S.O.S !! A tilapia needs a home !

A neighbor of mine has a tilapia which is about 9-10 inches long which is sharing a 29-gal. tank presently with two turtles..... very crowded. He is threatening to release this fish into the East River and I am begging him not to. However, I have no room for the fish.

Would anyone be interested in adopting this healthy, and seemingly quite gentle fish?? If so, please let me know !!! He is vowing to do this within days!

Respond and discuss here on the site if you'd be able to give this fish a home, or have any ideas.
Rebecca

Hey Rebecca,

I'm sorry, I don't know of anyone who could take the Tilapia off your neighbor's hands.

Releasing it to the East River is definitely not a good idea. It's illegal, and the Tilapia would not survive the high brackish waters of river anyways. Perhaps a local fish store would take it? If there are no other options, euthanasia might be a better last resort than releasing it into the wild.

I hope it finds a new home though. Good luck.

Daniel

Well, my fellow aquarists, it looks like I, who DO NOT need another living thing in my home right now, especially anything depending on ME for sustenance, will INDEED be taking this Tilapia into my collection. He will be the sole resident for the time being in a 20-gallon tank. I've spent most of my spare time the past couple of days moving my bettas to another tank and just making adjustments. I just can't see this poor but elegant fish going into the East River or a Central Park lake, as my friend has threatened to do. It is unlikely that a tilapia of any sort would survive a NYC winter. AND tilapias tend to be invasive species.

Well, the call is still out there for someone who might like this largish cichlid. In his present accommodations it is hard to see his coloring well, but in my tank I will be working on his nutrition to bring out the best. However, he's not a 'fancy' tilapia.... seemingly blackish scales, white throat, some red on the tailfin.

I'll keep you all informed.
Rebecca