I am always told how aquariums and zoos are at their limit with fish. For example, they don't accept overgrown pacu. So I was wondering, is it possible to buy fish from a zoo or aquarium? Do you think any zoo would part with a few pacu or large catfish? Maybe even cichlids? It's worth asking, dont you think? Hopefully zoodiver will chime in.
Zoos/Aquarium Fish Availability
- Thread starter Onion01
- Start date
Zoo's and Aquariums (I.E. AZA accredited institutions) are not pet shops they do not by policy sell surplus animals, most will kill them long before they go anywhere near the hobby. As Mike said there are exceptions but this is under rare conditions.
what rare conditions would that be? it isn't a true zoo, but I remember the parrot jungle here in Miami sold many many large fish before they moved to a new location. These included carp, gars, very large pacu, large catfish, and many cichlids. Like richard pointed out, killing the fish might be an option. I remember going to Miami Metrozoo, and they seemed to gain and lose pacu almost monthly. I never asked why.
So, if a person like John, with his credentials and available tank, were to waltz up to an AZA institution, give full proof of his tank capabilities, even then he would likely be turned down for a fish as common as a pacu or cichlid?
So, if a person like John, with his credentials and available tank, were to waltz up to an AZA institution, give full proof of his tank capabilities, even then he would likely be turned down for a fish as common as a pacu or cichlid?
johnptc;1625431; said:john is trying to become AZA certified
good for john
would u be able to purchase aquarium or zoo fish? how would that work? I remember reading that ted donated several fish to the georgia aquarium. Is he certified? Is an exception?