Puffer Shelter - Hobby?

[Terrance]

Have any of you ever considered creating a shelter in your own home for hurt or sick puffers seen at the LFS? Maybe these puffers are on the verge of death and have been sitting on the shelf for many months. You could buy them, treat them back to health, and rehome them once back to good health. Good idea?? You would have to do this out of the joy since you're using your own funds. People grow plants and corals all the time for fun, not for profit. Then there are the handful of people who likes breeding fish for fun. Thoughts?

[Pufferpunk]

And then they see that neglecting puffers still makes them worth a profit & buys more to neglect? It's a sweet thought though...

[sgtmyers88]

Like I said I "rescued" that figure 8 I posted about for only a couple bucks when I knew most stores would probably sell them for $7-$12!

[Terrance]

I wouldn't mind nursing a unhealthy $12 puffer that has been sitting on the shelf for over 6 months. $12 is not that much IMO. I saw a $50 neglected arrowhead that I definitely would not nurse back to health. Sad to see him in the store for over 1 year and getting skinnier every time I go to the LFS to see him.

[J-P]

I think not from the LFS' but from other area keepers. Akin to the betta adoption and GF adoption programs that are out there.

Rehab and re-sell.

[DGabbs]

The problem is that its just a big cycle. Its called supply and demand, and when they sell one to you they go and buy two more. Maybe if one has been in a pet store for 6 months, but to be honest if you wanted to do the rescue thing, its much better to rescue from abusive (uniformed) owners. And lecture them when you rescue it. Theres all kinds of people keeping GSPs in 10 gallon FW tanks because of stores like walmart.

[sgtmyers88]

Yeah I saw a couple walmarts which had just stocked a bunch of GSP's the size of a DP. I was saddened knowing they would probably all be dead in a month or so. They all looked very healthy and active for the most part and I hate that look they give when they come up to the glass that makes you wanna get them outta there.

[DGabbs]

Most of the walmarts in Canada, or Ontario anyways have stopped the live fish thing which is very good! Apparently walmart bringing in fish and then letting them die wasn't profitable.

Its very sad that stores have to lie about a fish in order to sell a bunch of them. The worst part is that no one ever does research into fish before they get them.

I really love this hobby, but some times i feel bad fueling the vicious cycle of fish abuse. Thats why i only ever get my hobby stuff from a local mom and pop fish store who make most of their money on fish orders rather than keeping a bunch of dying fish floating around in tank waiting for uninformed people to buy them under false labels.

[Terrance]

I'm don't think its a vicious cycle for a private fish store. If they have an item on a shelf that is not being sold for many months, then why would they buy more of it? Don't try to rescue any of the DP, F8, or GSP since they usually go fast via purchase or death. But there are the few puffers that get stuck at the LFS for many months and slowly dying. Nobody wants to buy them, so the LFS owners wouldn't try buying them again. Supply and demand - there is a supply with no demand for some puffers.

[DGabbs]

Thats why i said i do all hobby business with a private LFS. There is definitely demand for all those little GSPs being labeled as freshwater, walmart has probably sold 50,000 of them. Maybe not at small fish stores that will inform their customers of the truth, but not all pet stores have the same integrity.

[Corvus]

Rescue can only work well if no money is paid for the rescued animal to the previous owner.

[Pufftastic]

Rescue can only work well if no money is paid for the rescued animal to the previous owner.

AMEN! I've worked professionally in animal welfare for more than 15 years, and completely agree. Buying fish from the LFS and calling it a "rescue" is the same as "rescuing" a puppy from a pet store. Sure, it helps that one puppy. But the pet store just orders another to take its place, and the breeder dogs are condemned to further suffering in the puppy mills.

[bertie 83]

I have been taking in unwanted fish for years. I do not pay for them at all, I often get given tanks aswell. The best free tank was a 5 ft bow front with eheim canister. I recently got another 5 ft with sump and all for free. It had 2 huge plecs and a school of tetras all of which passed through my house quickly to new homes. Never get any puffers tho.

[Terrance]

I'm part of an aquarium society that takes fish from careless owners on a consistent basis. It's pretty rare to get free stuff like Bertie. I've never gotten a puffer either.

[bertie 83]

It's not as rare as you would think, at least not here. If you are willing to take a load of fish and care for them often people seem to feel like the equipment should go with them. If for any reason I could not care for my fish their homes would go foc with them. But then I have never spent masses on a tank, most have been free or very cheap, most of my budget to date was spent on filters as you can never have enough. I do look forward to the day I recieve a puffer for free it's just a shame about the circumstances it will be recieved under and most likely the condition it will likely be in.