Regarding releasing fish into the wild...

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mikeb210

mikeb210

Feeder Fish
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Feb 20, 2008
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I'm not planning on doing this, and I am definitely not interested in bringing the wrath of the internet trolls down on my head, but what dangers exist(with exception to the obvious issues with releasing SA fish in NA, etc)?

How is dumping my "pet" sunfish back in the lake where I caught them different than going to the bait store, buying minnows, and using them as bait? Or is using live bait more dangerous than people realize?

This is a result of a conversation I had with a friend at work who was talking about dumping his fish. I talked him into making the "responsible" decisions, but can't say for sure why they are responsible. Thanks for the input all...
 
releasing into to the wild is illegal and its a horrible thing to do. just like u said putting an SA in a NA lake or pond, the fish would die when winter comes. and ill say most people do it because its a quick and easy solution, but still not the right thing to do.
 
The thing about releasing it back where you caught it is that it could be contaminating the area where you dump it with what is in your tank.

I never knew this either until I was criticized for doing it.
 
If it's a local fish then there isn't much of an issue, the majority of people in NA don't keep native set ups. The main problem is the release of non-native fish. In the southern US the main danger is SA fish (Piranha being the most stupidly feared) in northern latitudes it's Asian monsters like snake heads. Both SA and Asia have much larger predators that can easily wipe out local species, especially without dry season to control Apex predictors.
 
I had a simular argument in my head when my son brought home tadpoles. If they were some larger species of frog I didn't going to keep them, and in my head I rationalized it as... they came from a koi keepers pond in his backyard so all additives to the water would be simular to their time staying in my home and I would release back to the same pond they came from, somewhat simular arugument so I see your point, however, also in the back of my head was that by some minute chance that I could introduce some terrible new hybrid rabies/ eboli virus/ fungus into the echo system. Not sure if the latter thought has been ingrained in my head but better safe than sorry when it comes to the environment in my opinion.
 
Also on that matter, if you catch a fish and don't quarantine it before adding to your tank, you run the risk of bringing in a bacteria or parasite and harming your current livestock, just as the opposite..
 
sick_lid;3495570; said:
The thing about releasing it back where you caught it is that it could be contaminating the area where you dump it with what is in your tank.

I never knew this either until I was criticized for doing it.
Click to expand...

Not so sure about contamination, we use captive breeding to bolster local populations all over the place. It's not that hazardous to the local environment but as stated above it is illegal.
 
vladfloroff;3495596; said:
That mainly focuses on non-native species which cause most almost all the problems. As dose all the idiot legislation like HR 699.
Click to expand...

Read the first 2 sentences......................
 
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