Loaches Online Forum

The legal situation may be different in the US.

I've seen them three times so far, in different stores.

butterfly01 wrote:So how do the stores get them to sell? I saw one in an aquarium store about three months ago for sale and it was marked correctly.
or is it not illegal to sell just to own
Carol

I've also seen them for sale over here. Alot of things can be over-looked if a deliberate different name is on the order sheet/box...etc.

Greame this is illegal in the UK..... but like the inability to import loaches over 4" here in the States . Illegal there may not be illegal here .I am checking but can not find any US restrictions.....I am going back to look further on the web...AND make sure there really are restrictions on size of loach here.

Graeme Robson wrote:You do know that these fish are illegal to keep in home aquariums/ponds. The Chinese sucker was once a popular food in China. After the completion of the Yangtze river dam, catches declined dramatically and re-establishing populations have not been successful. The Myxocyprinus asiaticus has now become a protected animal.

I would of thought that this above would apply to everyone. Maybe not!

Oh dear, well I know they are not legal to keep in the UK, but I had heard of nothing about them being restricted here. I know the UK has tougher rules on things than the US, so there might be a difference.

What do you recommend I do with the fish?

--R

Hey Ya'll
Did a little quick research on these guys. From liveaquaria
"Many people find this species to be an ideal algae eater in the backyard garden pond, as the fish can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees fahrenheit." I guess I answered my own question! javascript:emoticon('8)')
There are a couple of places online that openly sell them
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... pCatId=860
http://www.aquascapeonline.com/store/sc ... Product=86

so I wouldn't worry about it being illegal if that is what you're asking. It will
get big thoough... If I was closer, I'd offer to buy it from ya.

Batch

Well, my local Petco was selling them as clown loaches for $2. Lol. I think one guy said they had the high fin one on their list of things they could order, too.

So, good, it is not illegal, just needs a different kind of care than I can give it.

--R

2 dollars? Wow. The last time I saw these at the Aquarium (our best lfs) they were $40.00

Your fish should be fine for quite some time till he gets too large. Do you know anyone with a large pond? (Unless of course it gets really cold there,
then I'm no help at all).

Batch

Batch - the last time we were at the Aquarium (your best fish store ) They had one in a round tank about three inches long. It was awesome but not for sale at that time. It's been several months since we were there.
Carol

butterfly01 wrote:So how do the stores get them to sell? I saw one in an aquarium store about three months ago for sale and it was marked correctly.
or is it not illegal to sell just to own
Carol

They are illegal to keep in the UK- not sure about here in the US...but why would anybody want to keep one? This kind of stuff really sets me off!

Kate

tariesindanrie wrote:they are illegal to keep in the UK- not sure about here in the US...but why would anybody want to keep one? This kind of stuff really sets me off!

Kate

I understand but if you don't know and the LFS is misrepresenting or not telling the vital statistics on their fish how would you know.
I generally research what I want before I buy but sometimes one will just grab your heart and it's gotta come home with you.
It comes down to most stores don't care- a very few don't know.
Carol

butterfly01 wrote:

tariesindanrie wrote:they are illegal to keep in the UK- not sure about here in the US...but why would anybody want to keep one? This kind of stuff really sets me off!

Kate

I understand but if you don't know and the LFS is misrepresenting or not telling the vital statistics on their fish how would you know.
I generally research what I want before I buy but sometimes one will just grab your heart and it's gotta come home with you.
It comes down to most stores don't care- a very few don't know.
Carol

I know, Carol...I guess it all comes down to the store's management's real motivation for being in the business...I can't tell you how many times I have been in pet stores (chain and privately owned), where a parent with a small child is 'picking out fish'...basically choosing one of these, one of those....with NO guidance whatsoever. I've even heard a clerk tell someone that a Clown Loach was a good choice to keep with goldfish (in a bowl!)...all the kid wanted was a fish that looks like Nemo. It makes a real difference when the store is really geared to helping people enjoy the hobby, instead of setting someone up for failure in the interest of making a buck. End rant.

Okay, I feel better now, lol

Kate

Hey,
Why are these illegal in the UK? Are they endangered? Or is it
something to do with people releasing them, thus becoming an invasive
species? Also, if endangered are the ones sold in the fish stores wild-caught
or bred at a fish farm? I know Sids are endangered/threatened in the wild,
but are bred in farms.
As far as why I would want to keep one is they look cool and I have an appropriate place for one in my Koi pond. But if they are wild-caught and endangered I wouldn't get one.


Batch