Flowerhorn cropping?

[calichai]

Hello MFKer's,

I have a flowerhorn that I'm trying to breed and have been in the market for a female for some time now. Today I met a breeder who had a very nice female with a big kok. The photos looked great. When I arrived at his place I noticed the female looked rather odd. The top lip was removed. I though it was lose during spawning or such but the seller told me tha the lips were cropped to keep the fish from biting his males and damaging them.. Is this common in asia to crop the lips like that? . I would never buy from over seas if that is the case. I felt really bad for her and didn't want something like that in my livingroom show tank. I hope this is not a common breeding practice. For now i will just search local breeders for a female. Just had to get this off my chest.

 

[luohanfan]

I have heard of this method, and it's quite disgusting, unethical, cruel, and really it's not needed..
You can breed fish without cutting them up!

 

[KLee79]

wow..never heard that. good to know...

 

[Dylz]

:WTF: sickos

 

[Loves severums]

:WTF: sickos

^i agree

 

[beantickler]

I have not heard of this but usually top breeders keep their females a secret so I wouldn't doubt that this goes on... I would not purchase a fish like this...

 

[calichai]

So i am assuming this is not a common method, at least i hope not. Aren't there ways to breed them with dividers so the cropping isn't necessary? Man i felt really bad for her, she could not bite the male back. He had perfect fins and she was all tattered up.

 

[Camphilophus]

Sounds like a stupid fish haver that doesn't know what they are doing. Probably the same type of person that will tell you a fish only grows as big as it's environment.

 

[SiR831]

I've heard of Breeders doing this although i don't agree with this practice....& yes it's to not damage the other fish.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Im curious what the FH with chopped lips looks like?