Plecos Banned

Gents and girls ... To attack only a few species of fish which needs and or not needs to be on the blacklist is a VERY BIG discussion on its own. There is a threat recently that dealt with some small aspects of it but also not really anything came from it.

The bottom line of this discussion is actually. WE HAVE A HUGH RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT AND EDUCATE FELLOW HOBBYISTS AND PETSHOP OWNERS AND\OR STAFF. We need to get our hands dirty in this game. A lot of people have and has always had a lot to say regarding what happen and needs to be done but sorry for saying, DOES JACK SH1+.

If we can get TASA more involved in the industry\Hobby then people like Nature Conservation would I think approach us for an input or advice? Then we can add a voice, a real benefit. We are currently 3725 member on this forum with only a handful of pet shops represented. If you look at percentages.... we are but a drop in the bucket BUT we have the potential to be much more.

I am a very passionate hobbyist that like to do things so if my comments get me kicked off TASA then I know that I should not be here.

@ ALL MEMBERS - Lets rather start to find out ways to help solve the problem rather than to sit on the side line and bitch. I will start a new threat on this subject. Please voice yourselves. IF SA Pet Traders could be started from the trade side what stops us to start something in support from a hobbyist side.

 

LOL the government has apparently been working on banning plecos for some time now.I sincerely doubt that it will become one of those species that will not be in a beginners tank in the near future though.

 

Lol heard about the banning of plecs today aswell,sad stuff!

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I think that the nature guys is confusing plecos with tiger and other types of shovel noses I went through the list and cannot remember seeing them on it,

 

Plecos have been banned based on an ecological impact study and actual incidents of invasion. In KZN there is still an ongoing battle to get them under control and eradicated from our water systems. Due to their ability to adapt they have flourished in our warmer water systems and are seriously wiping out plant life that our indigenous species NEED to survive. I am personally a very big pleco fan but I feel that the right decision has been made by the government regarding them. Everybody blames the LFS staff and owners (yes they are to blame in a sense) BUT we hobbyists are to blame for releasing them into our water systems. Schooling LFS is a good thing yes but we need to sweep our own rugs first with regards to responsibility

 

Wow i am lost... Does that mean i am not allowed to keep plecos?

 

No Kieshara, keep your fish, just dont flush it or throw it into a river. Its not the fish's fault for human stupidity.

Also, where was it published that they were banned, or are members just throwing out ideas that they "think" they are banned?
A link would be nice.

 

Haha there is no way i ever rid of my fishies.. I love them to bits...

 

I think there are a lot of people who buy the common pleco not knowing how big they get, then dump them in the local rivers when the fish outgrows the tank.

In the "GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12 FEBRUARY 2014" P38 under the heading of "national list of invasive fresh-water fish "they specifically mention pterygoplichthys disjunctivus and state that they are "Category 1b"
- National Invasive Species Legislation - 1 NEMBA Invasive Alien Species Regulations 12 February 2014

 

you mean hemichromis bimaculatus, jewel chiclid??

 

if I'm not mistaken there was a thread last year on people being misguided about the actual size that some species can reach, and there was a pic of 1000's of plecos on a river bed in La Lucia on the KZN north coast!

 

hehe I cant resist. Cauds where is this river in La Lucia?

 

St. Lucia !!!!! be helpful and find the post instead of picking on me you meanie!

 

Where can i see that photo?

 

Anyone want my pleco for free? He isnt that big. About 5cm

 

@HEIHACHI thank you tank bro! you not a meanie anymore

 

it's a very sad day, why should any animal be banned because of idiots letting them go free, punish the people that did it and let the rest of us live in peace. also very sad many of you want fish banned because you dont like them... there are alot of people who do care for those fish and better than some of the people here... it's our jobs to get people to learn about animals before buying them, not buy them first and blame lfs shop because you didnt know somethings about these animals... not just fish but all animals

 

I am not sure this is in St Lucia, there is not one place close by that has fresh water that clear. A link to the article would be nice!

Here "was" an actual article of Pleco's invading a freshwater system near Richards Bay I posted a few year ago.

River invader threatens ecology

 

PS that photo was posted on a US website and taken at some place in Florida.

Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus) - Collection record