Deformed Endlers - Inbreeding

Truck · Oct 12, 2008

separate the deformed batch of fry to a smaller tank. and this may or may not come as a shock but seeing as there deformed there water tolerence isnt going to be great so any temprature fluctuations. rapid amonia changes etc may kill them

also you can dispose of them by using a craft knife and slicing where the head meets the body this is the most humane way as there isnt any pain and it is instant any twitching will just be the nerves of the fish.they will be dead. deformed genes should not be bread as the worsy comes to the worst you could end up killing an entire species . is slightly eztreme but there is a possibility

aaronnorth · Oct 12, 2008

thanks, i dont know what to do with the adults, i dont want to euthanise them (or is the only option?), and they will only keep producong more derofmed fry wont they?

Truck · Oct 12, 2008

clove oil and ice a big NO NO this is the cruelest death of a fish as it takes a long time and never flush them down the toilet use the knife method very humane

with the adults you would have to keep them separate and make sure they are not in a tank with any guppies

aaronnorth · Oct 12, 2008

knife? if that involves any cutting then it is definatley a no.

no guppies, i dont like them.

Truck · Oct 12, 2008

yes cutting them its the quickest. or you could get your vet to do it. the other quick humane way is to wrap them in a tissue and use a rolling pin on the head. its messy. but the alchohol, clove oil and ice methods are CRUEL. if you cant stomach doing it yourself take them to a vet or someone that will do it for you this is how i felt with a batch of deformed platy fry . some of them had 2 tails :crazy :

aaronnorth · Oct 12, 2008

i have noticed one of them having an extra fin today too :unsure:

Truck · Oct 12, 2008

i think you should feed them to your chicllids

Piltdownpaul · Oct 12, 2008

Actually scientists have proven the fish has a euphouric sensation in the brain when frozen by ice. This is my preferred method for fry and small fish and its very quick.

aaronnorth · Oct 12, 2008

i think you should feed them to your chicllids

a few are herbivorous so it isnt the best idea.

three-fingers · Oct 12, 2008

If you want to euthanise, I'd read this topic through first to get a good idea of different opinions and such: [URL="http

/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=207212&st=0"]http

/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...207212&st=0[/URL].

My method for small fish is to quickly as fast as possible hit them (in a bag) with a brick or whatever is solid and on hand. Very fast and guaranteed to work, it's unpleasant to perform, but IMO I'd rather use that than chance it with other methods.
For bigger fish a knife or brick to the head would be how I'd do it, but luckily haven't ever had to yet.

Personally, I'd try some in with your cichlids first to see if they are eaten, and if they are put them all in, some may survive anyway - I've seen loads of predatory/aggressive fish tanks with breeding populations of guppies, like piranhas and breeding convicts. With some heavy plant growth or intricate rock work they actually seem to feel safe, and get pretty bold, oblivious to the predator.

If they are just killed, then try to find someone who would appreciate them to feed their fish.

susankat · Oct 12, 2008

Clove oil is relatively painless, if you put a few drops into a glass of water with a few of the fish it will put them to sleep like an anestetic then add more oil to the glass and it will kill them.

It sounds as though you had gotten at least one bad endler in the beginning and as they kept breeding the bad genes were spread to most of the fish. I would dispose of all of them and start all over, making sure you have good stock. I have been breeding endlers for more than 3 years and have never had a problem with that. My problem was due to an Ice storm that kept me without power for 9 days, but had 4 remaining females and then added 10 more fish. Still no deformities at all.