Well, actually, most tropical aquarium fishes couldn't survive out west due
to cold temperatures. However, in many of the warm springs in remote parts
of Nevada one can find mollies, swordtails, guppies, convict cichlids, etc,
etc. Even in places such as Wyoming and Idaho exotic tropical fishes abound
in hot springs.
However, this is not from the actions of an aquarist who would be involved
in captive maintainance of an endangered species, it is more probably an
uneducated person who lives locally. Australia has recently made literature
and posters more freely available to the general public via fish stores and
other places regarding the problems of releasing exotic fishes. I have
never seen such in the US, though I believe Texas is presently working
towards this to a degree (David Schleser pers comm).
I think aquarists need to quit moaning about all the damage fish and game
departments have done while ignoring the damage tropical fish have also done
(even if it is far less extensive). Until the aquarium hobby faces this
fact that there is a problem of hobbyist and fish farm releases and begins
to deal with it they will alway have an image problem.
Tootles
Peter