thinking about a donation...

[lilgirlkat]

At my LFS, there is a MBU puff who seems to have the same issues that Annabelle is going through. I checked up on him today (a week or so after I sent an e-mail containing links to all of Annabelle's threads) and he's looking a little better. The lump in his tummy was virtually non-existent; his tummy was flat.

Since I would like to see this wonderful puff be taken care of properly, I was contemplating buying it and donating it to the Milwaukee Public Zoo. What could be better? They have a HUGE aquarium area and the means to actually give this beautiful fish the life it deserves.

One problem. How would I go about this?? I'm guessing I should just contact the zoo and inquire about donating animals and the like, but I would be pretty upset if they wanted nothing to do with my plan.

Has anybody accomplished something like this or has anybody even attempted to do this? What do you think the best route would be? I'm sure I might be able to get the MBU for cheaper, since he is really ill. Is this a bad idea? Crazy?

Should I go for it??

[groovitudedude]

Contact the zoo first. How big is the Mbu? If it's small, I'm sure they wouldn't want to take it, but they would be much more obliged to take a bigger puffer IMO. Again, make sure you have contacted the zoo first. You don't want to be stuck with a Mbu and no big tank.

[lilgirlkat]

he's probably about 4 or 5 inches right now.

Who do you think I should attempt to contact? I guess that's the problem I have -- I'm not sure where to start.

[groovitudedude]

If it's only 4 or 5 inches, just forget about it. There are tons of Mbu puffers out there that size. Let someone else handle it.

[Pufferpunk]

They'll just get another one...

[Agnate]

Aye, it's something we learned about fish stores. If you try to "save" a sick puffer from them, they almost-always think "sweet, I can even sell sickly-looking puffers!" and BAM, they're ordering in their next stock of Mbu puffers.

It's tough to see them in the state they're in, especially when you know that they'll be busting aquariums, but there's not a heck of a lot you can do for the little fellow without creating problems for future puffers there.

The better bet would be to complain to distributors to encourage them to leave Mbus where they came from, but we already know how things work; if they're caught, they're sold.

[Dadof4]

Milwaukee Co. Zoo doesn't really like to take donations from private sources. I've tried. I used to breed Australian Carpet Pythons and had a male/female pair of Black Headed Pythons that were full grown and had bred from me twice. The refused to take them, and we're talking $10,000+ per snake that I was willing to give them. Their reasoning is that they don't want anything they do not know it's entire history on possibly unknowingly bringing in a disease. This pair actually ended up in a private collection in the Wisconsin Dells and then went to the Brookfield Zoo, I lost track of them from there.

[lilgirlkat]

Thanks, guys.. I sent out an e-mail to the zoo, maybe they'll get back to me, who knows.

As far as the MBU is concerned, I think the LFS is going to stop carrying them after this one. I've spoken to almost every puff-friendly employee about these puffs, and hopefully I've made some kind of impression.

Actually, all their puffs (more specifically, their SW puffs) have been looking quite sad. I can see the decline in them since they came in 2 or 3 weeks ago.

[groovitudedude]

Thanks, guys.. I sent out an e-mail to the zoo, maybe they'll get back to me, who knows.

As far as the MBU is concerned, I think the LFS is going to stop carrying them after this one. I've spoken to almost every puff-friendly employee about these puffs, and hopefully I've made some kind of impression.

Actually, all their puffs (more specifically, their SW puffs) have been looking quite sad. I can see the decline in them since they came in 2 or 3 weeks ago.

That's sad Good thing you talked to them though.

[lilgirlkat]

well, I got the reply from the zoo. Of course, just like Dadof4 said, they're not interested, but offered a rescue option for me and 'my fish'.

http://www.kingsnake.com

ah, maybe the Racine zoo or one of the smaller zoos would be interested?

[Myaj]

Try Discovery World, or even contact the Shedd down in Chicago, they had a Fahaka when I was there a few years back, and I think they've kept Mbu's too.

I think Milw Co only has a cichlid setup really.. its beautiful, but no room in there for a Mbu of course.

What store has puffers in and what species? AU?

[groovitudedude]

Try Discovery World, or even contact the Shedd down in Chicago, they had a Fahaka when I was there a few years back, and I think they've kept Mbu's too.

Was the fahaka by itself? I always wondered what would happen if a Fahaka was put in a HUGE tank like 10,000G.

[Myaj]

Yes, the Fahaka was all by itself, back when I was there 3 years ago or so, here's a photo of it:



It was HUGE

[groovitudedude]

That's a pretty big fahaka! I figured they wouldn't put it with anything expensive.