Kay320

As of now, their 15 gallon has two common plecos, one juvenile angelfish, four mollies, two platies, one red-tailed shark, two three-spot gouramis, one wild-caught baby catfish, three tadpoles, and one neon tetra.

I go with them to the pet store whenever I can, so that I can at least keep them from making a REALLY stupid decision (they once attempted to buy a seahorse to keep with their goldfish). They just really know nothing about fish in general, they just want the coolest looking one. They've killed whole schools of neon tetras before. How do you deal with someone like that. This is driving me crazy What do you think I should do?


By the way, these are the same people who let their cats (the mammal kind) reproduce like crazy, and then get rid of them *gulp* the "old-fashioned way".
May I suggest that they are maybe a little irresponsible?

Borisbbadd

You could turn them on to this forum, and with a little luck, maybe just maybe, they will learn something.........

TFA101

I honestly don't think people like that should be keeping pets... if they have the time to research any animals prior to purchase, but simply choose not too, that is very irresponsible. I suggest you recommend this forum ASAP!

Shawnie

I dont know but someone that eats their over populated cats(is that what you mean by gulp? ) or they kill them? and then has the fish you described in that 15g tank, im with TFA and maybe they should have a pet rock instead? Im sure you have tried your best each time you go with them, but its obvious they dont care for your opinion

thorpbrian

I'm guessing the "old-fashioned way" is drowning them in a bucket, not eating them.

Do you frequently go to these people's house? Do they have a computer with the internet? (I assume they do but you never know.) If so I'd just hop on the internet and a) find a good stocking guide and show it to them b) show them a good page explaining the nitrogen cycle c) show them the fish lore species profile and then read them the one on every fish they have in their tank.

eiginh

Can you report them please? That is really inhumane to drown cats like that. They should really neuter and spay their cats...

thorpbrian

Oh yeah, do they even have a test kit for their tank? Do they know anything about ammonia, nitrite and nitrates? Do they know about regular water changes?

If it were me I'd just start yelling (even if they were a good friend)...Then I'd try to inform.

hooxeii

I know people like that too. It's hard to convince them they're being inhumane :/

Eventually, the fish will die from stress.

Some people should not have pets, imo. I get laughed at for treating mine like kids, and some people just don't give a darn.

I say point them here. Or talk some sense into them.

Robin4

Jackie Frost

Suggesting to people like that, that they are irresponsible with their pets (which is absolutely true) will only get them ticked off at you, damage the friendship and furthur convince them that they were right all along. I agree with Thorpbrian's advice. Take them to a knowledgeable website. Perhaps buy them a book about tropical fish. Take a friendly "thought I'd help you save some money with your fish tank" approach. Even if they don't care about the lives of their fish, suggesting that they are wasting money with all their aquarium deaths might be enough to change their behavior. Good luck.

eiginh

Ticked off about killing their cats? Maybe I need to open my mind more but if I have friends like that I would suggest them to not kill their cats and offer them to a shelter... what the heck...As for the fish show them the website or print out their fish info and actually explain it to them when your with them.

gremlin

Maybe make up a little booklet with printouts of the nitrogen cycle and profiles of each of their fish - say something like "I found this info on the fish you have and thought you might be interested in it". As for the cats, ask them if they had thought about having the cats spayed/neutered since it is healthier for them. Maybe see if there is a low cost clinic in your area that they could take the cats to. Or offer to take the cats in so they wouldn't have to take time out of their busy schedule. Some cities have a low cost program if the cats are "feral" - you could truthfully say that the cats are not yours and that you would be "releasing" them once they had been spayed/neutered.

thorpbrian

I feel I should clarify now that I don't know for sure what he means by taking care of unwanted reproducing cats "the old fashioned way". Could be a lot of things but drowning in a bucket is one way I've heard referred to as that. It also could simply be dumping in a field somewhere or several other things. Hopefully Kay320 can later clarify.

aquarist48

Hello Kay. I hate to say it but I think I'd find new friends. Animal/fish cruelty is nothing to laugh at. Obviously their actions upset you. (I'm not accusing you of laughing)
I think all of their cats should go to the shelter and their fish tank taken away. It sounds like you try the best you can to help but some folks just don't want that help.

I hope the problem is resolved soon.
Best wishes to you.
Ken

peacemaker92

That's so cruel what they do to their fish. I'd agree with everyone above. So many suggestions and advice given, you could try all. I'd suggest showing them a beautiful tank photo of happy fish and a great looking tank and compare it to their overstocked and unusual tank. Tell them that they can have a tank as beautiful as the one in the photo if they listen to you and check out this forum! Hope everything works out and that they listen to a great and caring person like you. Keep us updated.

Meenu

This post is horrifying. I haven't a clue what the old-fasioned way is, though.

Jackie Frost

Andy Rooney once described the old fashioned way as taking the kitten, put it in a sack with rocks, and then dump it in the river. A farm hand friend told Andy to do that to his kitten, because the kitten's mother was missing and he " ...didn't want the kitten to suffer"!!! Can you imagine? Rooney admirably refused.

TFA101

Kay, you there? ... have you said anything?

abc123d30

How do all those fish even fit in a 15 gallon tank?

TFA101

honestly, they don't

gremlin

That still happens. People tie puppies or kittens in a bag with bricks or rocks and throw them in the canal. I have heard of some rescues, but when the canal gets cleaned out each year, the workers will find the sacks and rocks. Unfortunately, there is no way to track back and find out who is doing this. My sister got one of her dogs because a box of puppies was left in front of the humane society. It is too bad that people like that have animals at all.

aquarist48

Hello. I've heard horror stories on the "old fashioned way" that I don't feel is suitable for Fish Lore. I'm sure we all have heard about animal cruelty but let's please not elaborate "too much" on details please.
Thanks!
Ken

Amanda

That's terrible, people like that don't deserve to have animals.

Butterfly

Agreed !!!!

peacemaker92

I so agree! Some of the descriptions make me imagine how scary it is...

Butterfly

Maybbe we could just drop it since Kay hasn't been back to update/reply. (shudder)
Carol

Lucy

I agree.

Ken and Carol have suggested we stay on topic here.
The topic is how to encourage her friends to be more responsible fishkeepers.
Any posts off this question will be deleted and possibly result in the thread being closed.

michaelb323

I had a friend that went the exact opposite way after going to the LFS and seeing his first Chichlid, an Oscar. The guy I am talking about went to the library over the internet, read through well over 20 books,scoured craigslist until he bought a 100+ tank. This dude then proceeded to aquascape the tank dry, buy all his equipment, then began scouring the internet.

After a month of cycling my friend finally bought a couple African Chichlids, passing up the Oscar that he wanted in the first place. When I asked my friend why he didn't grab his Oscar he offhandedly replied, "After a few years that thing might be too big for my tank." The dude I speak of is almost a mentor to me as he quickly became a fish guru.

Granted this is a rare case, but a case of someone having complete understanding of what they are getting into. TBH I don't understand how you can call that guy your friend, he sounds like a real jerk.