Are you sure? not trying to sound facetious, but a red tailed shark looks entirely different from a young iridescent catfish?? Even an albino red tail will have just that - a red tail?

In any case - long ago I stupidly took home a cute little suncat - 2 inches long which, of course as catfish will do, grew huge. I wound up bringing it to my local LFS and traded him in for fish credit.

fish clubs also have auctions open to the public...

first: a good reason to educate yourself before going to the pet shop. some people "just work there" some are there just to make money and others truly care.

this case is also similar to seeing arrowanas, red tailed catfish, etc...in the hobby trade. it starts at importation, demand for the unusual, etc.

just curious, how do you know the chinchilla is illegal. never heard this one.

Fairy _ toadmother: absolutely you are correct in doing research first, when I was young in Oregon and raised fish (and that was 30 years ago) of course never had this problem, and after doing turtle rescue, started with a few guppies when turtles were gone (to rescue farm) and never imagined dishonesty in this trade... oops. but the good news is I have made some contacts with petland headquarters (hung up on me at first so I called back and mentioned that I will keep calling until I had upper management,and was later contacted - I sent her a link to the fish she was selling, she was amazed herself at the adult and agreed it was inappropriate and would have to get in touch with her boss) and mentioned I will be filing complaint with AG Elliot Spitzer with re to truth in lending violations unfair business practices violations and wish in writing to know their business policy with re to these types of gigantic fish.... and not telling the public and actualy calling it by another name (she said their seller told them it was the red tailed shark, I said I am sure being a giant in the business of pet trade AG will not be impressed that they do not know their business.. so maybe will do some good after all, we shall see.. My minor in school was government affairs and know the ropes a bit... I told her I will not let the issue drop... as the fish suffer the most... I called the aspca after a local person told me they were illegal and they are...aspca will be dropping by that store... thanks for your help and sorry I didn't do my research... if word gets out and enough people complain maybe we can make a dent in this horrific practice. thanks Sherry

If I wasn't in the middle of discord and disarray of moving I'd take him Sherry. You might try posting this fish on monsterfishkeepers.com they do have a trade section. I don't know that many people want a pangasius though....I don't think 8' catfish have a high demand.

Adrea

Isis, thank you, still have as petland would just 'resell' ugh... let me know AFTER you have moved and reorganized lol, but I am in NYC so can't go far.. thanks... aspca called per legal department (but Dell tech here) so will call back she said, and didn't. will follow up I am sure, she sounded honest and ernest... thanks to all for links and thoughts. (also one woman on another forum has several duaghters who are vets, work for public aquarium so word will be getting out. (she used to have a 600 gallon tank but Katrina took care of that, fish safely removed before, and she now lives elsewhere, interesting the people one meets on the www!) slm

sherry, and i say this with utmost respect, you are a pitbull! :) congratulations.

to be honest, i have seen "iridescent sharks" very common in pet stores.

adrea, you are moving! good luck, i am sure moving stress is another factor in your discussion on ponds.

good luck to both and all!

I have two iridescent sharks I need to have rescued- Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Hi, I run a fish rescue operation:

Monster Fish Rescue

Visit www.monsterfishrescue.com

We'll see if we can help.

This is a follow up from earlier post.

The original fish was taken in by a person at a local pet store who had larger tanks at home. I've since done tremendous amounts of research (and the monster site is excellent for this) and much effort to stop this practice (not much good I must say).

When I was young, there were no such fish as most were grown locally (late 60's) so I trusted the people at the pet store (had been going there for years).

Now of course I know much more and am as well down from 8 aquariums to one betta...

(great home for her as seen at my flckr post) and did rescues for hundreds of bettas and turtles in NYC - which I hope after 40 years I will be leaving soon.

I will in future help to stop the nasty import business by buying only from local breeders.

(fish get sorted out on tables, dyed, are grown in sewage, full of parasites and worse)... I put a curse on that same Petland when the new manager would not let me take the sick ones home and she would dump them alive down the toilet - not only illegal but extremely cruel. (I told her I hope she comes back a fish to be treated just as she is treating this poor souls).

A few days later the crane fell and that store was closed (yes curses work, lol)(no one animal or person was hurt and I called management to make sure someone was there unlike during the heat wave when many hundreds of creatures died).

xxxxhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/21430834@N02/

Thanks to all from original thread... live and learn.