Horrible treatment of Marine Aquatic Animals... Please read and tell me what I can do

[fishquaria]

Two days ago I visited the local zoo. There's an aquarium there. The state of the animals are dismal. Corals are dying. There was a 50 gallon display stuffed with over 50 yellow finned blue damsels. Some of the fish were black and some were dull blue, not a single one had a yellow tail. They looked terrible. None of the tanks are lit properly. And most of the tanks just have an airstone in them with no other apparent signs of filtration. The water is yellowish... What can I do? Who do I tell? Incompatible stocking, over stocking, poor flow and filtration.

 

[waif]

Stop paying to go to zoos, if you don't wish to see animals in captivity stop giving them your money. This is no btter than the lion in the pen different scal same thing. You might bring it up to one of the staff though, if you are so inclined. Otherwise revel in the knowledge you helped them do it But seriously, as someone who loves fish and corals and reefs in general (most on here would i can assume) we are naturally more intuned to seeing problems when it is something we have a passion for. I know a friend who feels the same way for zoo's reptile and insect displays. What you report i would say is an extreme case, though. but most "zoos" aquaria displays i've seen are lacking wheras i'm sure an aquarium would have a crummy lion habitat. Other than asking questions, and again not supporting them with your money (last case scenario) you can't really do much. I know where i am we can report such abuses to authorities and zoos will then be reviewed, but it takes a lot more than some fish to do it unfortunately.

 

[diverdan814]

You could talk to/confront management, write a letter to the newspapers, contact the ASPCA, and let people here know where the place is, so those inclined can help.

 

[fishquaria]

The unfotunate thing is, that this is the national zoo and the only real public aquarium in the country. I'll not talk about the state of the other animals. While they aren't in bad shape their enclosures surely are. For me a person who's accustomed to seeing animals well kept in captivity and animals in the wild, this is truly appalling. As for reporting to authorities, its useless. They'll probably laugh and call me a stupid person. Gosh... When I see my yellow finned blue damsel with its striking bright blue body and brilliant yellow tail, I feel sorry for those fish. And that's not all, they were fully grown specimens, upto 3 inches or more in length.

A friend of mine collects and exports fish and invertebrates for the aquarium trade, and I must say this guy take great care in collection and shipping, and is a member of some organization, I don't remember the name right now. He told me that the zoo keeps getting animals from these collectors at low prices and just dump them into the tanks and it's a vicious cycle.

There were lovely other large fish, many different species of tangs, all pale and in obviously bad condition. I'm sure I will have a heart attack or nervous break down if I had to test a sample of the water. The inverts what little are there are just rotting. Corals are dying as they are coated with algae and the only light in the tanks is indirect sunlight, which is dull and worse the temperatures in the tans are questionable.

To me it's appalling especially when I think of the care I give my fish and the care that this friend of mine takes in the collecting and shipping of fish. The occasion is rare when I see dead fish in his tanks and these two are cases of old fish or accidents. He has some fish Which have been with him for years.

I don't know what to do as this is really sad. There was a whole tankful of cleaner wrasse with no other fish in it. Gosh.... I'm quite unhappy.... I don't know...

 

[diverdan814]

Can you name which COUNTRY you are in at least?

 

[fishquaria]

Sri Lanka

 

[fishquaria]

I'm sorry, I thought I'd already said that. Must have skipped it...

 

[billsreef]

Try contacting the curator to explain the problems. Do it a very friendly and not to critical manner so that you stand a chance of being listened too. Possibly even volunteering your services might be of help if they realize they have a problem.

 

[otto486]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11765339#post11765339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Try contacting the curator to explain the problems. Do it a very friendly and not to critical manner so that you stand a chance of being listened too. Possibly even volunteering your services might be of help if they realize they have a problem.

I volunteered at the local zoo to help them get back on track. Even just giving them advice is considered volunteering (which is great for my college application). A year back I tried a direct approach- by telling them stuff was going down the drain in a hurry. They didn't listen, and when less than 2 months later all the tanks were empty they were quick to accept help, haha.

Taking an active role is the best approach. And that goes for all things conservation associated.

 

[fishquaria]

Thank you all for your help... I will see what I can do!

 

[otto486]

good luck! We are all with ya!

 

[B.C.theReefer]

If the fish at the zoo were in such bad shape. I'd imagine that the other animals are also suffering. If that is the case, I'd contact the ASPCA. Alot of private zoos are owned and staffed by people that have no idea what they are doing. Some have been shut down. I guess it's people just trying to make an easy dollar. Good luck with your efforts.

 

[fishquaria]

What is ASPCA? And if it's something that only exists in america, what do I look for in an equivalent?

 

[billsreef]

ASPCA = American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Don't know if you'll have an equivalent in Sri Lanka. Best bet would be to talk to a veterinarian, if such a organization exists in your country they would know.