Why You Shouldn't Buy This Fish

[steelhealr]

Hi...even mods make mistakes. Well, this fish I purchased in Nov 2004.....a total newb. I saw this beautiful silvery teeny fish swimming all over the tank. It was gorgeous and I just had to have it.

3 1/2 years later here it is...pushing 8-9 inches in length. It will eat 3 spirulina sinking tabs WHOLE. When it gets scared, the sloshing in the tank is LOUD. It's a 46G FW which I keep for my kids. Fortunately, the LFS said they will take it back into their mombo tank.

They really shouldn't sell this fish to newcomers. I superimposed a ruler for you all to get a better idea. It DOES look like a REAL shark now.

SH

 

[groupiekilla06]

Yeah it makes me sick when you see these tiny silver things and you know (being an experienced fishkeeper) that someone is gonna come along and stick him in a 10 gallon with 4 others like him. They should be outlawed from the hobby. It is simply not an aquarium fish! If it is, you might as well keep a Wales Catfish while you're at it.

 

[jourdy288]

I personally, would not outlaw it, but I would wish people could be somehow warned.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I still desperately want a very large tank(or pond) to keep one or two in, as I have a strange love for this fish.

I agree that it should be illegal to own them without the proper tank(or pond), but not illegal to own outright, as my dreams will be dashed.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I think the problem with merely warning people is that some just don't listen. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into chain stores, and an employee with experience tells somebody not to get a certain fish and they completely ignore them. Even if they go as far as saying that there will be no guarantee on the fish. Some people. I agree with what the person above me said, give them a picture of your tank or pond, or have them come out and see your set up before selling you a tank buster. Either that or just special order them for whoever wants one (provided they have the right equipment). I doubt that even 1 out of 30 of those fish ever make it near their normal adult size.

Ryan

 

[eschaton]

I think the best way to do it is if governments wouldn't allow the sale of fish over 12 inches/30 cm adult length to fishkeepers without a permit (doesn't even have to be an expensive permit). This would stop impulse buys, and allow those who really fancied huge fish to still engage in the hobby without really hurting their finances much more.

 

[andywg]

Might I also suggest checking out the pinned topic in catfish?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I think people should have to obtain a license to keep tankbusting fish like this- the licence should not be complicated to obtain, but you must have proof that you have a decent sized aquarium/pond to keep the fish in when it is full grown. I think if we had a system like this in this country then it would discourage a lot of people from buying tankbusting fish like this by making them think more about what is involved in keeping them, and would certainly drastically cut down on people buying fish like this on impulse.
A lot of petshops would also probably stop selling such fish so much if people had to obtain licenses for them since i can't see that many people bothering to buy such fish if they need a license for it. It would still mean that people could keep such fish, but it would help ensure that only people can keep them if they can look after the fish properly in the long term.

Steelhealr, what are you going to do with this fish in the long term?

 

[Straydum]

i very much go with the idea that this fish shouldnt be kept off shelves but instead sold to those who are capable of keeping them properly. Tokis-Phoenix's idea is excellent

 

[SJ2K]

They keep a tank full of these at 2" next to the guppies and neons in one of my LFS, talk about tempting fate.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

i very much go with the idea that this fish shouldnt be kept off shelves but instead sold to those who are capable of keeping them properly. Tokis-Phoenix's idea is excellent

Thanks Straydum !

 

[steelhealr]

This fish is my first 'newb' mistake, but, I take very good care of them. As you can see...they are alive...very healthy...and hungry. My first thought is that Tyler..you live on LI...do you have the tank size yet? The other is to return him to the LFS I got it from. They have huge tanks and they claim that it will be purchased by a larger tank owner.

Reportedly, they are excellent breaded and fried..with lemon and butter.


OH...JUST TEASING. lol

SH

 

[cane76]

im surprised its still only 8" after 3.5 years

 

[TylerFerretLord]

No, I don't have the tank yet, unfortunately.

I'm looking to get a job soon, so hopefully I can save up enough money in a few years.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

im surprised its still only 8" after 3.5 years

Yeah i thought that too . I knew one fishkeeper who had one of these fish, they bought it at 2inches long and within a few months it was 6inches long- i've heard in general that irredescent sharks are very fast growers particularly when juveniles.