A North Carolina man is facing charges of animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning his pet fish after being evicted from his home last month, according to multiple reports.
Lane said the Oscar fish had apparently been eating cockroaches that fell into its tank. He also told the local newspaper when he tried to feed the fish food pellets, the fish didn't seem to know what to do with them, apparently having never experienced good food before. He added that it was days before the fish ate anything.
Lane noted that Oscar fish aren't cheap, fetching up to $40 to $50 to purchase and can grow up to 16 inches long.
"They are great pets, we call them wet pets. They are very trainable, they have huge personalities, some of them can be aggressive," he told The State.
Oscar fish are omnivorous and will eat anything, including small insects and crustaceans. However, too many live foods can cause the fish to get parasites, which can lead to Hole-in-the-Head disease, according to The Aquarium Guide.
Because of their size, Oscar fish eat a lot and produce quite a lot of mess, meaning they need their tanks cleaned out once or twice a week, or else the dirty water conditions can also lead to the Hole-in-the-Head disease, according to Fishkeeper World.
Lane told The State that it's quite common for pet owners to bring sick fish into the aquatic store, saying, "People don't know how to care for their fish, so we take them in." The store helps fish recover like an animal hospital does for dogs and cats.
The rescued fish is continuing its recovery with medicine and good food, Lane said, adding it may be put up for adoption later or even gifted to the sheriff's office.
New Hanover County Sheriff's Police office Lt. Brewer told WECT this is the first time someone in the county was charged with cruelty over a pet fish.
"But this is a life just like any dog or cat," Brewer said. "If you harm or neglect an animal in New Hanover County, we are coming for you."