Donating Fish to Public Aquaria or Zoos

[Dan F]

Who has done it?

I have read a lot of people say that they planned to donate their fish (mostly Pacu) to a zoo or aquarium when they outgrew their tanks, but always wondered how many people actually do it.

I myself have a couple of Monster Cats - a TSN and an O. niger. They have lived together for most of their lives, but lately they have been having problems - my TSN has been getting cut up on the niger's scutes. Both are around18", they are due to be moved this summer from a 6' 135G to a 4x4x2. However, I don't want to put them in there together and I really don't want have to set up two more big tanks.

While on a recent field trip to the zoo (I'm a teacher) I noticed their "Flooded Amazon" exhibit was looking understocked. A few calls and e-mails later, and this Saturday I am taking the O. niger up to become a part of the exhibit. It is a huge tank, and I will still be able to see him a few times a year.

By the way, the first thing she asked when I started talking about donating a fish was "It's not a Pacu, is it?" Apparently they get many inquiries about donating Pacu, but they have all they want and can't take anywhere near the number offered.

 

[nomad]

Glad it worked out for you.....Unfortunately there are too many unattended kids on this site that are buying arapaimas and RTCs for their 180g fantasizing that some imaginary zoo or public aquarium will take them eventually...needless to say those fish are facing a horrible ending.

 

[redlinerandy]

ya i really wish there was such a thing as a dwarf red tailed be so cute hehe

 

[Dan F]

Glad it worked out for you.....Unfortunately there are too many unattended kids on this site that are buying arapaimas and RTCs for their 180g fantasizing that some imaginary zoo or public aquarium will take them eventually...needless to say those fish are facing a horrible ending.

I agree 100%. They were definitely not interested in anything too predatory (Arapaima or RTC for example) as there are other fish in the tank and they do have limited space. I got lucky in that O. niger is on their "list".

I do want to be clear that I had always intended on housing them both for life. I already have the 4x4x2 and a 750G round fiberglass pond. The problem is that I don't have the room to house them separately and I feel bad for my TSN housing them together.

 

[Experiment397]

we donated me and my dads clown knife a few years back to a petstore with a public aquarium built into it(its tight! one halfs store one halfs aquarium) so far as i know he did fine in the south east asian tank with the school of bala sharks, sun and id cats, and probably 100 or so giant danios( i think they got eaten eventually, they where just to add some flare because the other fish where all babies. i dont know if he is still there, he would be easy to identify, i got hime half off at petsmart because he had a gill plate deformity(just a piece of extra flesh on the plate sort of like an indian feather) i havent been to the store in over 4 years now since i found a store with better prices. i have heard the exhibit is still there though...

 

[Huladad]

I actually have a buddy that takes care of a 30,000g tank at a bass pro, plus many other huge tanks at hotels and offices. If I get any critter that outgrows my tank they always have a great home to go to... When I moved last, I let my huge angel fish go to a 800g cylinder tank at a (seafood restaurant) sounds horrible, but I still get to see my buddy that I grew up from a juvi, whenever I want to... He seems happy and comes up to see me every time I visit...

 

[aclockworkorange]

That's really cool Dan! I'll look for your cat if I ever drag myself out there!

 

[derekp]

I have a cabelas near me that does the same thing as far as south americans. They took my gator gar a little while back that were 3 foot a piece. I called recently as well to see if they would take my other fish and they said they would. So now I am contemplating taking my 4 big cats to them to let them put them in their big aquarium. Glad to hear yours is going to a good home.

 

[Dan F]

we donated me and my dads clown knife a few years back to a petstore with a public aquarium built into it(its tight! one halfs store one halfs aquarium) so far as i know he did fine in the south east asian tank with the school of bala sharks, sun and id cats, and probably 100 or so giant danios( i think they got eaten eventually, they where just to add some flare because the other fish where all babies. i dont know if he is still there, he would be easy to identify, i got hime half off at petsmart because he had a gill plate deformity(just a piece of extra flesh on the plate sort of like an indian feather) i havent been to the store in over 4 years now since i found a store with better prices. i have heard the exhibit is still there though...

You should check it out just to see!

I actually have a buddy that takes care of a 30,000g tank at a bass pro, plus many other huge tanks at hotels and offices. If I get any critter that outgrows my tank they always have a great home to go to... When I moved last, I let my huge angel fish go to a 800g cylinder tank at a (seafood restaurant) sounds horrible, but I still get to see my buddy that I grew up from a juvi, whenever I want to... He seems happy and comes up to see me every time I visit...

Cool! Nothing like that out here.

That's really cool Dan! I'll look for your cat if I ever drag myself out there!

He should be hard to miss. I'm taking him up Saturday, and I imagine they will quarantine him for a while.

I have a cabelas near me that does the same thing as far as south americans. They took my gator gar a little while back that were 3 foot a piece. I called recently as well to see if they would take my other fish and they said they would. So now I am contemplating taking my 4 big cats to them to let them put them in their big aquarium. Glad to hear yours is going to a good home.

I wish we had Cabela's out here...
I'm stoked, too. I try to provide the best home possible, but the Amazon Tank at the zoo is way beyond anything I could build or buy!

 

[Eupterus]

Back when I had a blue eyed pleco, I thought boarding her was not a good situation so I had tried re-homing her. I offered her free of charge to the New England aquarium with intentions of bringing her there myself and they were not interested.