When fish get too big, what do you guys do with them?

[bimmerzs]

WoW....can't believe noone suggested upgrading to a bigger tank.

Cheers,

[fish042099]

Eat em'! Lol

[DanK13]

Originally Posted by knight2255

Can you release them in the ocean(gulf of mexico, summertime)?

Does LFS typically buy them or trade for them?

NEVER EVER release anything into the wild even if it is indigenous to your local shores. Organisms can be very easily introduced to a number of things, such as disease, in a closed system even under extreme caution. Donate it to your local public aquarium or send it to a fellow hobbyist.

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by Ohiomom

Don't buy what you can't house comfortably for its lifetime..only way IMO.

I could not agree more, either buy fish that will live in your tank comfortably or buy a larger and and even then only buy what will live comfortably. There is nothing worse in this hobby than an someone who does not plan ahead and to make a proper living environment for the animals they keep. People like this need to learn to do it right or get out of the hobby.

[knight2255]

Originally Posted by ken55

Well, you never really said and nobody else has yet to ask. Curiousity is killing me. What is it and how big??

We all love a good fish story.

I don't have any fish yet, I'm in the pre stock planning stage and love Naso Blonde Tangs but they get so big. Tank is 6ft long 135g.

I live in North Alabama, I could donate to the Chattanooga aquarium but will likely just stick to small fish.

[ken55]

Originally Posted by knight2255

I don't have any fish yet, I'm in the pre stock planning stage and love Naso Blonde Tangs but they get so big. Tank is 6ft long 135g.

I live in North Alabama, I could donate to the Chattanooga aquarium but will likely just stick to small fish.

Ahhh. I misunderstood. Looks like I'm the butt end of the "Assume Joke" once again.

[DanK13]

Originally Posted by knight2255

I don't have any fish yet, I'm in the pre stock planning stage and love Naso Blonde Tangs but they get so big. Tank is 6ft long 135g.

I live in North Alabama, I could donate to the Chattanooga aquarium but will likely just stick to small fish.

If you are dead set on getting a juvenile fish that will outgrow your system then call local institutions before you purchase it to see if they accept non-institutional donations/trades. Some do and some don't depending on their life support size, availability, etc. if they say yes then get it. If not then find an alternative animal.

[seapug]

Originally Posted by knight2255

I don't have any fish yet, I'm in the pre stock planning stage and love Naso Blonde Tangs but they get so big. Tank is 6ft long 135g.

I live in North Alabama, I could donate to the Chattanooga aquarium but will likely just stick to small fish.

Don't get that fish if you don't have a tank large enough to accommodate it. The Chattanooga aquarium will not take it. They are not going to risk the health of their entire fish population in the effort to do a favor for an irresponsible pet owner. If you are getting a 135 gallon tank, stock it with fish that are appropriate for that size.

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by DanK13

If you are dead set on getting a juvenile fish that will outgrow your system then call local institutions before you purchase it to see if they accept non-institutional donations/trades. Some do and some don't depending on their life support size, availability, etc. if they say yes then get it. If not then find an alternative animal.

Problem with this again is they might at the time that you call but a few years down the line they may not anymore.

knight2255, The Blond Naso tang is my all time favorite fish as well. I have decided against getting one though due to the size that they get. I see them in 180's all the time but I just don't like the look of a fish making the rest of the tank look small. Any fish that gets over a foot really needs an extremely large tank. Think about a 6 foot tank with the fish already taking up over a foot of it. That really only leaves a little over 4 feet and a single flick of the tail to get from one side of the tank to the other before hitting the glass. Now imagine someone shoving one of those in a 4 foot tank, it happens...

[knight2255]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Problem with this again is they might at the time that you call but a few years down the line they may not anymore.

knight2255, The Blond Naso tang is my all time favorite fish as well. I have decided against getting one though due to the size that they get. I see them in 180's all the time but I just don't like the look of a fish making the rest of the tank look small. Any fish that gets over a foot really needs an extremely large tank. Think about a 6 foot tank with the fish already taking up over a foot of it. That really only leaves a little over 4 feet and a single flick of the tail to get from one side of the tank to the other before hitting the glass. Now imagine someone shoving one of those in a 4 foot tank, it happens...

I agree completely....the more I look at reefs on youtube with really large fish....they just look so out of place.

[DanK13]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Problem with this again is they might at the time that you call but a few years down the line they may not anymore.

That's possible but dealing with "ifs, buts and maybes" would drive anyone nuts to the point of not having a tank at all. At least calling ahead beforehand would clear his conscience to allow him to get the fish in good faith. Absolute worse case scenario is euthanization down the road which nobody wants to do, but odds are heavily in your favor that there is an institution that will take it even if that means shipping. I have given away plenty of fish in my time. It just takes a few calls to find a home.

But like I said, if he can't find one local and isn't willing to ship then don't get it.

[agreeive?fish]

personally i would buy another larger tank