Please Sign and Circulate FDA INVESTIGATE WALMART PUFFER POISONING!

[PufferCorps]

Maybe you should get in touch with Cornell University, they have an excellent veterinary program, rather than basing your movement on hearsay and conjecture.

You wonder what is killing Wal-Mart fish? Here is my conjecture:

They probably don't quarantine, medicate, buy quality livestock, feed properly, have properly educated staff, or provide specific environment for species.

If it is a central system type rack, then without medicating the whole unit, disease can spread thru quite easily. I see this at our local Petco occasionally. If it's lucky enough to have a UV unit are the bulbs getting changed annually?

About the system, it was created for API to use in pharmaceutical experimentation. MARS bought API, and these tanks are now property of either Walmart or MARS. Marineland is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands Global Pets Group, who are supposed to provide regular scheduled maintenance. I spoke to 12 different Walmart stores Pet Dept managers, and all 12 were 6 months behind in repairs and filter changes.
These are very substantial tanks if they are kept up on. They were built to maintain precise water parameters in order to develop medications for fish in pharmaceutical studies, but at Walmart the bioloads are unpredictable and fluctuating with deliveries suddenly dumped in each week.
What has always baffled me is I tested all 12 stores tank water with my rescues for 6 months and I swear to you, they were never more than a shade off. This is why I have come to suspect ttx

 

[PufferCorps]

Maybe you should get in touch with Cornell University, they have an excellent veterinary program, rather than basing your movement on hearsay and conjecture.

You wonder what is killing Wal-Mart fish? Here is my conjecture:

They probably don't quarantine, medicate, buy quality livestock, feed properly, have properly educated staff, or provide specific environment for species.

If it is a central system type rack, then without medicating the whole unit, disease can spread thru quite easily. I see this at our local Petco occasionally. If it's lucky enough to have a UV unit are the bulbs getting changed annually?

About the system, it was created for API to use in pharmaceutical experimentation. MARS bought API, and these tanks are now property of either Walmart or MARS. Marineland is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands Global Pets Group, who are supposed to provide regular scheduled maintenance. I spoke to 12 different Walmart stores Pet Dept managers, and all 12 were 6 months behind in repairs and filter changes.
These are very substantial tanks if they are kept up on. They were built to maintain precise water parameters in order to develop medications for fish in pharmaceutical studies, but at Walmart the bioloads are unpredictable and fluctuating with deliveries suddenly dumped in each week.
What has always baffled me is I tested all 12 stores tank water with my rescues for 6 months and I swear to you, they were never more than a shade off. This is why I have come to suspect ttx

You want to stop walmart and other unqualified retailers from selling puffers and other species? Talk to the PEOPLE. Shut off the demand, the supply dries up. I'd love to say any of that was plausible but people don't give a damn and corporations love money, its a rock and a hard place argument and unfortunately we as hobbyists are usually on the losing end. Start with people buying the fish...thats what hurts a giant like walmart.

This is what Puffer Corps is committed to. Change thru Education.

 

[MN_Rebel]

I must say this on a personal note, that you must never think that anything is a losing battle. It hurts me to hear those words. Nothing worth doing is ever a losing battle. I may not be here to see the day Walmart stops, but future generations will. You have to believe in yourself and have faith in your fellow human beings. Please dont put walls up for yourself before you try. I promise you can make a difference. I'm here to tell you anything is possible with willingness, but if you are set to avoid change, please dont discourage others. Too many people have lost hope and I'm determined to restore it. My mission is not just about saving puffs, its about empowerment and rekindling the flame of humanity in our hearts too.

Don't take it a wrong way, but I would just discourage the others from signing your petition till you change your mission that is a win-win for everyone. Not eliminating puffer species from aquarium trade. Educate the public about how to take care of the fishes properly and force Walmart to take care of their stock more better or just stopping selling all fishes from Walmart. Not telling the public that puffers are toxic and can kill your children blah blah....which can be a bad thing for us hobbyists. Example: Snakeheads are bad and evil fish that walks on land and breathing air. It is known for eating children and dogs. It has no natural enemies and can wipe out everything in the lake.....the public buy that and now it is impossible for unbanning the snakehead species and no snakeheads for our future generations to own.

 

[PufferCorps]

I honestly feel this would more result in a ban of puffers in general. I don't think the govt really bans just one specific store from selling something...

Bringing up Tetrodotoxin next thing you know people will be worried about this in every fish store and entering the water supply and puffers released in local streams making toxins.

A really nice idea, but I really do see any result coming from it being a complete pufferfish ban in the USA.

No need to worry. Nothing will happen. Nothing at all. They will ignore me and wait me out. I've been black listed, otherwise my story would have been in the news. Walmart owns the world. Walmart does things the way they do because they can. They use their $$$ and size to intimidate and control. I may not win, but i'll die trying.

 

[M@T!@$]

Don't take it a wrong way, but I would just discourage the others from signing your petition till you change your mission that is a win-win for everyone. Not eliminating puffer species from aquarium trade. Educate the public about how to take care of the fishes properly and force Walmart to take care of their stock more better or just stopping selling all fishes from Walmart. Not telling the public that puffers are toxic and can kill your children blah blah....which can be a bad thing for us hobbyists. Example: Snakeheads are bad and evil fish that walks on land and breathing air. It is known for eating children and dogs. It has no natural enemies and can wipe out everything in the lake.....the public buy that and now it is impossible for unbanning the snakehead species and no snakeheads for our future generations to own.

+1

 

[PufferCorps]

Don't take it a wrong way, but I would just discourage the others from signing your petition till you change your mission that is a win-win for everyone. Not eliminating puffer species from aquarium trade. Educate the public about how to take care of the fishes properly and force Walmart to take care of their stock more better or just stopping selling all fishes from Walmart. Not telling the public that puffers are toxic and can kill your children blah blah....which can be a bad thing for us hobbyists. Example: Snakeheads are bad and evil fish that walks on land and breathing air. It is known for eating children and dogs. It has no natural enemies and can wipe out everything in the lake.....the public buy that and now it is impossible for unbanning the snakehead species and no snakeheads for our future generations to own.

Again, dont worry. Puffers are poisonous and still have a huge market in the United States as food. I doubt they want to contend with this in court with the type of lawyers the restaurateurs can afford to fight for their livelihoods. Those people have gold plated toilet seats and own most of this country.
I have never taken a stand against,or tried to shame Walmart or anyone, EXCEPT the supplier QUALITY PETS.
I have appealed to Walmart that it would be in theirs, and the puffers, best interest to simply stop letting the supplier stock them without proper provisions. When I was speaking with Katie Utah at ABC News, I made it clear that I was willing to do the story only as long as it was not a negative against Walmart. At that time it was the Xmas season and I wrote the various departments and Ceo's, including Doug McMillon, asking them to join in the spirit of the season and grant amnesty to the puffers and show the world they honor their committed statement from their 2015 Global Responsibility report, to lowering their carbon foot print and to their customers health. I thought it would be an excellent opportunity for Walmart to soften their image, but to no avail. I have offered to provide Walmart with training and Puffer Care handouts free of charge. It has never been my intention to force Walmart to stop selling them altogether. I know what I can do by myself, and what can only be achieved by thousands of like minded people willing to work together.

I'm asking you and everyone to help in any way they can.

I appreciate yours, and everyones, participation in the debate and respect your thoughts and feelings whether you feel the petition is something you agree with or not. The most important thing is honest communication and unbiased investigation. I'm happy to say again, this website is the BEST around, and except for the occasional Jack Ass, I've gotten alot of good stuff out of my experience here.