Xref: utzoo rec.pets:2078 alt.aquaria:188
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!pyramid!fmsrl7!mibte!edsdrd!rec
From: rec@edsdrd.UUCP (Michelle)
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Pirahana puzzle
Keywords: why
Message-ID: <893@edsdrd.UUCP>
Date: 3 Feb 88 19:21:18 GMT
References: <878@edsdrd.UUCP> <2382@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Organization: Hometown USA
Lines: 33


I called several reputable pet stores in the area
and they assured that in Michigan pirahanas are 
legal, except one store that specialized in fish
said that only the black pirahana is illegal, something
about it being the worst of the pirahana family.
all stores told me that pirahanas are illegal in all
southernmost states there, the water would be warm   
enough for them to survive.  All stores mentioned 
Calif. and Florida especially, also mentioned was 
the fact about them looking like silver dollars.
My fish is about 5-6 inches long, it's a grayish-
silver color with gold flecks all along it's sides,
when calm his the area around his stomach and jaw 
is a bright red, and he does have the "razor sharp"
teeth and protruding jaw.  The tank always has feeder
fish and over the 3-4 month time span I have had "Mr. Fish"
I have yet to see him eat.  There is always 1 or 2 less 
goldfish in the tank than the night before.  I have
yet to be bit, I have had my hand/arm in the tank, but
I would never, never move quickly or if he had not eaten
for days, or if he was scared in any way , I certainly
don't make a practice of sticking my limbs in his tank,
but I had changed the gravel and I had to fix the under-
gravel filter.  Mr. Fish is actually very pretty, and 
I am saddened he devoured his mate.  I bought the pair
because they had been in the store quite some time and
everytime I went in I had to stop and look.  
I have noticed that so many posters are from Calif.
I can understand why most think they are illegal.

-- 
Michelle Woods   (mibte!edsdrd!rec)