Every time I look at the "For Sale" and "Looking For" market sections on this site, I shake my head.
Why is it that we continually see people trying to keep river monsters in aquariums?
I am always seeing people trying to sell their enormous arowana that outgrew their tank, their Red Tail catfish that is too big, or my favorite from this morning on the Facebook page-someone wondering why their Goliath African Tiger fish died -.-
Do people not know how big these fish get, that they grow, and that unless you have a 400 gallon fish tank, you should not be keeping these pets?
I cant tell you how many times I have bought something from someone on this forum; I go into their fish room and see giants in tanks that are not suitable for them.
Would you keep your dog in a small cage 24/7? Well it is no different keeping an arowana or large catfish in a 125 gallon tank.
I am not going to sit here and completely point fingers; I used to be guilty of it too. Until I saw arowanas in their natural habitat; they swim great distance daily, and it is a part of their natural routine to jump out of the water in attempt to eat insects or whatever else is several feet above the surface. That helped show me how grossly inappropriate it is to keep them confined in a fish tank.
All I am asking you to do is think about what you are buying. Dont use the excuse Oh I plan to upgrade my tank later, because we all know you arent. Dont assume that when it gets too big for your aquarium that you are just going to be able to dump it off on someone else down the road. Very few people have tanks suitable for these big fish. No, a 125 gallon tank is not big enough.
The blame also falls on the local fish shops. They should not be bringing in inventory that they know no one is going to be able to legitimately care for. That being said, I would appreciate and commend any local fish shop that stops and says they are not going to do that anymore.
These fish are our pets, please be respectful and responsible with them.
Why is it that we continually see people trying to keep river monsters in aquariums?
I am always seeing people trying to sell their enormous arowana that outgrew their tank, their Red Tail catfish that is too big, or my favorite from this morning on the Facebook page-someone wondering why their Goliath African Tiger fish died -.-
Do people not know how big these fish get, that they grow, and that unless you have a 400 gallon fish tank, you should not be keeping these pets?
I cant tell you how many times I have bought something from someone on this forum; I go into their fish room and see giants in tanks that are not suitable for them.
Would you keep your dog in a small cage 24/7? Well it is no different keeping an arowana or large catfish in a 125 gallon tank.
I am not going to sit here and completely point fingers; I used to be guilty of it too. Until I saw arowanas in their natural habitat; they swim great distance daily, and it is a part of their natural routine to jump out of the water in attempt to eat insects or whatever else is several feet above the surface. That helped show me how grossly inappropriate it is to keep them confined in a fish tank.
All I am asking you to do is think about what you are buying. Dont use the excuse Oh I plan to upgrade my tank later, because we all know you arent. Dont assume that when it gets too big for your aquarium that you are just going to be able to dump it off on someone else down the road. Very few people have tanks suitable for these big fish. No, a 125 gallon tank is not big enough.
The blame also falls on the local fish shops. They should not be bringing in inventory that they know no one is going to be able to legitimately care for. That being said, I would appreciate and commend any local fish shop that stops and says they are not going to do that anymore.
These fish are our pets, please be respectful and responsible with them.
