Dilema

[cjohnston]

I have a batch of 30 fry (3 months old) and about five are definately runts. Common sense tells me to give them to my firemouths and rainbow chichlids but I just cannot bring myself to do it.

Do other people do this???

Maybe I'm soft, but I know I won't be able to sell them or give them to my LFS.

 

[chibi]

I'd feed them to your bigger fish. It's better for them and you yourself. I did it as well. At first, I felt really bad about it, but it saved me lots of time taking care of the slow growing fish that had weak immunities. It's best for the runts, too.

 

[highfire]

Oohh, rather you than me. Good luck!

 

[Griz]

I wouldn't hesitate to feed them to your other fish. In the wild, it's probable that only a very few/if any of the fry would make it to adulthood. Only the very strongest make it. This is commonly done, or at least it should be. Keeping any but the best and strongest fry results in weakening the strain. If you are planning to keep and breed these fish it's the right thing to do. If you plan to sell them, it's still the right thing to do.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

I wouldn't hesitate to feed them to your other fish. In the wild, it's probable that only a very few/if any of the fry would make it to adulthood. Only the very strongest make it. This is commonly done, or at least it should be. Keeping any but the best and strongest fry results in weakening the strain. If you are planning to keep and breed these fish it's the right thing to do. If you plan to sell them, it's still the right thing to do.

agreed, unless you have room to house the runts without them breeding further then it's the right thing to do.

Culling is bad but it's a reality of breeding.

 

[cjohnston]

Thanks,

I'll say a prayer and keep my eyes shut!!!