Whitespotted Bamboo Shark - Threatened Species?

swtanks

swtanks

Member
I made a few inquiries last night about the availabilty of this type of shark. No one had one or could get one. Hell, some places didn't even know this shark existed. Anyway, I called the place that got mine and asked the owner if he could get a juvenile and possibly drop ship or reship to another place (tried to help Deuce) and he told me that he cannot get them now without a hassle and had no idea what the price would come out to. They were placed on the threatened species list as of January. Is this right? Are they now considered threatened? I tend to believe what he says since he occasionally imports Asian arowanas for the "rich folks" and has experience dealing with CITES protected species. Any idea what happened? They aren't covered by CITES yet but who knows what will happen in the future. This really bites.
 
risc

risc

Member
Generally speaking that only means the shark is being over-fished. Divers with proper licenses or permits for collecting the fish can still get them. This is the same thing that happened with leopard sharks in Florida. I can still get whitespotted sharks at the same price from my divers so as far as I am concerned he's just trying to make a bigger profit.
Jim
 
swtanks

swtanks

Member
Out for more money.
Typical trend with the stores around here.
It's not uncommon to see a tank marked with a big sign that says "SALE" and a price listed under it. Then if you look across at the tiny label in the corner, the regular price is LESS than the so called sale price. I almost fell for this crap a few times. I wonder how many pay the inflated sale prices.
Just another way to stick it to you. Just like trying to charge to have oxygen pumped into the bag.
 
risc

risc

Member
It's a bad time of year for sharks but I will see what some of my divers can find. Spring and summer are the best times to find and buy them.
Jim
 
deuce biggalow

deuce biggalow

Member
RISC, my tank will be ready in about a month or two, I am just trying to figure everything out. Can you give me your e-mail, or e-mail me - Justin@prula.com I am interested in some other fish etc. also Thanks, Justin
 
gibbus

gibbus

Member
swtanks if you are in the USA. You better not say the guy imports asian arowanas, they are illegal in the USA. You could get the owner into serious trouble and jail time.
 
big dave

big dave

Member
Gibbus, Asians are not illegal if they are microchipped ad certified from a farm. Many people have them in the US. They just cost$$$$$ thats why not many people have them. When an ASian arrowana is purchased, the customer is given a birth certificate and a registration. Why did you think they were illegal!??!?! <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" /> <img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" />
 
gibbus

gibbus

Member
Big Dave
Asian arowanas are ilegal in the USA. A couple people are serving jail time for selling them. They are banned by the US fish and wildlife. i have talked to people who have been importing rare fish for along tiem and deal with public aquariums. They are illegal in the USA. Go to <a href="http://www.predatoryfish.net," target="_blank">www.predatoryfish.net,</a> i also belong to this board and we were talking about it before.
 
swtanks

swtanks

Member
3 stores in my state (in the USA) have had farmed Asians for sale. The cheapest one I have seen was a green which was $2800 for a 5 inch one. The most expensive one I saw was a gorgeous red one about 2 years ago. It was in their display tank but you could buy this 2 foot monster for $25,000 if you wanted. If they are illegal, how can they display them in full view when you go to the store?
Piranhas are also sold in full view. I saw a small tank just yesterday at a LFS with 6 red bellies in it. Granted they all looked terrible with chunks bitten out of them but they were there for sale for $50 each.
Wild caught are banned but there are farmed ones with microchips and birth certificates that can be sold.
I doubt the stores are going to Canada or somewhere else just to get these for people.
 
gibbus

gibbus

Member
Stores get people to smuggle them in. Why they have them in full view is because all species of arowana have the same basic design. People that know what they really are and want one, arent going to tell the US fish and wildlife about them.
Asian arows - being listed as CITES I - fall under the United States Endangered Species Act and all possession and trade are strictly regulated. Which means, unless you are a zoo or public aquarium (or are grandfathered), it is unlikely that you'd get a permit.
Taiwan is lifting the ban on the Asian Arrowana this month, so there will be less money made there with the fish (illegal things seem to fetch a higher price), but also a huge market for the fish in public displays will open up.
Second, there are people in the US (NY, LA) serving jail time for selling arrowanas. Go the CITES website and check what selling CITES appendix 1 animals are and you can figure out what selling Asian arrowanas would parallel.
In canada where they are legal an 5" green asian arowana will cost you about $300 at a lfs.
 
swtanks

swtanks

Member
$300 in Canada and $2800 in the US.
Well I guess that type of markup is there for a reason.
Thank God I never bought one. Not that I ever had the money for one, but I don't feel like serving time for a fish.
 
gibbus

gibbus

Member
the reason for the mark up, is because it is illegal to have them so the store owners have to have a high price on them to make a profit.
 
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