Illegal Dojo Loach... Now What?

So when I got my dojo/weather loaches, they were legal. My eldest is 6 maybe 7 years old by now. (Holy crud...) Since then, they have become illigal in Manitoba, and I'm pretty sure Canada wide. The problem is, I'm wanting to rip my tank apart and they are not part of the plan. (Unless they'd get along with a green terror ) what are my options. I hate (hate hate hate) the idea of having to euthanize them, I'm already going to have to do that to one of my other fish. (also illigal) but I'm also at the end of my rope as to whether I want to keep the tank up or not. Advise?

 

So your trying to tear down your tank and sell the fish is there any reason you can’t keep the tank up

 

So your trying to tear down your tank and sell the fish is there any reason you can’t keep the tank up

I wish it was that simple but I lost my 10 year old goldfish to a horrible case of fin-turn-body rot. I've tried setting the tank up different ways to accomodate my loaches but I've just lost interest in the tank. Jupe had such a personality, the tank just isn't the same without him. I'm at the point where I am considering selling the tank but feel like I've put to much time money and stress into the tank to fully take it down. I'm wanting to get a single, BIG fish for the tank but the loaches would literally get eaten.

 

Whats the punishment if you get caught selling them and are you willing to risk it. If not keep them if yhey get eaten they get eaten

 

Whats the punishment if you get caught selling them and are you willing to risk it. If not keep them if yhey get eaten they get eaten

I do think the issue is importing, I don't know about transporting.

 

Are they still illegal if they are grandfathered ( had before you learned this ) Wouldn't it be ok to re home them for free if you could find another responsible fish keeper? Why are they illegal, is it because they are set loose in the wild or endangered2211Nighthawk? I've never heard of this sort of thing... enlighten me please!

 

Are they still illegal if they are grandfathered ( had before you learned this ) Wouldn't it be ok to re home them for free if you could find another responsible fish keeper? Why are thy illegal, is it because they are set loose in the wild or endangered2211Nighthawk? I've never heard of this sort of thing... enlighten me please!

Some moron released them probably and the winters don't kill then up here. They are quite happy sticking around apparently. They are an invasive species. I'm thinking the whole grandfathering thing should work, I think it's the importing thing they have issues with.

 

I do think the issue is importing, I don't know about transporting.

I would find if selling and transporting is illegal.

 

Regulations prohibit the import, possession, transport and release of significant risk species, in specific geographic areas and under specific conditions.
This is off Manitobas web site. Punishment however I can't find. Its been done to a few fish species. Snakeheads come to mind. You were supposed to kill the ones you had. No grandfather clause for them.

 

Regulations prohibit the import, possession, transport and release of significant risk species, in specific geographic areas and under specific conditions.
This is off Manitobas web site. Punishment however I can't find. Its been done to a few fish species. Snakeheads come to mind. You were supposed to kill the ones you had. No grandfather clause for them.

Snakeheads I knew about. I'm thinking euthanization might be my only option.

 

It'd be a shame to kill them, especially fish you had for years. If it was me, I'd find them another home. I'm sure someone will eventually accept them. Anywho, it's not like the authorities are going to be knocking at people's doors, looking for illegal fish. Well, maybe they will now that you made this thread (I still highly doubt it).

 

Just because your supposed doesn't mean most people did. Depending how fast your big fish grows you may have lots of time. I don't exactly see my jack eating any fish in the near future.

 

I've kept several Rivulatus GTs over the years, (one of my favorites) and have successfully kept many different types of bottom feeders with them. If you create a complex hardscape complete with crevaces, holes & caves there's a good chance the Loaches can cohabitate with the GT long term. Even if the GT ends up eating the Loaches, at least you gave them a chance.

 

The species is illegal because if released it will survive, but is it right that a couple of individuals that will never be released have to be killed? Laws have to be made so that there are no exceptions or loopholes, but we often give ourselves rights that we don’t have the right to give ourselves.
Your loaches are innocent. I’d keep them and say nothing.

 

The rcmp is going to do a midnight raid of your house now.

 

If I had room I'm in winnipeg

 

The rcmp is going to do a might night raid of your house now.

Better hide the snails then too. they're not quite illigal yet (winter *does* kill them) but they are still frowned upon.

If I had room I'm in winnipeg

Three loaches, all pushing 5-7 inches long.

 

Lol could go in my pond for a few months.

 

Lol could go in my pond for a few months.

They could!!! Why do you think they are illigal??

 

FBI OPEN UP

 

He's in Canada so he's safe from the fbi. The rcmp is their equivalent.

 

FBI OPEN UP

He's in Canada so he's safe from the fbi. The rcmp is their equivalent.

I WISH it was the FBI! Then my loaches would be legal! But then I'd have to kill my snails... They are insanely illigal in the states.

 

They are insanely illigal in the states.

Yikes, what kind of snails do you have?

 

Yikes, what kind of snails do you have?

Giant African land snails. they are 6" long now (shell is about 3") but will get over 12". Dad's shell was a good 8-9 inches long.

 

From what I just read you can eat them;-)

 

From what I just read you can eat them;-)

As I've told everyone else that suggest the same, I know what comes out of those things the last thing I want to do is eat them. Those suckers get slime EVERYWHERE!


I GOT A SOLUTION!!! (possibly!!) A gentlemen has a 360g tank for cool water fish! Oh my word it's perfect. We're gonna get in contact and hopefully everything works out. I'll update with pictures hopefully.
You have no idea how happy I am about this. The last thing I wanted was for them to go to a poor home.

 

As I've told everyone else that suggest the same, I know what comes out of those things the last thing I want to do is eat them. Those suckers get slime EVERYWHERE!

That's impressive!

 

As I've told everyone else that suggest the same, I know what comes out of those things the last thing I want to do is eat them. Those suckers get slime EVERYWHERE!

Holy smokes! What do you keep them in?

 

Holy smokes! What do you keep them in?

Got a pair in a 15 gallon long. They are about as smart as a pet rock and about as active as one. But OH they have the cutest face! I should revive that thread I had about them.

 

If your willing to ship them id take them in a heartbeat. They are not illegal in ontario afaik.

 

He's in Canada so he's safe from the fbi. The rcmp is their equivalent.

You know the Canadian myth about Mounties always getting their man?

 

You know the Canadian myth about Mounties always getting their man?

Is it sort of like the Mattress Police? XD ...Take your hands off the tag and step away from the flame retardant materials sir!

 

What a story! Hope they do well in the new tank you found at a friends house. Keep us updated

 

Just wondering if winters in Michigan would kill Malaysian trumpet and rams horn snails.....*evil grin* I can’t get rid of them. I bought Assassin snails which help a lot but recently had another snail explosion. It’s funny that I hadn’t seen a rams horn snail in 6 or 7 months and I suddenly have some. I’ve only seen a few but how have they stayed hidden all this time. I clean the tank at least once a week with water changes but lately it’s every other day fighting black beard algae. I have 27 fish in that tank so constantly doing something in there, you’d think I would have seen them in all that time. Until about a week ago only saw the occasional trumpet snail but now at night they cover the tank, especially the glass. Ugh

 

I hope you are only joking about releasing unwanted snails into the wild- it's a terrible idea as they can be very invasive, especially MTS which can burrow under the substrate of a pond and overwinter even if the pond freezes. Euthanasia is the best option for unwanted snails.

 

I hope you are only joking about releasing unwanted snails into the wild- it's a terrible idea as they can be very invasive, especially MTS which can burrow under the substrate of a pond and overwinter even if the pond freezes. Euthanasia is the best option for unwanted snails.

what do you suggest? I’ve smushed some pond snails and I found a ramshorn today and put it in my quarantine tank, so annoying how they just appear

 

Was thinking of removing the substrate and put it in a large plastic tub to stick outside until it freezes if that will kill them and their eggs. Of course I wouldn’t release them in the wild, you’d have to be crazy to do that. I do however wonder whe I vacuum my substrate if I’m doing it unknowingly. Eggs and really small babies could get through the thing on the inside that keeps you from vacuuming up fish etc. right? Eeeek now I’m worried

 

The general rule is to squash them, but I hate doing that myself (that's why I've never bought any snails that will breed in a freshwater tank). Hopefully someone else will have a suggestion because all the ones I can think of sound horribly cruel.

I actually was considering buying some MTS in the belief that they won't overbreed, but your post has convinced me not to. I have a soft spot for invertebrates.

 

I can’t crush them but I have removed them and let them dry out. I know that’s worse but the sound and feel of crushing them makes me sick to my stomach.

Oh and because the MTS do not need a mate to breed and lay eggs in the substrate they are nearly impossible to get rid of. They get in your filter too. I got them when I bought my first few fish. The person at petsmart dropped one in the bag with the fish. I was new to the hobby and just thought it was cute so I kept it. I’ve been battling them ever since. That was the 10 gallon. Then when I got the 90 gallon I decided I wanted live plants. Annnnndddd I ended up with them in that one too. They must have been on the plants. Yeah I wouldn’t recommend getting them on purpose. If you want snails I recommend mystery snails. They’re much more attractive, larger, brighter color, and do not breed in the water.

 

Oh and because the MTS do not need a mate to breed and lay eggs in the substrate they are nearly impossible to get rid of. They get in your filter too. I got them when I bought my first few fish. The person at petsmart dropped one in the bag with the fish. I was new to the hobby and just thought it was cute so I kept it. I’ve been battling them ever since. That was the 10 gallon. Then when I got the 90 gallon I decided I wanted live plants. Annnnndddd I ended up with them in that one too. They must have been on the plants. Yeah I wouldn’t recommend getting them on purpose. If you want snails I recommend mystery snails. They’re much more attractive, larger, brighter color, and do not breed in the water.

You should try some of the larger loaches or gourami's, some eat baby and juvie snails. You don't have to get rid of them really (they do help eat leftover fishfood and the like) as long as you can keep them under control IMHO. Depending on what you have in the tank you can also try dropping the hardness of the water, it gives inverts an incredibly hard time. It won't kill them outright, but it will slow their growth to the point of nonexistence if your GH is <4 and you have any kind of snail-eater in your tank. Unfortunately not all fish can live with those parameters.