Tip of the Day – 10/13/2014

If you are an aquarist that lives near the coast, or any body of water for that matter, chances are the thought of collecting local species has crossed your mind. While it is quite easy and even perfectly acceptable to house locally collected fish and invertebrates, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one, collecting might require some sort of fishing license, so check with the local authorities before venturing out. Secondly, some species may be protected and could be totally off limits. Again, we recommend checking with your local wildlife service organization. Another thing to consider is how the local wildlife might impact your non-native aquarium inhabitants. Things might not get along, and diseases or water parameters might affect local species differently than your non-locals. Lastly, no matter what happens, do not reintroduce the native livestock back into the wild once they’ve been in captivity. There are way too many exotic disease and parasites that could find their way into the local ecosystem, so it’s best to just find another home for whatever it is you are looking to unload. And in many cases, it is illegal to reintroduce wildlife, so again, check with your local authorities.