Lacey D
- #1
OK, so this a topic I don't really like, but here goes--
What do you do with your livebearer culls--either the ones born with defects, or when you just have too many that you don't want to breed?
The story (told 100 times on this site already) is that I got 5 endler livebearer (K class)--2 males, 3 females. 2 of the females arrived mature and already pregnant...and between the 2 of them I now have roughly 100 endlers. I did nothing to try to protect them, but the stories that endler don't eat their fry AND are incredibly hardy are true. I have already separated all the maturing fry by sex, but my first two females keep popping them out like clockwork, and 2-10 gallon aquariums just isn't cutting it. MOST of these aren't going to be the scarlet/chilI type I wanted. They're coming out with everything from snake patterns to a beautiful blue iridescence.
When I got them I sounded the lfs I bought them using my surplus as trade-ins (experience with guppies taught me that there would be more than I wanted, even if I didn't expect dozens per birth and a hundred within the first 3 months...), and they seemed open to it. But this last weekend the manager said that she wasn't interested in endler right now, and that I'd have to establish a relationship and have a constant supply of decent quality, healthy adults, roughly 50 males, 50 females/month IF they wanted them...which they don't. I'm going to talk to the OTHER lfs in my area this week, but I'm not set up to be a breeder at that level, nor do I want to be.
I also belong to the local Aquarium Society, so I am planning on talking to people there, and maybe taking the nicer males and females to the auction next month.
The main problem I have is that I have two endler I know of with defects, who have matured into a male and a female. The male has a herniated abdomen, so insides aren't inside...and has had that since birth. I kept expecting him to get an infection or blockage or something, but no. He's now an adult with his intestines hanging out, and not much I can do. The other is a girl with a bent spine--not as bad as some, but enough that I don't want her to breed. For right now the boy is in with my other boys, the girl is in with the mature females and developing fry. I don't believe the male could breed if he wanted to because of his "fringe". The female on the other hand could, and since she is in the grow-out tank, there is a possibility that I will miss sexing a boy and he will get her before I notice.
Ideally, I will add another two tanks for fry to grow-out in-- a 20 gallon long, and a 27-gallon. But that won't be until the autumn because of time commitments and budget. And that still doesn't really solve my central issue--that unless I find a place for all the unwanted endler to go, I am quickly going to get overwhelmed...again.
So... what strategies do other people who have these incredibly prolific fish use? I have no personal issues with people using them as feeders (since these are hybrids and not of high value to the species)...and am tempted to get a crayfish if there are no better solutions.
What do you do with your livebearer culls--either the ones born with defects, or when you just have too many that you don't want to breed?
The story (told 100 times on this site already) is that I got 5 endler livebearer (K class)--2 males, 3 females. 2 of the females arrived mature and already pregnant...and between the 2 of them I now have roughly 100 endlers. I did nothing to try to protect them, but the stories that endler don't eat their fry AND are incredibly hardy are true. I have already separated all the maturing fry by sex, but my first two females keep popping them out like clockwork, and 2-10 gallon aquariums just isn't cutting it. MOST of these aren't going to be the scarlet/chilI type I wanted. They're coming out with everything from snake patterns to a beautiful blue iridescence.
When I got them I sounded the lfs I bought them using my surplus as trade-ins (experience with guppies taught me that there would be more than I wanted, even if I didn't expect dozens per birth and a hundred within the first 3 months...), and they seemed open to it. But this last weekend the manager said that she wasn't interested in endler right now, and that I'd have to establish a relationship and have a constant supply of decent quality, healthy adults, roughly 50 males, 50 females/month IF they wanted them...which they don't. I'm going to talk to the OTHER lfs in my area this week, but I'm not set up to be a breeder at that level, nor do I want to be.
I also belong to the local Aquarium Society, so I am planning on talking to people there, and maybe taking the nicer males and females to the auction next month.
The main problem I have is that I have two endler I know of with defects, who have matured into a male and a female. The male has a herniated abdomen, so insides aren't inside...and has had that since birth. I kept expecting him to get an infection or blockage or something, but no. He's now an adult with his intestines hanging out, and not much I can do. The other is a girl with a bent spine--not as bad as some, but enough that I don't want her to breed. For right now the boy is in with my other boys, the girl is in with the mature females and developing fry. I don't believe the male could breed if he wanted to because of his "fringe". The female on the other hand could, and since she is in the grow-out tank, there is a possibility that I will miss sexing a boy and he will get her before I notice.
Ideally, I will add another two tanks for fry to grow-out in-- a 20 gallon long, and a 27-gallon. But that won't be until the autumn because of time commitments and budget. And that still doesn't really solve my central issue--that unless I find a place for all the unwanted endler to go, I am quickly going to get overwhelmed...again.
So... what strategies do other people who have these incredibly prolific fish use? I have no personal issues with people using them as feeders (since these are hybrids and not of high value to the species)...and am tempted to get a crayfish if there are no better solutions.
