NEVER release an aquarium fish into the wild.

[austrian_predator]

Plus once you take fish home, they become pets forever.

it's not like they become tame or accustomed to people
release a fish and it'll go back to its previous behavior in the wild in no time at all

A wild caught fish can easily become stressed in aquarium then release it back will make him even more stressed, its not good for this fish.

at least it's better for the fish than killing it

 

[banjocat]

what if you keep a wild-caught native-only tank? and feed it only with wild caught feeders?
it can't have a non-native diesease then, right? assuming you boil sand and driftwood beforehand and use only native plants too, of course

Assuming you aren't getting the the feeders from a seperate body of water, I see nothing wrong with it. It can't be any worse than when little kids catch frogs and realease them, after keeping them for awhile. I don't know how likely it is that you could cross contaminate lakes, but I would suggest that you get the fish and feeders from the same body of water. If you then release them in the same body of water, I see no problmes. Michigan for example, has some sort of viral disease(would need to look up its name) going around that I don't think is in all bodies of water. There now are a whole bunch of regulations on where you can use certain bait fish.

someone feel free to correct me. I don't claim to be an expert

 

[Lupin]

it's not like they become tame or accustomed to people
release a fish and it'll go back to its previous behavior in the wild in no time at all


at least it's better for the fish than killing it

Your answers do not justify releasing the fish. Fish adapt to the changes in their livelihood. Once they become accustomed to their owner providing for them, do you think the fish will come looking around for food? This has happened in animals released from zoos after being kept in captivity for a long time wherein they eventually starve to death because they do not know what to do. It's called evolution and adaptation.

You might want to check your local laws before you release a fish. Once you catch it, it is your responsibility. If you do not feel the need to accommodate the fish in the long run, why get it in the first place? This is common sense, plain and simple.

 

[banjocat]

Good point Lupin! When I made my post, I didn't think about the fish becoming used to being fed, etc

 

[r3d]

yeah theres a neighborhood man made pond in orange county full of oscars, and peacock bass, and probably others ive never seen
though they do have the biggest koi I have ever laid eyes upon, the thing has got to be 2 foot long easily

 

[Chelydra Serpentina]

never never never release a captive animal into the wild. not just fish and inverts, but even reptiles, amphibians....everything. non-native invasive species and disease being the worst things that DO happen, but also as previously mentioned, the animals do get accustomed to captive life. it is more humane to euthanize your pet than to dump it into the wild. and u can call me cold, but there are such a large number of pets...unless you somehow have a threatened species of some sort in your posession...there really is no reason to "free" your pet and endanger the native animals in your area just to clear your own conscience.

 

[kagami]

Never release if caught by the Department of Fish and Game they will fine you or you'll get prison time......no fun .

 

[MN_Rebel]

it's not like they become tame or accustomed to people
release a fish and it'll go back to its previous behavior in the wild in no time at all
Some fish will never go back to its previous behavior in the wild and "no time" doesnt sound good excuse.


at least it's better for the fish than killing it

Still its better to kill fish than release fish back in the wild. Especially after bashed into tank glasses and broke the nose/mouth, then have to through stresses while kept in the aquarium, increase the risk get diseases. Some fish will never recovered in the wild from kept in the tank.

Still it would be illegal stocking without permit.

 

[junglej]

I really cant believe we have to discuss this topic, It it flat out irresponsible to do something like this. Almost 2 years ago, i was working at a lfs and someone brought in an overweight 4 ft ball python thet they had just found ,on a well known nature trail. Seriously, this animal would have died come winter, then also think of those animals fish that DONT die,then someone else releases another one and then just one more, soon these fish/animals are creating a wild population while preying on foods that another native species would have eaten or taking out a population of smaller endemic creatures. This needs to stop.

 

[daskosmischevonut]

I really cant believe we have to discuss this topic, It it flat out irresponsible to do something like this.

QFT! If you can't be a responsible pet owner and take care of the fish/animals you've taken in then put an ad in the paper or something or don't buy pets you're going to get bored with in the first place.

Just this past summer I found a full grown 9" Leopard Gecko under a stack of sheet metal while helping a friend clean up their property. It was fat and healthy at the time, plenty of bugs to eat, but had I not decided to help her out she'd most likely be frozen to death under a three foot pile of snow right now instead of happily hunting crickets in her terrarium. Irresponsible pet owners are my biggest pet peeve. No pun intended ha ha.