too large, but that was out of my own ignorance and it was a mistake that I was sure to never make again. Its real easy to look at the little pacus or common plecos at Petsmart and make the mistake of impluse buying these fish without researching them, but you're actually doing it knowing full well that these fish will grow too large for you too keep. To me, that's just totally irresponsible considering there are literally thousands of available species that will fit into the most modest sized home aquariums without ever ougrowing them.

Seriously, why would you ever buy(excuse me ,lease) a redtail cat, when there are hundreds of species of cats and plecos that stay small and are far more manageable and beautiful? it just doesnt make any sense to me to knowingly house these fish without a care in the world what happens when they've outgrown YOU. Redtails get huge and there shouldnt be a large market for them. They should be kept by a select few, namely folks on this site who can and will properly house them before making the decision to buy them.

Everyone is entitled to make mistakes, but to me this is just irresponsible fishkeeping at best and animal cruelty at it's worst. Guaranteed homes huh? i dont know that many city aquariums that have room to properly house the cats youre keeping but you take your LFS's word on them having a home right? The fish store is just as irresponsible and has just as much to blame for this as the people who do it. Hopefully these fish will end up in some farm pond so they can at least have a shot at a decent rest of their lives, but unfortunately most will get crammed into inappropriate sized tanks, will have stunted growth and will end up dying a long slow painful death.

Sorry, but you asked...........

I can hear it, i respect other opinions, no need for an apology. You mention a ton of other species, maybe true, i have plenty of different catfish that stay on the smaller side, but thats pretty limited (even more so by some of the prices) Id be very curios as to what other fish can fit in a 55. Already had clown knifes, limas, columbian shark, african cat, sun cat, pictus/pimadelous, cories. Id be open to hear about other kinds of fish, but i am still a little curios if you read my last post, and how its so "cruel" My thinking has been that not only am i guaranteeing it health/food for up to 11 inches of its life. but at 11 inches in the showroom, there is no mistake that it will fit in little johnnys 15 gallon science fair project. When anybody sees a fish in a store thats 11 inches, i think it makes alot more people say, "no thanks" The LFS DOES NOT sell fish without letting the people know their size and if they will get taken care of, they do know i have a 55 and it will probably come back, they wont sell it to little johnny and his 15, do they do a background check, no they dont, but if you lye about having a 2K fish tank, you obviously know a bit about the fish anyway.

I dont see how (potentially) preventing this fish from entering a home too small is so bad, Is it any different if it sits in the LFS in the back room until its 10 inches? I would almost think this is a better thing, because there is no mistaking a 10 inch RTC for a tiny cute catfish, especially with the behavior that comes out with their size. I can respect it if im wrong, but i once again dont see how, aside from abandoning a pet(which isnt easy)this is wrong

 

[Morledzep]

i'm going to agree with spiritofthesoul and jc1119. i had an RTC and wasn't prepared for how big she got (there were other factors involved also).

RTC are the closest you'll ever get to having a dog in an aquarium, they have WONDERFUL personalities and they seek attention from their owners. they aren't decorations or stuffed animated toys, they actually form a bond with the people that care for them.

i don't know who you are, or how old you are. but if you are raising children i want you to understand that you are teaching your children that it's ok to throw away your pets and family members when they become inconvenient.