Never go back.....

Tracy

On Monday I took my two I.D. sharks (pangasius catfish) to a large fish store so they could be 're-homed'. I said goodbye to DeNiro and Bruce; they were non-agressive, each about 7 inches in length, and very very active in my tank.

Yesterday, I returned to the same fish store, and saw what I think was DeNiro (no sign of Bruce), in a tank, for sale. His nose looked like it was all beat up; it looked as if his whiskers were missing . I just felt sick. If you give your fish to a store, never, ever go back. It is just heartwrenching. I stood in front of the tank, watching what was once a very active fish, now looking sick. As tears welled up in my eyes, I silently apologized to him.

crazie.eddie

That's sad. I always fear giving fish to LPS/LFSs for the same reason.

Tracy

Thank you Eddie. It really does bother me. I'm sure I wouldn't be as sad if I had given up a handful of little platys or something, because they would probably be alright. The big fish that outgrow our tanks are more like 'individuals'. It's going to haunt me for a long time.

Lupin

Sorry to hear that, Tracy.

Lfs will never care about what will happen to the fish. If only a lot of fish stores are aware with what they're selling, then people could have avoid the pangasius catfish, Pseudodoras niger and other large catfish which will suit best in a public aquaria.

jsm11482

I must be lucky to have a small local LFS who cares and knows what they are doing. I recently noticed a 15" pleco that someone gave the store. The person who gave it was apparently going to just throw it in the trash if the store wouldn't take it . People are so dumb!

Tracy

No doubt, eh? Yesterday I spoke with a lady at a lfs who said she had had to remove a pangasius catfish froma 29 gallon tank for someone. the fish was so large it couldn't even turn around in the tank, and its owner was afraid of it :( How stupid. My big cats were about as non-aggressive as they came-- it was if they were oblivious to anything else in the tank.

jsm11482

Still, a fish that large is a bit scary in general .