Batfish at Seaworld

[RayD]

Hi Guys

I sent a VERY polite yet very lengthy email to NEAQ regarding the Batfish that sits suffering at Seaworld Pet Center and actually recieved a response.

Nothing encouraging other than my email/comments have been sent to the fish department at NEAQ. But something is better than nothing.

Has anyone seen this poor creature lately? Sores on its side and one eye clouding up. Won't live much longer in that small 75 gallon store tank not to mention it is now suffering terribly. The neglect is catching up quickly!

Cmon everyone call and email New England Aquarium and let them know this suffering neglected animal needs help! I politely and respectfully commented that I hope NEAQ rescues marine animals equally regardless of high profiles or media attention.

I can post a copy of my letter upon request.

Thanks ...

 

[this is me]

Yeah, I saw it a couple days ago. It's definitely suffering. Pretty depressing when you look at it.
I'll write something up today and maybe send it to NEAQ tonight or tomorow. Via email of course. Maybe I can go in the store and take some pictures of it and attach it with the email so that they can see this animal does not belong where it is right now.

 

[spivack]

What is the email address for NEAQ

 

[RichConley]

Hi Guys

I sent a VERY polite yet very lengthy email to NEAQ regarding the Batfish that sits suffering at Seaworld Pet Center and actually recieved a response.

Nothing encouraging other than my email/comments have been sent to the fish department at NEAQ. But something is better than nothing.

Has anyone seen this poor creature lately? Sores on its side and one eye clouding up. Won't live much longer in that small 75 gallon store tank not to mention it is now suffering terribly. The neglect is catching up quickly!

Cmon everyone call and email New England Aquarium and let them know this suffering neglected animal needs help! I politely and respectfully commented that I hope NEAQ rescues marine animals equally regardless of high profiles or media attention.

I can post a copy of my letter upon request.

Thanks ...

Guys, lets not get all over the NEAQ here. You have to consider what they have at stake here. They have tens of thousands of animals, and getting in a fish that is not healthy is a risk to them. Also, its just going to go into one of their QT tanks, and probably one less than the 75 gallon its in.

After that, where do they put it? Theres some serious expenses for them to add a fish to the Giant Ocean Tank. (medicines, etc, during the quarantine time, which is long, and then theres serious acclimation issues because they have to make sure the sharks,etc dont mistake this fish for food..lots of diver time) You're asking the NEAQ to take on a pretty serious financial burden here....


the aspca would probably be a better call....

 

[Liquid]

Guys, lets not get all over the NEAQ here.

Agree. It would be nice if they were able to help out, but they did not create this situation and are not responsible to fix it.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Same goes for all the sharks that I imagine every year people want them to take in.

I suppose I'm to blame as well. A long while back I purchased a filefish mailorder, and it was not at all the species I was expecting (common name mixup). In this particular instance the NEAq was happy to take it since it was a fish species they did not have. That was a good 8 years ago.

 

[RayD]

No one is saying that NEAQ is responsible for it but they are in the business of animal resque aren't they? They have an extensive animal hospital there. Hey why don't we as BRS members all kick in a couple bucks and sponsor the recovery of this animal. Help defray the cost to NEAQ and get ourselves some media attention!

I'm not sure the ASPCA is equipped to handle marine life.

All that being said, I'd rather at least try and ask someone to help out as opposed to going into Seaworld every week reef shopping and having to see this animal suffering and dying. Those in the club that frequent Seaworld know what I'm talking about.

So once again I put out the call to our members to contact NEAQ, Mystic, ASPCA, or anyone else you can think of that may be able to perform an animal rescue.

Peace ...

 

[Deafasa]

Won't someone, even NEAQ, taking this fish just encourage SeaWorld to order another one? Why isn't anyone condemming SeaWorld for having this fish in their store? Why are people buying items from a store that keeps a fish in this condition or brings in a fish like this at all? Why doesn't SeaWorld setup a large tank to house the fish.
While it sounds harsh, I'd rather see 1 fish die and not have the store order any more, then rescue the fish only to have the store order another one in the future. I don't think it is the responsibility or the mission of NEAQ to relieve petstores of poor stocking choices.

Jeff

 

[Chris L]

Won't someone, even NEAQ, taking this fish just encourage SeaWorld to order another one? Why isn't anyone condemming SeaWorld for having this fish in their store? Why are people buying items from a store that keeps a fish in this condition or brings in a fish like this at all? Why doesn't SeaWorld setup a large tank to house the fish.
While it sounds harsh, I'd rather see 1 fish die and not have the store order any more, then rescue the fish only to have the store order another one in the future. I don't think it is the responsibility or the mission of NEAQ to relieve petstores of poor stocking choices.

Jeff

they did not buy the fish. it was dropped of by someone who was going to dumpster the fish if they didnt. they are not selling it but trying to find someone with a tank large enough to take it free. here is a link to another thread that shows apic of the species
http://216.235.242.50/forums/showthread.php?t=25419

 

[NateHanson]

<edit> oops, I posted at the same time as chris. Didn't realize they didn't order the fish.>

I agree with Jeff. This fish is probably doomed no matter what happens at this point. I'd spend my energy making life hell for Sea World managers for a couple days. Maybe they'll think twice before ordering a fish like that in the future.

 

[RichConley]

No one is saying that NEAQ is responsible for it but they are in the business of animal resque aren't they? They have an extensive animal hospital there. Hey why don't we as BRS members all kick in a couple bucks and sponsor the recovery of this animal. Help defray the cost to NEAQ and get ourselves some media attention!

From what I know, NEAQ's animal rescue is focused mostly on marine mammals.

As to the animal hospital, you have to remember that they have their own animals to take care of, and that animal hospital is not that large. They have a bank of maybe 15 tanks, maybe 1/3 devoted to coldwater. They also are a research institute, so some of those tanks are devoted to whatever study theyre currently running. That doesnt leave them a ton of free space.

All that being said, I'd rather at least try and ask someone to help out as opposed to going into Seaworld every week reef shopping and having to see this animal suffering and dying. Those in the club that frequent Seaworld know what I'm talking about.

So once again I put out the call to our members to contact NEAQ, Mystic, ASPCA, or anyone else you can think of that may be able to perform an animal rescue.

Peace ...

I agree. Contacting them is a good idea. Just dont be mad, or think that theyre the bad guy if they tell you no.

 

[RayD]

Seaworld did not order the fish. One of the local Chinese restaurants dropped it on them. So in all fairness to the guys at Seaworld (and I know them all and they're all good guys), let's not flame the store. I also think that Chris attempted to contact NEAQ. Sometimes it takes the masses to attract attention to a cause and sometimes it takes media attention. I find the latter works every time.

I didn't restart the thread to hassle Seaworld but to rescue a sick animal. I was in there last night and it's truly a pathetic sight to see.

 

[cobraz]

I think that this fish should be compared to a sick cat or dog, after all they are all pets - equal in different ways. If it were a cat or dog, a professional vets office would take the animal and either try to save it or put it out in peace. In this case The New England Aquarium - should at least have someone pick up the Bat fish and bring it back to the aquairum - after all it is gas money - then if they can save it great and if not they can let it die in peace with some sort of agent. I think all of us on this thread care, it just in this case it is not a normal item (Bat Fish) that any aqaurinist can solve. It would be up to a the New England Aquarium or Mystic to help out, after all they want us to visit them and pay money to see their displays - the least they could do is show up and observe the animal and see if they can take it.

Thank you for reading this....
Seaworld is not to blame here - they just to in a stray animal.

 

[marco67]

It's truly a sad case but why is it NEAQs responsibility?

 

[cobraz]

I personally do not think it is theirs - but who else could help - it would have to be a established place that could handle a fish like this - NEAQ, Mystic or etc. It is just they seem to be the only ones in the area that could handle it.

At this point the end result is - the fish will either die in the aquarium, or someone will go there and take it and end it.

Quote "Life is strange - we move and change the way we live and in the end, we all end up in the same place."

 

[merk1_99]

I may get flamed for saying this but at this point it may be best for the animal to be put out of its misery. There are humane ways to do it. The NEAQ can't rescue every animal. I just don't see a hobbyist with a large enough tank stepping forward. Those are very docile, and timid fish that require open swimming areas, not rockpiles and corals everywhere.....The facilities need probably are just not available. Anyways I love my fish and would hate to see anything happen to them. But if I saw they had a non-recoverable ailment or injury I would (and in 10 yrs I have seen a lot) humanely put them out of their misery. I haven't had to do it yet and don't look forward to ever doing it.... I had my 15 yr old yellow lab put down because she had cancer, lost mobility, and became incontinent all at once. I don't feel bad for doing it....

 

[Valexia]

i know we could find a home for it in one of the many client tanks, let me hit up my boss on friday, where is it located? I have never been up there, and just how bad of shape is it?

 

[RichConley]

It'll have to be one obscenely large tank Valexia...these things get HUGE.

 

[Chris L]

It Is At Seaworld Pet Center On Rt 28 In Salem Nh

 

[RayD]

i know we could find a home for it in one of the many client tanks, let me hit up my boss on friday, where is it located? I have never been up there, and just how bad of shape is it?

It's located at Seaworld Pet Center, Route 28 in Salem, NH

He's VERY big and his condition is not as bad as it's going to get. Still salvagable.

Valexia you rock!! Thanks for trying!!!!