Hypothetical Question

[krzr3000]

Besides some information or hints and how the care could be better i don't see what contacting authorities would accomplish. Fish retailers are obviously not being held liable, since as long as the industry has been existing. On top of that fish just aren't seen in the same light...fishing for example...as sticking a hook through a mammals jaw would be considered very cruel.

 

[packer43064]

I wouldn't call the cops or fish game people or whoever at all. It's a fish,unless their killing asian aro's in the basement for funzies I could care less.

 

[cchhcc]

I don't have a big problem with overcrowding as long as the water parameters are maintained within reason. It's difficult not to acquire too many of anything you really enjoy...I wouldn't hesitate to report chronic neglect, which is pretty obvious: dirty, smelly water, emaciated fish, open wounds-that sort of thing. Keeping in mind that people sometimes miss a few water changes. Fish do get sick or old and lose weight. But, you can tell when you're looking at creatures who belong to a person with either no compassion or no common sense.

IMO, and I'm not taking a shot at you, I think overcrowding even in perfect water (which everyone SAYS they have) IS chronic neglect.

Do prisoners jammed into a jail cell complain about the space or the air?

Practically none of the "fish-gangstas" on this site have anything even close to fully grown.........and there's a reason for that!

 

[packer43064]

Fish are not humans, why do we always compare fish to humans. They can't love, hate, feel as much as a human can.

I wasn't trying to be mean, I'm just wondering why everyone compared fish to humans.Seriously, not being mean.

 

[cchhcc]

Fish are not humans, why do we always compare fish to humans. They can't love, hate, feel as much as a human can.

I wasn't trying to be mean, I'm just wondering why everyone compared fish to humans.Seriously, not being mean.

True, that metaphor was a stretch.

Lets compare them to the puppy mills everyone gets so worked up over. I wonder if there is some MONSTER PUPPY MILL site where all the dog owners who want to go MONSTER hang out?

 

[packer43064]

^^^
Now puppies are a whole new ball game, lol. I'll stop with fish, puppies are just....freakin puppies they rock! lol

 

[Nemesis]

True, that metaphor was a stretch.

Lets compare them to the puppy mills everyone gets so worked up over. I wonder if there is some MONSTER PUPPY MILL site where all the dog owners who want to go MONSTER hang out?

Comparing them to puppies, I would still say is a stretch. There's not much that you really can compare them to. I think I would alert authorities about an overcrowded chicken coop before an overcrowded fish tank. Unless the fish are clearly in horrible health, I really don't see it my responsibility to call anyone. I may offer my input on the matter, but that's about it.

Is there even a law forbidding you from overcrowding your aquarium, or keeping a fish that clearly doesn't fit into it's tank?

 

[cchhcc]

Comparing them to puppies, I would still say is a stretch. There's not much that you really can compare them to. I think I would alert authorities about an overcrowded chicken coop before an overcrowded fish tank. Unless the fish are clearly in horrible health, I really don't see it my responsibility to call anyone. I may offer my input on the matter, but that's about it.

Is there even a law forbidding you from overcrowding your aquarium, or keeping a fish that clearly doesn't fit into it's tank?

OK..... Birds.


If my neighbor was neglecting his parakeet I don't know that I'd care. If he was neglecting his California Condor I'd probably have a problem with it!

 

[Deep Blue Sea]

Do the laws covering cruelty to animals (dogs, cats, etc) actually cover fish as well? I didn't think they did, so is there anything the law could actually do? The only illegal fish keeping activity i can think of off the top of my head is keeping banned species, but i wouldn't call the authorities on them for that if it was well cared for, only if it was starring as a prop in the kiddy porn ring!

Yeah they cover fish... they cover everything to those little 19 cent feeders you buy in petco. I'm in high school and 2 weeks ago I (as a harmless prank) took 10 feeders in a bottle to school and because of a heavy rain we had had puddles that were very deep so i decided to put the fish in the puddles. Before I got through 1st period the vice principal comes storming into my class pulls me into the office and takes me to the school police officers office where i had to undergo a 15 minute speech about hwo there are laws against the misstreatment of animals and to just add the frosting to the cake I got 5 hours of community service...

 

[Fishwish]

Oh, I totally agree that overcrowding is neglect. It's definitely mental abuse and physically stressful for the fish. Realistically though, you would be the crazy nut in town for reporting unhappy fish as opposed to unhealthy fish. It all goes back to the whole concept of being a "hobbyist". Aren't happy and healthy fish the whole point of even trying to create a miniature world on any scale? Where's the pleasure in kicking back with a good drink and watching a tank of miserable souls?
I also believe putting a hook through any creature's face is cruel (except of course for those folks who enjoy that sort of thing!).
It's only natural to compare all living things to ourselves. When you take most any creature and care for it so that survival doesn't consume every moment of it's existence, you will see some semblance of personality develop. Can't you tell when your fish are happy? I'm sure some of you even have fish with a sense of humor...