Born without a tail????

[Kristanathaniel]

We bought a female Bi-colored peacock that was holding. When we stripped her fry we discovered that one of them did not have a tail. It appeared to be as though it hatched that way. It is now 3 months old and seems to be fine. It is in a community tank with the rest of it's brother and sisters and many large cichlids. None of the fish pick on it or harass it at all. It's body is the same size as the rest of them it just doesn't have a tail end. Has anyone else ever had a cichlid born without half of it's body and grow to maturity????

 

[joe jaskot]

The fish is deformed and should have been culled a long time ago. If you want to keep the fish, fine, but don't allow that fish to breed.

 

[Alton]

There is nothing wrong with breeding this fish. First off it is a Genetic Defect not a "Freak"!! Secondly I would doubt it can breed or will live long enough to do so and lastly its offspring will not have nothing wrong with them. This fish has a defect not the plague. It is no different then a human born without a limb. Try telling someone to kill this person and see how far that goes!!

 

[COG Commando]

I have never seen anything like this before so it's very perplexing. I would like to see how it turns out. Does it seem to have mobility issues?? Also, people on this forum seriously need to shut it with the don't sell/distribute hybrids/deformed fish. It doesn't add to the thread and it's as far as I've seen it's only ever been brought up in a condescending way. That issues seems to always be the first comment on one of these threads... Everyone knows, it's old news.

 

[Alton]

I agree COG, I have a Genetic Mutation fish I have posted several times and because of this lil guy I have left 3 sites. People have to realize one thing, It is NOT in their tank. What a person does with the tanks in their home is no ones business but their own. Personally I am a purist and keep my fish in species only tanks, but that is my choice. Hybrids are becoming more popular then pure breeds. So face the facts nothing one or a group of people is going to change this fact. Hybrization is the oldest arguement in the hobby, after 60 years you would think it would be an old topic, but it is not.

Sorry to the OP for the thread takeover. I know what you are going thru and please if you want to raise this guy then do so. If you wish to breed him please feel free to do so. I have 8 months of research in Genetic Mutations, I assure you it will produce normal offspring.

 

[Red Devil]

It could have lost its tail from momma... did this species swim in and out of her mouth as venustus do.. or another fish could have nipped it.. do you have tank mates.. these things do happen.. and usually it will effect the longivity of his/her life span.. but also remarkable that nature overcomes their handicap.. i would think this is more due to injury then genetics.. even moving the mother in a net could make her bite down on the little one accidently if her mouth is full of babies during the move...

 

[joe jaskot]

I'm sorry I don't understand your points. Why would anyone want to breed a fish with a genetic defect? When breeding fish one has to learn how to cull. You want to pass on the best traits of a fish, not deformities. It is irresponsible to sell deformed fish to other hobbyists.

 

[ecoli73]

If it is an injury then it is not a genetic defect; but if it is not an injury, then it is a defect. It won't compete well with others in any case; getting eaten or bullied to death by a larger fish or culling it makes no difference to the fish in question.

As for genetic defects...yes we are playing god...but so what. We chose what is desirable and what is not. Albino is a desirable trait, certain color is, but tailess is not; unless people like to look at half a fish.

 

[ecoli73]

Sorry to the OP for the thread takeover. I know what you are going thru and please if you want to raise this guy then do so. If you wish to breed him please feel free to do so. I have 8 months of research in Genetic Mutations, I assure you it will produce normal offspring.

Really? technical details please.

 

[Eupterus]

I don't see any reason to cull a handicapped fish that can enjoy a reasonable quality of life, which is every person's personal choice in deciding what that quality life is.