NEVER release an aquarium fish into the wild.

[kookmeyermama]

I have a humorous story about a topic like this. Me and my granddaughters were getting water skippers for my fish pond when I seen these long creatures that looked just like coli loaches. I thought somebody released them into that small stream and because the water was warm,they may thrive in it. I caught a bunch and brought them home and put them in my pond until I contacted the Washington fish and game and sent a picture to ask them if they knew what they were etc. A gal got back to me and told me that I had caught a bunch of Lamprey eels!! She told me that they did look just like cooli loaches at that stage of being juveniles. I took them back and let them go back into the stream so they could complete their life cycle of burying in the mud for a few years and returning down the stream to the ocean. That was so funny. I had a good laugh about it but it was a great lesson for my grandchildren to learn about the life cycle of Lamprey eels so it was not a waste of time. I learned a whole lot too.

 

[cassandraspiega]

Some people never learn .

 

[iHammer]

I am definitely with you on this one.

Not just from importation but also from just keeping it. Almost every species is banned except for the common fish like Gold Fish and the native ones. As far as I know the native fish of Australia are a complete bore, except for the Saratoga Jardini/Leichardti. Even they are no where near as interesting as many other fish, specially the other Arowans (Silver Arowanas are amazing I wish I could keep one). My 3 favorite aquarium fish in the world are all banned here, the Koi, Silver Arowana and Red Tail Catfish.

 

[bloodoftheshark]

We currently have Snakeheads in a pond here recently due to someone releasing thier guys who they thought were too vicious. I dont understand people that dont realize that these things get big...and agressive. Duh!

 

[fishticuffs]

I caught AIDS once from a catfish someone released into my back pond

 

[big scottie]

Agree with everything everyone b4 me says

 

[hunttastic]

in my neighborhood we have a pond that has just aquarium fish in it

 

[Burto]

Not just from importation but also from just keeping it. Almost every species is banned except for the common fish like Gold Fish and the native ones. As far as I know the native fish of Australia are a complete bore, except for the Saratoga Jardini/Leichardti. Even they are no where near as interesting as many other fish, specially the other Arowans (Silver Arowanas are amazing I wish I could keep one). My 3 favorite aquarium fish in the world are all banned here, the Koi, Silver Arowana and Red Tail Catfish.

I've seen silver arowanas for sale in stores here (NSW at least) many times.

 

[Heiko Bleher]

Hi,

this is Heiko Bleher and I just wanted to add something in this long and very important thread:

I have seen governments, mostly the departments of the Minister of Fisheries & Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries, their directors, sub-directors, etc., in those respective countries (without naming them, except 2 recent onesl here), who have released and continuously release exotic species into their native rivers and lakes. And from what I have seen during my travels and research in aquatic habitats of 166 countries so far, the damage those have done to the freshwater environments around the globe is ten-thousands of times worse then the few aquarium fishes aquarists or fishkeepers introduced.

In most cases the excuse is (or was) to bring "benifit" or "protein" to the rural people so they have fishes they can catch to eat. Just one single example (and I can give 100 more): Last November in the Pilippines I was invited by the Bureau of Fisheries to do research in two river basin and in one there was but two gobiids no more native fish species living except for very small introduce Tilapias (which do not grow anymore as there is no more food source for them - they have eaten up everything). They native fishes are history and the Tilapia do not bring any benifit to the locals anymore. And the Bureau of Fishes still introduces fingerlings of Tilapias in their rivers every year...

Have a look at:
http://www.aquapress-bleher.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=3&Itemid=40
or go directly to:
http://www.aquapress-bleher.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=425&Itemid=40

Last month, Janaury 2010 I travelled 2500 km doing research on 50 freahwater lakes in Rajasthan, India, of which almost all were history (dry, global warming advancing 10-times worse then what is predicted) which can still be seen on google.com maps as of today. (That is how old google maps are...). The couple I found with water ahd only Gambusia and Guppies, no more native fish. And they continue (Governments) to introduce them against Mosquitoes, although for over 100 years we know that it does not work. It did not do anything so far in Central or South America, why should it help anywhere else in freshwater habitats to eliminate Mosuitoe larvae? But it is as with (almost) everything else: people who know about it will not be asked.

I find these recently again upcoming discussions by several organs (including in the OFI which I founded) in regards to "release of ornamental fish into the wild" over exaggerated. I wish someone in this world would step up and stop this crazyness of introductions of exotics done on the higher (Government) level around the world - and None-Stop.

Best regards from a collector and nature lover,

Heiko Bleher
www.aquapress-bleher.com

 

[ballist3k]

Florida has a pet python problem right now! and yes releasing fish into the wild doesn't make sense give them to me!