Some countries have banned fish tanks that are under 10 gallons, why doesn't the US get on the band wagon?

Question

I work at a petstore, and manage it 4 out of the 7 days we are open. Waaay to often I have people coming in and asking, do you sell fish bowls? Of course I say "no", there are no fish can thrive in a bowl, and only a couple that can survive in it. The smallest tanks we sell are a 2 1/2 gallon, this is usually for breeding grounds and what not. I was amazed to find online that some countries have banned the use of bowls, tanks, and aquariums that are under 10 gallons, and I say kudos. How would humans like it if we shoved a ton of us in a small, over crowded room that is freezing, with no simulated light, and we get fed, but we don't get our mess cleaned up? Instead we all get thrown out, put into a new room with new conditions, that some of us may not survive. Does any one agree with me?

oh yeah petitioning would be nice, but how, and where would i send it?

nunya, fish can totally live on their own...in the wild~ i feel horrible because people take them out of the great water conditions and living places at my store and make them suffer. i wish people would research buying animals before getting them...especially with fish! the water takes one month ( with fish in it) to become safe....

tw rider- oh i agree with you on the law thing. it just seems that might be the only way some petstore wont sell them or recomend small bowls... wal mart wont stop selling them in their fish isle...until its illegal not to...

littleman, the gov't spends millions of dollars regulating the treatment of cats and dogs...what else are they spending our money on? a pointless war... it doesnt cost billions of dollars to set up a law....it takes the money that is already there...its not like our taxes are gonna go up if we save a couple lives, will it?

Answer 1

I'll be the devils advocate here and say that I disagree with the idea of any type of government regulation of aquarium sizes. There are many, many fish that will not only live but thrive in a 10 gallon tank or even smaller. It's not the tank size that's a problem, it's people putting the wrong fish in the wrong tank. They do this because they don't know any better, because they don;t care and because pet shops in general neither have the time nor inclination to educate the public.

Further, fish are not people. To ascribe feelings to fish that they don't have is a bit ridiculous in my opinion.

I will agree that many fish are mistreated in this fashion, but I will not agree that it's the governments place to correct the problem. The government is very too invasive and destructive to the American way of life as it is, let's give them no additional reasons to butt in to our lives.

MM

Answer 2

This is a very good idea. I think the problem is most people want to get 1 fish for a small child and think the "bowl" is the best solution in this situation. It doesn't have the high maintenance of a bigger tank. Most people don't think about the effect it has on the pet, especially when it comes to fish. The bowl is easiest for a small child to maintain, however I think the adult she be a part of this learning experiance, get the needed supplies and teach the child the proper way to maintain a tank, and provide everything the fish needs, not just go the cheapest way out and have the child experience the death of a pet because of not having the proper tank materials.

Answer 3

I totally agree with you but before anything like that ever happens people need to realize that fish aren't disposable and are in fact living breathing creatures that depend on us to live.

I was talking about keeping them as pets, obviously in the wild they don't need us. It still doesn't make them disposable which was my point. This country has so many more problems that, in a way, trying to force us to take better care of fish just isn't at the top. Look at the people who are having kids and how they raise them and the country can't even change that.

twrider_29, there already are laws about animal abuse, which keeping a fish cramped in a tiny little bowl that will eventually die from ammonia poisoning is. The problem is many people don't care and maybe if they stopped selling those death traps less fish will have to be tortured to death.

Answer 4

I agree especially for the fish bowls. I also think that anything under 10 gallons should have a list of the fish that will do fine in the size of the mini aquarium.

I was misled when I bought my 2.5 gallon aquarium for my dorm. Of course, I should have been more responsible and did a little more research before I made my purchase.

Answer 5

There would be \no way to know or regulate such a law.

Even if you get petstores to stop selling the decorative bowls (that's all they really are) you will never know who has put a fish in some other type container. I feel bad for goldfish that are bred to die in thse stupid little bowls that everyone puts them in.

Answer 6

I am simply going to ignore all the silly nonsense about how fish "feel". They neither care nor have any feelings about anything. I fed a feeder goldfish to my Oscar once that was a little too large. Instead of eating it whole, the Oscar bit it in half. The front half of the goldfish continued to swim with his front fins and was actually eating his own scales floating around in the water. He was swallowing them and they were floating right out the back. He obviously felt no pain or even discomfort. It's a FISH!!!

That being said, small tanks are fine for small fish. Some fish, like Oscars will grow according to the size of the tank. Bigger tank, bigger Oscar. The only advice I would give people is regarding excessivly tall tanks. Tall tanks create high pressure near the bottom. It causes some fish to die if they venture down there.

Answer 7

Or perhaps it could be that we are people, and they are fish. For some people buying a 10 gallon fish tank is too expensive and/or just otherwise impractical; especially if you're buying a 50 cent goldfish. Fish don't have feelings...believe me, I asked.

If, however, you are getting larger or more exotic fish, then sure, you should get the proper equipment to help them survive.

Answer 8

I can see exactly what your saying but 10 Gallon tanks are ok if used properly. They are ideal qaurenteen tanks or hospital tanks. They are good tanks for small tropicals like tetras. Thing is there are still people out there who buy 50 gallon tanks and still over stock them by miles. Its down to the keeper and common sense. I think though they should ban goldfish bowls and tanks smaller than 10 gallons.

Its sad to see over stocked tanks.

Answer 9

You really think that's how the government ought to spend our money? Regulating fish bowls?

I don't have anything against caring for fish, but that's not the proper role of government. Let the Europeans legislate themselves into irrelevance. Americans are free to decide for ourselves, and I believe we are smart enough to do it.

Tyranny of the majority is still tyranny...

updated - Way to focus on the wrong part of my answer. The point is that it's not government's place to tell me how to keep my fish, whether it costs $2.00 or $4 billion.

Answer 10

I suppose I would have to agree with you. It is rather cruel to do that to fish, or any animal for that matter. I say we get a petition started to ban all tanks under 10 gallon!