Fish Rescue/Adoption?

[charles-n-charge]

Today I finally broke ground on my Monster Pond Project, so hopefully I'll be able to move some of my larger fish into a suitable home. (Pacus, Bass, Arowana, TSN, RTC, etc.)
But the pond is going to be huge (26'x15'x3-4) and will have a lot more room than what these few fish alone will need. And I would like a full, but not overstocked, pond. So instead of buying more fish, I thought it would be cool to start adopting fish from other fish keepers who cant handle them anymore.
I know a lot of you do this on a regular basis, so I was wanting to know exactly how the whole game works and if it something worth doing

 

[HungDang]

arowana, RTC, TSN, and pacu will have a hard time living in an out door pond!

 

[NthPvttucker]

i agree, the bass might do good though! but try a fishery, or even some pet stores have fish that they adopt out, or even ebay, craigslist ect

 

[Pigeonblood]

arowana, RTC, TSN, and pacu will have a hard time living in an out door pond!

agreed! unless its going to some how be enclosed?

 

[charles-n-charge]

No worries on that one. We do have a few weeks every year that get to dangerous temperatures, but I am going to be building a large greenhouse over the whole pond to keep up during the winter months, and I'll have a heater also.
So it'll be tropical-fish friendly you could say. I've been planning this project for about 8 months now, so I've taken almost everything into consideration. Thanks for the concern though.
Now does anyone have any answers to the original question lol

 

[aclockworkorange]

Start scouring online marketplaces and call local fish stores telling them you're willing to take big fish. I think it's an awesome idea.

 

[charles-n-charge]

So is it a good idea to keep it local then? Becuase I know a lot of you will take adoptions from accross the country as long as the original owner pays for the shipping and such; how does that work? Or is it as simple as I just said lol

 

[MonsterMinis]

I would start local, maybe try an add on craigslist. shipping large fish can be difficult so getting fish from out of state /shipped ect maybe alot more difficult then some may be willing to tackle. not to say you won't get any.. but you'll have much better luck imo going local. maybe try some of your larger cities w/in driving distance for you as well. Calling any of the local fish clubs in your area.

 

[charles-n-charge]

I wish we had a fish club lol. I'm in a small town with no lfs or anything else, that's why I'm looking into out of town stuff.
But you have a good point on shipping large fish.

My first rescue is definitely going to be this arowana in downtown Houston though. It is 27", 5 years old, and has lived its whole life in a 150g tank. Worst stunted fish I have ever seen. I believe the guy said he'd give it up for $40, and I think I'd be willing to pay him to get the fish out of that hell-hole

 

[Bderick67]

Wouldn't it be wise to get the pond done and established before committing to fish you still can't keep?