Re: Goldfish color.. questions...

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:57:04 -0400, Derek Broughton
<news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Mister Gardener wrote:

I like the way my state, Maine, is dealing with the potential problem.
It is illegal to keep goldfish outside. In ponds or bathtubs or kiddie
pools or anything. You won't find "pond fish" being sold openly at pet
stores - pond fish referring to ordinary large goldfish. I'm not
saying it doesn't happen, and we don't have a Goldfish Enforcement
Squad, but cutting them off at the pet store chokes the supply chain a
little.

I'd think that that doesn't do so much to choke off the supply chain as to
cut off legitimate means to dispose of unwanted fish.

Koi and fancy goldfish are sold, but not for outdoor keeping.

If they can sell fish for "indoor" ponds, how about "feeder goldfish"?
That's what the fish we're talking about are (even if their parents
weren't, pond culls still will be).

(I'm not smart about goldfish, all I know is the plain kind and the
fancy kind.) I just noted while reviewing the state wildlife laws that
it is also illegal for pet shops to sell snails of any kind. Jack
Dempsey fish have been recently banned in the state.

Jack Dempsey? They're _tropical_. What a stupid law. They probably won't
thrive in most Maine waters in high summer, they certainly won't survive
the winter. As for selling snails - I've never got a plant from a store
that didn't have snails. I wonder if your stores sterilize their plants.

Many residents are pushing to increase the banned list to include
black flies and tourists from Massachusetts.

I'm sure the black fly proposal is very popular, but a lot of folks in Maine
rely on those Massachusetts tourists for an income. It could be a pretty
divisive vote :-)

Rationale on snails: Snails - Because they serve as intermediate host
for a wide range of aquatic parasites and other pathogens, all snails
(Gastropoda) are restricted and can be imported only by a special
importation permit with specific health certifications, therefore
snails cannot be traded by commercial pet shops.

The department is presently considering banning the importation of all
livestock, which includes fish and birds and furry creatures, that
were not captive bred.

Jack Dempseys were found to be capable of surviving this climate and
are an invasive species.

I really don't think these wildlife biologists are a bunch of stupid
guys with a grudge. I think they probably understand the environmental
risks from invasive species better than we do. These laws are not new,
they go back several years and they are constantly reviewing new
information as it becomes available. The list is updated each January.
And I am sure Maine is not the only state with laws this strict.

-- Mister Gardener
.

Relevant Pages

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