River Monsters

[AquaJason]

Does anyone watch 'River Monsters', I am now obssesed with the series, Cant believe how big some of the fish are and are sold in pet shops when babies
such as alligator gars and red-tail cats :l rediculous.

The fish are amazing though!

Out of curiousty I have decided to make a poll just to see if you belive fish that get so large should be band from sale.

 

[fishprotector]

It really depends on what size tank and equipment you have got. For 99% of the population yes I think they should, but if you can correctly house and look after one then go for it

 

[simonas]

It really depends on what size tank and equipment you have got. For 99% of the population yes I think they should, but if you can correctly house and look after one then go for it

I agree with that

 

[magical trevor]

IMO I think LFS should take upon them selves (THEY WON'T) To only sell these type of fish to people that can house those fish. But this whole thing of a total beginner being sold a 60g tank and being sold 3 Bala Sharks, A red tailed cat and a 7 Clown loach. That should stop! Immediatly! it wont tho

 

[Baccus]

Not only do I look at the potential eventual size of some of these monsters and realise that they just don't belong in most private aquaria, I also think about what happens to the fish when A. it does out grow its tank and the owner can't find or afford a larger tank for the fish, and B what happens to the fish when the owner gets sick of it and decides that putting it in a local water way wont hurt. Sadly in to many instances greed (people deliberately releasing introduced species in the hope of recatching the creatures later to make a profit) and sheer ecological ignorance is alive and well in nearly every corner of the world. So allowing people to keep potentially huge fish unchecked is only asking for environmental trouble down the track.

 

[james_fish]

I think some form of permit/license should be required to keep fish like you posted. Not something you need to pay for but something that requires the RSPCA (or whichever organisation does stuff like this) to actually see the equipment the fish should be housed in.

But unless it was very strictly enforced then I don't think these fish should be kept at all

James.

 

[moochy13]

Just watched one tonight about electric eels. He pulled a 6 foot electric eel out of grotty 6 inch deep mudpit with his hands, wearing rubber gloves obviously. Then later realised theres about 20 in the pit, that looked about 15 feet square. They were just waiting for rains to come and flood the field so they could move on. He caught a red tailed cat earlier in the day, was absolutely beautiful. Amazing colour. Locals hate the eels, he was there because something killed 3 men in a shallow pool, turned out it was probably the eels. Locals were actively killing any they found, they truely hate them.

 

[simonas]

Just watched one tonight about electric eels. He pulled a 6 foot electric eel out of grotty 6 inch deep mudpit with his hands, wearing rubber gloves obviously. Then later realised theres about 20 in the pit, that looked about 15 feet square. They were just waiting for rains to come and flood the field so they could move on. He caught a red tailed cat earlier in the day, was absolutely beautiful. Amazing colour. Locals hate the eels, he was there because something killed 3 men in a shallow pool, turned out it was probably the eels. Locals were actively killing any they found, they truely hate them.

the red tailed cat was amazing

my mate has three electric eels hes had two of them for years and he got a huuge one from wharf last year its about 5 ft and very thick, they look ace in his tank, I think hes crazy for putting his hands in to do maintenance I couldnt settle with them

 

[MBOU]

I think there should be a license/tax on importing certail large species and a license to keep them, similar to th DWA (dangerous wild animal) license you have to get for a lot of venemous snake species.

I also happen t9 think both the common boa and reticulated pythons etc should be licensed. They arent dangerous as such but like the RTC they are the 'gentle' monsters that look good and are regularly bought of the snake worl and yet who the heck has room to give an 11-20+ft (depending on species) and give it **adequate** space, not just room to sit...

Its a very good proggramme really!!

 

[simonas]

I think there should be a license/tax on importing certail large species and a license to keep them, similar to th DWA (dangerous wild animal) license you have to get for a lot of venemous snake species.

I also happen t9 think both the common boa and reticulated pythons etc should be licensed. They arent dangerous as such but like the RTC they are the 'gentle' monsters that look good and are regularly bought of the snake worl and yet who the heck has room to give an 11-20+ft (depending on species) and give it **adequate** space, not just room to sit...

Its a very good proggramme really!!

I agree with you on the retic and would put Burms in that category but common boas dont commonly grow to that kind of size.

 

[ultimatebob]

i actually own the 1st season on dvd. and i admit i once owned 2 redtail cats, one of which can be seen at the display tank of darby's tropicals in new braunfels, texas. it is at least 4 ft, they named it moby. i don't think they should be banned completly, i just think there should be a set of requirements met to keep them. i bought these fish because they were awesomely huge, i was young and stupid. though they were great pets and very personable, i just did not have the funds to keep them properly. in my mind they were cool, and that was my disillusion of reason. i don't believe they should be banned, i just believe a fishkeeper should have the means to provide for such large animals, before acquiring.

 

[MBOU]

Ahhhahhh i actually meant Burms not boas LOL

Licensing them would help with strict punishment for breaking laws but it wont ever happen, laws are too lax to be followed up as it is already.

 

[Cazgar]

I don't think they should be banned.
I think though to keep certain species of fish & reptiles owners should have to be licensed to prove they can provide the right environment & care for them

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

IMO I think owning all large snakes should require a license.
Including the common boa.
I see many ads on various classifieds of these snakes where people have bought them and did not realize how large they get.
Same goes for large fish, if your going to buy an Arrowana, at least have some insight on how large its going to grow, don't just stick it in your 20 gallon and be oblivious of its needs.