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Owner ‘gutted’ by cruel fish poisoning at Oakleigh aquarium
15 Apr 10 @ 12:05pm by Michelle Carnovale
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THE RSPCA has condemned the deliberate poisoning of hundreds of tropical fish in an Oakleigh aquarium overnight on Tuesday.
Thieves broke into Seca Marine Life aquarium in Warrigal Rd, stealing six baby pythons and pouring an unknown toxic liquid into a fish tank with a filtration system that serviced 34 more tanks.
RSPCA spokesman Tim Pilgrim said the organisation was “shocked to hear of this malicious and deliberate act”.
He said there was evidence that fish could feel pain and there could be a case for prosecuting the offenders on animal cruelty charges.
Owner Robert Anderson said he was “gutted” by the attack, which killed about $30,000 of tropical fish.
Remaining fish burnt by the unknown chemical were “struggling” to survive, he said.
“Whatever it was, it must have been pretty horrible,” Mr Anderson said.
The father of two said the burglary was the third at his store in seven months and he believed the crime was “industry related”.
“We’ve only just lowered our prices and it’s a very competitive market out here,” Mr Anderson said.
The aquarium, Victoria’s biggest stockist of tropical fish, now imports thousands of tropical and freshwater fish.
In one of last year’s burglaries, thieves poured a poison – possibly bleach – in fish tanks to cause maximum death.
Detective Sen-Constable Natalie Dollard said Tuesday’s break-in was “unusual” because of the poisonings.
“We don’t really have any leads at the moment, but it might have been committed as more of a personal attack,” Sen-Constable Dollard said.
Mr Pilgrim said cruelty charges could be laid only if the poison was identified as “being able to cause pain or suffering”.
Anyone with information can phone Oakleigh police on 9567 8910 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
