So you’ve bought fish, fully intending to care for them, but life has other plans and gets in the way. You find yourself unable to look after the little critters. The easiest solution would be to dump them into the toilet and flush without another thought, right? Wrong! This is a cruel practice, and if that is not enough reason, think about the fact that the fish might get diseased living in the local waste system, and there are chances it could begin to spread the disease itself. Let us know ‘What To Do With Unwanted Pet Fish?’.
Disposing or killing the fish is not a moral or ethical solution. It is a harsh practice, and it can cause severe ramifications. There are several alternatives for you to consider when dealing with an unwanted pet like returning your fish or selling it to someone interested in owning one. However, as its current owner, you must consider the best possible solution for the fish that ensures its safety and well-being. The following suggestions will outline how best to go about dealing with unwanted fish.
What To Do With Unwanted Pet Fish?
- Return Your Fish From Where You Bought It
If you’ve bought fish from a pet shop, local vendor, or a market, try going back to return them. If it has not been very long since you bought them, say a week, chances are they will take them back. Even if it has been a while, they may not think anything of it. Make sure to bring the receipt of the purchase of the fish or come around the same time you initially bought them to increase the chances of returning them to the same shopkeeper you bought them from.
- Ask Other Local Pet Shops
If you tried returning them and are unable to, try other local pet shops or fish shops. Search for others around your area, and you may find them willing to take the fish off your hands. Fish shops may be better than other pet shops, but other pet shops with fish tanks are worth a try. Other shops might also know people who have set up tanks in their homes, so you could try to contact other fish and tank owners to check if they may be able to house your fish. It is important to get connected with as many people who may be able to help you as possible, which leads me to the next point:
- Advertise On Social Media
Spread the word! On social media like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Tiktok, put up stories highlighting that you are finding people to give your fish away to. Ask your friends and family to do the same for you. It also ensures that the fish would go to a safe forever home if you know whose home they are going to. Offers are bound to pop up, and if not suddenly, give your posts some time to reach more people.
- Gift Giving
This is especially relevant for gift-giving to children. If you have younger siblings, cousins, nieces or nephews, or know friends with children, consider giving your fish as a pet for a birthday or holiday present. If the family is willing, fish are great pets for children because they do relatively less work than other animals. Adults may also enjoy keeping a fish, so they are a versatile present!
- Donating
There are several places to donate fish too. Places like nurseries or old homes usually have large tanks filled with fish and may be willing to take them. Other places include restaurants, hospitals, aquariums, and zoos. Essentially, places that provide such services are likely to have a tank of the fish display, so finding one in your area might not prove to be difficult.
- Ponds, Lakes, Rivers, and Seas
If you live near any of the bodies of water mentioned above, and if all other options have failed, you have the option of setting your fish free. However, there are very important things to consider before doing so: You must first consider if it is a freshwater fish or a saltwater fish before doing so. Another thing to consider is the species of your fish. Setting it free in a lake that does not carry the same fish is dangerous for your fish, as it may be treated as an enemy and prey. Once this is taken into consideration, simply place the fish in the water. This is better than flushing down into your local waste system, and your fish will be better roaming with its own kind and would be able to find plenty of sustenance on its own.
Conclusion
It is easy to get rid of unwanted fish with flushing, but by looking for other options, not only do you guarantee that your fish will find a better home that it deserves, but you’re avoiding the potential for environmental damage, which would affect you in the long run too. Caring for pets is an investment, but so is giving them away.
