What to do with fish I no longer want?

[FishNewbie82912]

I feel awful but I bought unsexed juvi peacock cichlids...and I ended up with so many females. I really know now I want an all male show tank. But what do I do with my existing females? I have probably 6-7.

 

[Crispii]

Sell them, give them to your LFS, or set up another tank.

 

[OliveFish05]

Your LFS may offer store credit! You could throw them up on your local Craigslist equivalent.

 

[Colin_T]

Keep them and breed them. Then sell the offspring and reinvest the money back into the hobby.

 

[FishNewbie82912]

That’s what my husband suggested but how/where do I sell them? I don’t really want to have to ship fish but I guess I could. And also I don’t know that I have pure bred peacock cichlids or the types I have or who the father is though I assume it’s the head honcho of the tank. When I do see mating occur it’s always with him. I got them from petsmarts, petco and most of the females came from a fish specialty store in New Haven, CT.

And I have yet to get any fish babies. The females always swallow the eggs. I did successfully strip eggs and made a homemade tumbler which was quite the project. And after handling the eggs so much they all turned white. I didn’t want to strip eggs but my son wants baby fish so bad and my strawberry female and male ob mated so I really wanted that combo of fish. But didn’t work. I ordered an actual tumbler for $10 off amazon and I’ll try that next time. I know stripping eggs isn’t ideal but I really want a successful batch of fish babies.

Keep them and breed them. Then sell the offspring and reinvest the money back into the hobby.

 

[AbbeysDad]

That’s what my husband suggested but how/where do I sell them?

You might establish a relationship with a local fish store. Chain stores won't be interested as all their fish are wholesaled by corporate deals. However, most 'mom and pop' fish stores often welcome stock from local breeders.
I have a setup with a local shop that takes about 2-3 dozen fish a month. (not a get rich quick scheme, just an extension of the hobby that pays for food).

 

[Colin_T]

If they are mixed species or colour forms, then don't bother trying to keep them. Don't milk the mothers either, just let nature take its course and if any survive, your child can marvle at the baby fish. If none survive, you don't have to worry about getting rid of them.