This article aims to provide information on the disposal and donation of ornamental fish.
Every fish owner ends up facing the dilemma of how to discard or donate fish that are sick or that are causing problems in their fish tanks. Too often, desperate owners consider using the method of throwing them into the toilet.
The bathroom is so simple, so fast and so effective, isn’t it? Maybe it isn’t!
Did feelings of guilt or your children crying prevent you from throwing your fish in the toilet? Then this article is for you! In that case, you may have considered Plan B. You searched your region for a river or lake to discard your goldfish and found a beautiful new home for him.
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Your children can go there to visit you on weekends. Everyone happy, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, for both fish and the environment, neither option is an appropriate way to discard problematic, sick or dead fish.
Releasing them into the wild can be illegal and will certainly be bad for the fish and the environment. It is better to donate it to someone interested, and here’s why.
Sewage Disposal
The sewer system is designed to discard unwanted things, right? Yes, it is true, but the sick or problematic fish should not be on the list of disposable items. First, consider the issue of cruelty to animals. There is little doubt that a live fish released into a sewage system, which carries all types of harmful waste, will suffer in some way.
Throwing a fish into the toilet is tantamount to tying kittens in a plastic bag and throwing them into the river. Did you understand the relationship? If it still doesn’t bother you, here’s another reason to think twice about it.
Os peixes podem carregar parasitas e bactérias, e por mais remota que seja, sempre há a possibilidade de transmitir essas doenças através da água para o ambiente local. Você se sentiria confortável usando um banheiro, sabendo que um peixe doente acabara de nadar por lá?
Discard In Lakes Or Rivers
There are many rivers, lakes and ponds – why not throw the unwanted fish there? It looks natural – if the fish came from there in the first place. However, this is rarely the case. Thousands of fish species are imported every years. The vast majority of these fish do not belong to the local waterways.
What other reason to avoid this type of disposal? Initially, living conditions are generally less than what the fish needs. Water temperature and other environmental factors can be too severe for them to survive properly. Bacteria and parasites to which they are not normally exposed – and therefore are not resistant – can infest them.
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There may not be adequate food for the species, that is, they may go hungry or become food for fish and other wildlife native to the region. Either way, the odds are not favorable for a long and healthy life for most fish that have been bred in captivity.
Those fish that survive have an even bigger problem: simply because they do not belong in that habitat, they can cause enormous damage to the local aquatic environment. They can kill other fish and wildlife, destroy vegetation and transmit parasites and diseases. In some cases, they can also reproduce and cause even greater damage to nature, causing a huge imbalance. In fact, considerable damage has been done to many local ecosystems through inadequate fish disposal.
So What Are The Options For Disposal And Donation?
Healthy fish should never be a problem when it comes to getting rid of the animal. All of the following options are ideal for these cases:
– Take the fish to a local pet shop: See if they can take care of your fish. Some even pay a small price for them;
– Ask other fish owners: Advertise on websites if you need to. You may be surprised at how many aquarists are willing to adopt them;
– Search for groups on social networks: Search for groups on social networks in your region. The chance of finding someone interested in looking after your fish is enormous;
– Donate to a school, nursing home or office: Any place that has an fish tank can agree to accept your fish. If they don’t own the fish tank, even consider donating your own. Nursing homes and schools generally welcome these gifts.
Sick fish can be more difficult to deal with. They are unlikely to be accepted as a donation, but should never be discarded in local watercourses or toilets. Fish that cannot be cured must be sacrificed quickly and mercifully before being discarded and wrapped in a tightly closed disposable product (paper or plastic) that can go to a landfill.
Consult a veterinarian if you need help to euthanize your fish, as they have anesthetics that can be added to the water for quick and safe euthanasia of the animals.
