I can't believe they sell LIVE FISH on eBay!!

blue_monkey_2

I have had one of those 'buy from eBay' emails today and on it there is a link to Koi Carp - you click through the link and there are live fish for sale!!

http://home-garden.search.ebay.co.uk/koi-carp_Koi-Pond-Fish_W0QQfcclZ1QQfclZ4QQfromZR4QQsacatZ139930?ov=00337

Now I might be stupid but surely this would mean sticking a small/big Koi in a polystyrene box for a day or so - at least 36 hours - without food and room to move? Surely this isn't right? I am not going to bleat on about animal rights and stuff, I am just a normal person but isn't this cruel in some way. I thought that you was not allowed to sell Livestock on eBay or did I miss something?

Are these people using this as a way of advertising that they sell fish or are they really selling fish via a mail order service. I am stunned - I know you can buy everything on eBay these days but I nevre really figured live fish. I confess that I have bought Pond Snails but I am still stunned that you can buy live fish on eBay!!

bookemdano

Live Animals

Live animals or pets other than the exceptions noted here, may not be listed on eBay. The sales of the following items are permitted, provided that the seller guarantees in the listing that the animals will be packaged safely and posted via next day delivery.

• Aquarium or pond fish, snails or similar creatures.
• Lobsters, crabs, shellfish and other similar creatures that are live when sold but intended for human consumption.
• Live insects, crickets and worms used as bait or feeder food for pets.

blue_monkey_2

So they can sell them. I am astounded. They have fish on there over 1 ft long that they are sending via courier - what if someone is not in and the fish then has to come back the next day?? For the first time ever I am speechless. I never thought to look for fish before.

blue_monkey_2

So, at the risk of appearing dumb, does anyone know how they are sent? is it one of those polystyrene boxes. i can the small fish but the big fish? Don't they need to have room to swim around, I do think there is a difference bwteen buying it from the shop in a big bag and taking it home than having one sent through the mail. I am interested, how are they sent out in the mail, can fish survive this long and don't tey have to come up for some air occassionally? I have fish and they do come up to the surface - sorry but I really am confused on how a fish can live in a box like this while being delivered. Is this how they come into the country as well?

RFW

Yes, there's certainly a lot of carp sold on Ebay........:rotfl:



I'll get my coat

smsmasters

Ignorance is bliss.

Anyway, the fish are placed into a clear bag full of water and pure oxygen is pumped into it before closing it. It is then placed in a polystyrene box which is dark so the fish can't see anything to minimise stress. 36 hours without food is nothing. I didn't feed my fish for 10 days whilst on holiday and they all survived.

juno

Poor fishies

blue_monkey_2

Juno, I am with you. I find it a little cruel, not so much the going without food but them being packed into a little box for all that time. It is not so much the food thing, more they are cramped in that tiny space for all that time. You would think it cruel a kitten or puppy being stuck in a box for all that time so why is a fish any different?

LOL though, yes, a hell of a lot of carp being sold on ebay these days!! I would have to agree. And I never saw that comment coming!!

frivolous_fay

A lot cooler... eggs for hatching.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=eggs+hatching&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=AL1+1EZ&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search

http://www.mycampage.com/livehatchcam

StaffsSW

How do you think most of these Koi come into Britain in the first place? They don't swim here!

I've bought a few Koi recently that I have collected locally, but the sellers do have the poly-crates to send them in.

The guy I bought from uses a courier with experience in live animal transport - by all accounts as long as they are kept upright there is little problem with them spending 36-48hrs in the box. As it is dark they tend become subdued and are effectively asleep for the whole time.

We have a number of Koi that are quite happy to stay at the bottom of the pond for 4 months over winter without surfacing or feeding.

juno

But they might bang their heads on the boxes or something!