Saw this poor fish at the NY Aquarium...

[rayman45]

yea... got gill curl

 

[mrbipolar]

That poor poor fish... I would love to give him a bigger tank myself AND some tank buddies. To bad they are banned in the US. So I think if we all go rescue him we made need to set up a smuggling ring too. You know, so we can get him out of the country seeing as he would be a fugtive of the federal law at that point.

 

[Zoodiver]

A lot of the zoos/aquariums that have asians right now got them because someone brought it in for pet trade. Most places don't have an "asian arowana" display in mind, but they do have th paper work to take CITES I fish. When Fish and Wildlife grabs them, they get sent out to someplace that can house it legally. They often show up at the brink of death, missing scales, gill curl, not eating, fins torn up etc.....

The first asian I had was a total surprise. I had less than 12 hours notice. I ended up housing it with my discus (850 gallons) just for lack of tank space. After that, we did go ahead and set up a special system just for confiscated asian aros.

 

[stotty]

They are indeed a federally banned species.

The ones on display in these public aquariums most likely came from confiscated animals that were not euthanized.

Ironic it was probably loved by its owner or could have gone to a home that would have put it in the tanks it should be in, and cared for it in the way it should be.

idiots

 

[AtomixIGN]

I can't believe NYC doesn't have a worldclass aquarium right in Manhattan. They have everything BUT.

 

[TankerSwife]

You shoulda told them that the thank is too small... Poor Aro!

You should have said something, told them it is animal abuse or something!

 

[Gee]

Poor guy.

 

[xxblwn408]

The govenment makes it illegal for an average fish keeper to have asian aros because they are endangered. Then they fork one over to an aquarium that keeps them in a small tank.
I bet the poor guy that they took him from treated the aro like a king. I know at least I would have.

I'll fly over and help you with the rescue. We might have to fight over him once we get him.

 

[Zoodiver]

You guys all poke fun, but 99% of the animals brought in illegally are treated like crap. They live in terrible conditions and are treated far worse you ever could imagine. I've been there for them. Most likely, they're holding it while it sits on a surplus list, waiting for a better facility to take it.

I've seen it several times on the board, but where did the rumor that confiscations get killed come from? Probably the same person who said "A fish only gets as big as it's tank", right?