The pet and aquarium trade represents a little known route by which many plants and animals make their way into natural waterways. In recent posts we discussed a few of the most notorious trouble makers; the mystery snail, American bullfrog, Oriental weatherfish, red swamp crayfish, Eurasian water-milfoil, goldfish, and red-eared slider. Remember their faces! Don’t let them loose!
As this cartoon by Jack Ohman of the Oregonian depicts, released classroom pets like the Louisiana red swamp crayfish can be a menace!
Next time you are trying to figure out what to do with unwanted aquarium pets consider these options listed below. Your actions can make a huge difference in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species!
· Contact your pet store for donation, return, or exchange options.
· Give your unwanted plants and fish to another hobbyist, public aquarium, school, or community center.
· Bag and trash aquatic plants and pour aquarium water in upland areas of your yard instead of storm drains, sink or toilet.
· You can also freeze plants for 24 hours and place them into the garbage.
· Remember to learn about the needs of particular aquarium species before you buy.
· If all else fails, contact your local veterinarian for humane disposal options.
Hang this poster to help you remember all these great alternatives to release. View Oregon Field Guide: Crayfish Invasion to learn about impacts of crayfish released from classrooms in Oregon.
Submitted by Briita Orwick, Pacific Region
Species caricatures like this don't tell us much about ecological interactions. Perhaps they tell us something about ecologists?
ReplyDeleteYeah, some, like you, are real sticks in the mud...literally
DeleteThanks for this post. I am happy to read this. And also I want to know about your view. of The post and about fishing rules. Please inform me.
ReplyDelete