Help me find my "rehomed" fish...

[MatsP]

I'm going through a rather messy divorce. Some of my fish that were left in my fishhouse where my wife and children are living were rehomed without my knowledge. First thing I knew about it was when I got a letter from the solicitor saying they have been rehomed.

So, I'm hoping someone can spot these in a shop somewhere, so that I can get them back. It is, in my logical mind, most likely that they have gone to a shop, as I find it rather unlikely that an individual would have picked up 7 tanks worth of fish.

So, here's a list of the fish that I'm looking for. Just to be clear, I'm not asking for someone to find me a replacement fish of the same species, but I would like to know where my fish went. Since the list contains some rather unusual fish, I'm pretty sure that it will be possible to find these fish somewhere.

These are links to PlanetCatfish Cat-eLog, so that you can see what the fish look like, if you are not sure what they look like [and some MAY not be identified correctly in the shop].

3 x Ancistrus L338 Approx 4"/10cm
2 x Bagrichthys macracanthus (Black Lancer) Approx 3.5"/8cm
3 x Bunocephalus coracoides (Banjo cat) Approx 4"/10cm
2 x Hemiancistrus guahiborum (L106) Approx 4"/10cm
3 x Hemiancistrus L128 Approx 7"/18cm
5 x Hypancistrus L411 ("False L260") Approx 4"/10cm
10 x Centromochlus romani Approx 2"/5cm
7 x Centromochlus reticulatus Approx 1"/2.5cm
20 x Corydoras metae (Mature, approx 2"/5cm and juvenile 1-1.5"/2-4cm)
3 x Corydoras reynoldsi Approx 1.5"/4cm
8 x Corydoras weitzmani Approx 1.5"/4cm
3 x Dekeyseria L052 Approx 5"/12cm
4 x Dianema urostriatum Approx 3"/7cm
5 x Imparfinnis pseudonemacheir Approx 2.5"/6cm
4 x Leporacanthicus triactis (L91) Approx 5-7"/13-18cm
3 x Orinocodoras eigenmanni Approx 3.5"/8cm
3 x Panaque L002 Approx 3"/7cm
5 x Peckoltia L147 (Juvenile, around 2-3"/5-7cm)
5-10 x Sturisoma aureum (Royal whiptail) (approx 2-6"/5-15cm)

Most likely these fish are all in one or two shops, and almost certainly within 20 miles or so from Guildford, but it's possible they are further afield.

Please send a PM if you need further details or if you think you've found them.

--
Mats

[andywoolloo]

I am very sorry that happenned. I would be beyond pissed. And very stressed out for my fishes well being. ((hugs)) I certainly hope you find them and that they are all ok.

[RickE]

Sorry to hear that Mats. Not long done it myself but fortunately no livestock was involved. Can't imagine how angry you must be about it. Will keep a look out up this way. Good luck with finding them and with the divorce.

Rick

[juventus]

The bitternes from a woman can be so hateful. Just cant´t understand it.

I feel with you and I realy hope that you find your fish.

Are you planning to buy them back?

[Marc van Arc]

This is very sad.

I can understand you won't feel like it very much, but is there a possibility you could ask your wife directly were your fishes went? Or maybe that sollicitor knows?
That would save you a lot of extra trouble, which I gather you already have more than enough of being in a divorce...

Very sorry to hear this; hope everything will work out as fine as possible.

[Bas Pels]

What a terrible stunt your ex-wife performed. I'm very sorry to hear how low people can get. Whish I could help you, but no they will not be offered over here

[MatsP]

Thanks for the positive comments.

To answer some of the questions:
I don't know what I will do when (if?) I find them. In my optimistic state of mind, I hope that I can negotiate that I can have them back for a nominal value, not the full price. But I guess that depends on who's got them, and whether they trust me when I say that they were all mine...

Of course, a further complication is that I haven't got enouogh empty tanks, should I find them today. But I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

So, I did say in the beginning that it's "Messy". And I mean that. So, I'm not supposed to contact my wife, only via a third party (such as the solicitor of my wife'). I have asked, but I'm not sure there will be an answer very quickly.

--
Mats

[DJ-don]

Jeez You poor guy
Hope everything turns out well Mats..its amazing what people do these days.

and i'm not sure how these process' work but did she have every right to rehome them??? because i thought there would have been different rules on pets and ones especially hard to get and rare

[MatsP]

Did she have the right to do this? I don't know. But I guess technically, from a legal perspective, they are half hers (the fact that this was more than half the fish is another matter) It's a bit late by now to argue that point. And I'm not going to go into details of all that's going on...

--
Mats

[sidguppy]

omg.....

this is terrible, Mats
really bad to hear
the fact that she doesn't even want to communicate directly is very bad.

I hope you find some or all of the fish, but I fear that "rehousing" might even mean they destroyed the entire collection.
hope you'll find your fish!

[juventus]

If you find them in the store. Make a deal with the owner that you get them back for a low amount against that you buy some tanks.

When regarding the rules of divorce and that you can´t contact her, use the solicitor. Tell him you just want to know where the fish and you will have no bitterness over just this situation. Done is done.

[jac]

Dear Mats,

I'm not finding the right words to say..... The love for animals can get real intense, so loosing them can really kick you in the ***
Loosing your kids is even more heartbreaking.....

I feel for you... Hope you'll get trough it, what ever happens.

Never give up hope.... Good luck

[Richard B]

Bloody hell Mats, i feel so very sorry this has happened.

I was lucky enough to see the fish in the fish house & a lot of them when originally purchased - a superb collection , no doubt.

I really hope you can get them back

[Melander]

I cannot help, but I really hope you find your fish.

regards, Melander

[racoll]

Crap. Really sorry to hear about this Mats.

I assume you have already tried all the local Maidenhead Aquatics (or similar) stores in the area.

There is a good chance, though, that the following has happened:

1) It's a spiteful hoax and the fish are still at your old home.

2) Whoever "rehomed" them, does not know the subtle differences between a decent aquatics store and any old petshop, so it is worth looking in crappy garden centres and smaller town stores not geared up to serious fish (a few tanks of goldfish and guppies etc).

I hope this gets resolved.

[MatsP]

I have been to all the nearby Maidenhead Aquatics that I think are within reasonable distance. And it's about 900 liters in the tanks these fish came from. I very much doubt they are in Pets at Home or a small shop with 10 tanks. I have been to 7 different nearby shops...

But I am considering that it may actually be that they fish are still there... However, that doesn't really make any sense, as it would be a lie, and there would be no purpose to it, as eventually, the fish will have to be moved (the purpose of rehoming them was to reduce the electricity bill - which I can understand).

--
Mats

[CoryWally]

Hey Mats,
So sorry to hear about this. I hope it works out.

You could contact the RSPCA and inform them of this situation. They could at least check the welfare of the fish if they are still at home.

Cheers,
Mark.

[L number Banana]

Sorry to hear about this horrible event. Maybe the request to the lawyer should point out nicely that the fish are your 'property' (half) and as such must be replaced/found/paid for or whatever. They have value just like any other purebred puppy/cat or horse. And they are part of the way you make your living (moderator etc).
Worth a try.

On a lighter note - when things have settled and you have a wonderful relationship with the kids and all this is just a bad memory - be proud that you took the high road.
Many horrible things were done to my hubby and we had a family rule that we would never bad-mouth the ex in front of the kid. 'The Kid' is now 23 and remembers his Dad as being a really decent and honourable guy through all the hell. We know you - sort of - and we know you don't deserve this crap - stay strong and lean on your friends. We're all here if you need to have a good rant!

Good luck finding the fish.

[Jools]

I would also assume, that any interested party in this matter could quite easily find and follow this discussion online. At the end of the day a possession is a possession, it has a hard, cold, cash value. It is likely that it is upon that point that this will rest.

A similar thing happened to me in my twenties with two (largish) tanks and without real mess, so I have an inkling of the situation. Hope it works out without too much difficulty. I know I am rather far away, but I can house fish for a month or two.

Jools

[The.Dark.One]

I would have a word with a solicitor or CAB, showing them the letter from the solicitor. Even if you could argue that she owned half each fish (which is not automatic by the way - this would come down legally to whether she had an equitable interest in them) - she still shouldnt just sell them without some agreement from yourself or warning that if they were not removed by a certain date they would be sold.
IF they have been sold then I know that this doesn't get your fish back, but If they havent and they are bluffing you could call their bluff. If they have been sold then I would be seeking some financial reparation for their sale.
Parts of the Law of Property Act 1925 and also the Sale of Goods Act 1979 apply to 'chattels' i.e. things you own that are not land or dwellings. Even as a definite joint owner they should not have been sold without your consent.

[taksan]

Thats a shocker Mats .... very sorry to hear that. I didn't notice anything remotely interesting at the Weybridge or Ascot stores when I was there recently.

[MatsP]

Apparently, in todays e-mail from the solicitor, they have gone to a private individual, so they are likely not turning up in shops... Which makes it worse, as I [think I] can't request to know the name of the private individual. Absolutely gutted.

And yes, I'm getting a solicitor on my side on the case. Just need to find a solicitor that is available now...

--
Mats

[sidguppy]

Which makes it worse, as I [think I] can't request to know the name of the private individual.

actually i think you can, or even have a right to.
unless UK justice laws are very different from here, that is

what they have done is nothing less than a kind of "lawmakers organized theft", and you have a right to trace and reclaim property that belongs to you, even if it's supposedly only half yours.

the fact that the culprits didn't wear a mask, a crowbar and didn't come through the open forced window doesn't change a thing.
this is theft and hence what they have done is even illegal.

[Bas Pels]

from a legal point of view in NL the problem would be - was the buyer justified when he bought the fishes? I would assume Mrs Mats did not tell him she was not allowed to sell them (which she wasn't) and I think it happens more women keep fishes. Therefore, if this had happened in NL, Mats would not have anything against the buyer.

Still, what Mrs Mats did would be punishable, and she would have to pay the damages - as if Mats would be helped by this, especially because the value of the fishes can not be put into money.

But I know nothing of UK law. This is not something which has been harmonized all over the EU - I think I'm happy to say

[MatsP]

I'm not sure there was any money transferred. Certainly when she phoned my LFS she wasn't asking them for money.

I have just spoken to a solicitors firm, and and I will go visiting tomorrow. But it looks very bleak...

--
Mats

[RickE]

I'm pretty sure under English law that if someone buys goods that are later found to be stolen it's bad luck and they have to give them back. I might come down to whether the fish are regarded as stolen or not.

[Martin S]

I'll keep my eye open on another UK based fish forum too, they may appear for sale there incase your relationship with PC was mentioned. I only had one tank to move when my ex and I parted, so I took it with me, but do feel for you Mats at this difficult time - it's not like there's enough other stuff to deal with in these circumstances!
Good luck and i'll be in touch.
Martin

[Viktor Jarikov]

Hey Mats, this sucks big time. My prayers go out to you, your wife, and especially your children. Please, by all means, do not give up hope. This too shall pass. You know, we are all pulling for you, right? If you ever feel like switching continents, you know where to find me, for one, should you need help, right?

[andy75]

Im gutted for you,I really hope it all works out for you and somehow youget yur fishies back.

Andy

[MattP]

Fingers crossed you'll have a happy ending because this sounds like a terrible situation to be going through. Good Luck Mats!I'll keep my eye out for any sign of these fishes being sold on the web.

Cheers Matt