what are your views on people trading in fish??

If in a circumstance where a person isn't able to have a large tank I think of it like a lease. For example: Most tangs will get too large to be comfortable in even a 55 gallon. If purchased at the 1.5-2.5" size rearing it to a larger more stable 4" size is beneficial for many people. At least in my area the smallest tangs remain at the LFS for quite some time because people are scared of their delicate juvenile state. Sure you may only get your money back on it but it was fun to have the entire time and the experience gained is intangible.

And catching most species of fish shouldn't be a problem. Hand feeding is the key in my experience to not destroying your reef. Once a fish is trained for handfeeding, capturing it will be a simple low stress event for the fish.

 

I wish people who buy elasmobranches were reading this thread. I rescued probably 20 sharks and 2 bat rays. One bat ray was near death with infections. The first thing in the morning, most people check their emails. For a while, the first thing in the morning, I stripped to my skivvies, jumped into a shark tank and wrestled with a bat ray to give it an antibiotic shot and force fed it. All of these animals are now happily living in very large tanks in public aquariums, other large tanks, and in one case a very large casino aquarium.

 

after 2 months, my LFS will trade a fish, but only pennies on the dollar. Apparently, after 2 months, the fish loses value. : Aquarium World in NW Houston. I do not agree with that policy but it is what it is.

The other LFS around me won't accept live fish (B&B Pet store). I don't agree with that either, but it is what it is.

So, I avoid doing that, but it's monetary value related. I have no issues with folks returning fish they can't handle for whatever reason and I prefer it over "I plan on upgrading" bc life happens.

I just returned a blenny that had started nipping at my LPS... 30 dollar fish got me a 8 dollar credit because it had been 4 months. ridiculous. but better that than flushing it or letting it bother my coral to death. If i had a better choice of LFS, I'd use it and swap fish more often.

(btw - took my DIY fish trap 27 hours to catch that blenny)

 

you are awesome

 

Unfortunately, my boss at the LFS I work at purchased a nurse shark...his plan is to give it to the pitt zoo. Most people don't understand zoos don't take your old pets. He also has it in a tank that is way to small. I hope he doesn't get another one...

 

I think it's kinda weird to buy a fish with the intent of trading it in/away for something else. That being said, I respect the people's life situations change where they may not be able to do that upgrade to the bigger tank a year down the line, and then have to give it up for the fish's sake. In fact, I seriously respect their willingness to do what's best for the fish - just not if they planned to do it all along.

 

barely related story:

I keep bugs of various sorts. Raise them, breed them, have them fight each other and victor gets to eat, that sort of thing.

Anyway, had a local scorpion once. She won all her fights. I was able to get the scorpions to breed. Ended up with (originally) about 20 something baby scorpions.

My local Natural History museum (which has a really big entomology department) was interested and took the babies. They had their own little exhibit and everything. Was very cool. Also, it got me into the backrooms where all the really cool bugs are.

I got to participate in a scorpion suicide experiment too. Neat experience.

But you are right, generally speaking, zoos, museums, etc do not take old pets. All those boa's, etc. have no where to go but under the needle (or gassed) and that's why we end up with invasive species (or a piece of the reason) as folks choose to randomly release them where it's convenient to them, not the animal.

 

Thank you for pointing out that your local zoo isn't going to take your fish that got too big.

If he can't even get the tank size right, he probably has a bunch of rock in the tank and sand that is too big as well.

 

210 gallon tank, 60lbs of LR, wet/dry filter, crushed coral...

 

60lbs of LR in a 210g tank!? ... oy...