Is it wrong to keep wild-caught fish?

[KeddyPie]

**EDIT** Either I glitched up or the forum glitched up on the question. It should just read "Do you think it is wrong to keep wild-caught fish as pets?". Sorry about the glitchyness of the question. Maybe an admin would fix that up for me, since I cn't appear to be able to edit poles

Was reading a post about someone rescuing some natives and keeping them until they were fit to be released (which I completly support), and it occured to me... Many people think it is wrong to keep 'Wild-caught fish' reffering to natives, but most likely a majority of the tropical fish on the market ARE wild-caught. I was wondering if all the people who think it's wrong to go outside, catch a fish, and put it in a tank, look up background on where the tropical fish they are buying came from.

I mean, why is it wrong to keep a blue gill in an aquarium, but not a wild betta or some wild-caught tetras? I know I always thought "Oh, you're keeping a minnow you caught in an aquarium? That's not good!" but never saw anything wrong with keeping wild tropicals... I'm not sure why I thought this, and I'm not sure what to think now that I've actually thought about it. I'm just curious what others think about this. I think the case might just be that most people don't really think about it.

 

[Rodders]

I've not really thought about it, but I spose if you provide it with as close to natural aquarium as possible its ok? resucing them and helping them and putting them back sounds better though!!

 

[Ben]

The thing is, only fish that grow over one and a half feet would feel the difference.
In the wild,(eg the amazon) it's not like Blue Rams use up the whole river, they stick to one bit, their territory which isn't usually that big.
So i don't feel bad space wise, but will feel bad if you give them tottally different conditions in what they need

DD

 

[Bloo]

A GREAT number of catfish are wild caught. Though there is some captive breeding programmes, but the vast majority are wild. So how does one get around that

 

[annka5]

It's wrong if the species is endangered, or getting close to being, or overfished. I read that SOME species of cordydora fall into this category.
Also, IMO species which have a teeny range -e.g. endemic to one part of one lake such as some more obscure African cichlids- should never be removed from the wild to the aquarium hobby -too fragile an ecosystem.
Some tropicals are endangered due to habitat destruction as well as exportation for the trade (e.g. cherry barb from sri lanka), but I'd not buy wild caught specimens from an endangered species.
Also, if the collection causes habitat destruction (e.g. many coral fishes) then this should not be accepted by fishkeepers IMO.
Otherwise, no problem at all -I don't see any ethical difference between native/non-native wild caughts, except possibly levels of survival in transit...

 

[IMCL85]

I dont keep any fish I cought in wild namely fishing. Those fish r not for tropical fish keeping. Unless u can support them with huge tank and they r all very agresive so you cant really put in other fish with them. Beside they looks more of food to me .

 

[CFC]

Most tropical fish over a few inches long that we keep are considered food in their native countries.

 

[rdd1952]

I think it is ok as long as the fish are caught wild as fry or very young fish which I believe is the case for most wild caught. They really only know being in a tank so they adapt. I don't think it is right to catch larger native fish such as catfish, bass, bream, etc and put them in a tank. They are used to the open spaces and would be miserable.

On the other hand, some fish, such as wild caught bettas, probably have more room in a tank than they had in the mud puddle they were taken from.

 

[modernhamlet]

I'm with the majority on this, with the exception of fish on the endangered or threatened species list. They should be protected and any LFS selling them should be penalized.

 

[Teelie]

Just to point out the obvious, all fish are from wild-caught stock. Whether directly caught or 100 generations old, their forbearers were from the wild. The more correct question should be, "is it okay to keep wild caught fish that already have regularly aquarium-bred counterparts?"

Clown Loaches for instance are 100% "wild caught" though more accurately "captively bred" in large farming sections of rivers for food and aquarium keeping.

Clown Fish on the other hand are one of the most commonly tank-bred saltwater fish in the world and with a few exceptions of wild-caught color morphs, have no need to be taken from the oceans anymore.

 

[ferrikins]

I don't like buying wild calt, but you can't avoyed it realy.

If LFS where better with hobbie breeders ect, and more breeding programes where done, then less would have to be taken.

we gonna get to a day where, there are no longer anything to keep.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

there are 4 big problems with keeping/releasing wild-caught natives:

1. its generally much harder for the layperson to just catch a fish out of a pond and correctly identify its species, final size, and dietary needs. this is especially true when dealing with large coldwater fry who tend to have subdued coloration and often do not resemble their parents yet
2. very few hobbyist are properly equipped to isolate/quarantine wild-caught fish direct from the river; most wild-caughts are initially riddled with all sorts of diseases and parasites that are just waiting for a weaken immune system to overpower
3. many predatory wild-caughts cannot be weaned onto frozen/prepared foods
4. few hobbyists are willing to devote themselves to a proper biotope consisting SOLELY of plants and animals caught natively from a SINGLE region. no fish which has been kept with any foreign fish, plants, or invertebrates should EVER be re-released into its native habitat. there are any number of diseases or parasites that can be introduced to your ecosystem by releasing infected aquarium fish. releasing fish kept in anything but a native biotope into the wild endangers your local ecosystem.

as for wild-caught tropicals, so long as they are properly quarantined, un-endangered, and the collection is not environmentally destructive--i don't have a big problem with it. the key is (as ususal) research your fish before you buy and you will know the potential environmental impact of your purchase.

 

[Teelie]

It's also illegal to catch and keep native fish in many states and countries. Even more illegal to re-release them after keeping them. As Pica said, there's not telling what parasites, disease or problems you'll introduce into the environment.

 

[Wiggler 1]

illegal in Ontario to keep native fish in aquarium....and Pica... good show well put

 

[Synirr]

I don't have a problem with keeping wild-caught tropicals so long as they're not endangered and all that, which should go without saying since I have a wild-caught Betta imbellis... I'm a little more iffy about the wild-caught natives thing. I think it's probably ok if the person is an experienced fishkeeper and capable of providing the fish with a good habitat, but should otherwise be avoided.