Help - Fish Going Down The Toilet!

[kevlo]

I was having a conversation yesterday with a friend of a friend. He has split up with his missus and unless he can find a home for his cichlids his girlfriend is going to chuck them in the pond.

He has 20 cichlids up to 10", 5 cat fish and a sucking loach.

Has anybody got any suggestions how he can rehome the fish. he doesnt want any money for them but he doesnt want to see them put to death in a coldwater pond.

Please help he is in crewe cheshire.

 

[fluttermoth]

If he'll give the tank away with them, I'm sure someone will take them in; has he put them up on Aquarist Classified? Or Preloved?

 

[mattlee]

try ringing rare aquatics they are in crewe and might take them from you.

 

[Tolak]

Look for a local club; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/292191-local-aquarist-society-listings/

They have the tanks and equipment for dealing with this, 20 cichlids is no problem.

 

[kevlo]

i've seen that there is a merseyside club but how do i contact them there is no link?

 

[fluttermoth]

If you mouse over the name, the contact info comes up; worth a try; I'd have them if I wasn't in Cornwall!

 

[kevlo]

his missus wants to keep the tank aparently and wont give it up. ive just put them on aquarist classifieds for him

 

[mattlee]

any chance you can get a list of what fish he has and maybe a few can be rehomed with people on here.

 

[kevlo]

he has

10" blue cichlid
10" lumphead cichlid (ive been told that its similar to a lumphead but not actually a lumphead)
he has 18 other cichlids varying from 3" to 6"

5 catfish and 1 sucking loach.

thats all the info he has as he bought the tank as a complete unit so he hasnt bought the fish himself

 

[fluttermoth]

his missus wants to keep the tank aparently

(Nothing towards you or your mate, OP, but...)god, I am sick of this "oh, won't someone please please please help and re-home these poor fishies!!1!!oh, but you can't have the tank to go with them, I want to keep that, that's worth money"

Honestly, do they really think there's people with 6 foot tanks just sitting there, empty, waiting for someone elses random choice of fish to come along?

Sorry for the rant; it's just I've seen this a couple of times in the last few weeks and it's starting to bug me...

In fact, why deos his missus want to keep the tank if she cares so little about fish that she'd throw them in a pond or down the toilet?
(again)

 

[kevlo]

i know i totally agree, im guessing you have hit the nail on the head with the fact that its worth money. Unfortunately the guy in question is in the process of having his life ripped apart by his ex (lose house, kids etc) so the fish are the last thing on his mind, he is prepared to let her throw them in the pond as he has more pressing issues on his mind.

I know this isnt a pleasant story but i think the most important thing is the welfare of the fish not who is right or wrong at the end of the day people do bad things when they are hurting but thats up to them to sort out. which is why i said i would try and help him out with the fish.

 

[Tolak]

Honestly, do they really think there's people with 6 foot tanks just sitting there, empty, waiting for someone elses random choice of fish to come along?

Yes there are. That is the reason for contacting clubs. I've got a 150 gallon tub & a 75 gallon tank that could be stocked in a couple of hours, if that. Next closest club member has a 100 gallon & a 75 gallon tub, same deal. This isn't even counting tanks that could be opened up by doubling up stock, or the fish split between several members.

Clubs run into this more often than you want to know, and have no problem dealing with it.

 

[kevlo]

i would say the merseyside one is the closest to me. how do i go about contacting them?

 

[Tolak]

The Merseyside AS meetings commence at 8.00pm, for 8.30pm start, on the second and fourth Monday of each month at: Wavertree Cricket Club. Long Lane. Wavertree. Liverpool, L15 0151- 733 0340. For further information please contact: Membership secretary: Gordon Kehoe. Email: gordonkehoe@yahoo.co.uk.

 

[fluttermoth]

i know i totally agree, im guessing you have hit the nail on the head with the fact that its worth money. Unfortunately the guy in question is in the process of having his life ripped apart by his ex (lose house, kids etc) so the fish are the last thing on his mind, he is prepared to let her throw them in the pond as he has more pressing issues on his mind.

I know this isnt a pleasant story but i think the most important thing is the welfare of the fish not who is right or wrong at the end of the day people do bad things when they are hurting but thats up to them to sort out. which is why i said i would try and help him out with the fish.

I know; I'm sorry...I certainly didn't mean it personally; to you or your mate; it's just been one of those days today; I'm already trying to deal with a mate of mine's sister who's insisting on putting two goldies and an apple snail in a 28l for her daughter's birthday and who is refusing to listen to any advice 'cos "the people in the shop have had training" apparently, so the advice of the RSPCA and my 30 years worth of experience is worth absolutely zilch compared to 'the man in the shop'


I should go and have a lie down