killing a fish on purpose

[chefjamesscott]

I wanted to pose this ? for yall to give me your thoughts.

I have done this one time thus far to a very healthy fish, not that I killed it, but that I put it in a tank where I knew it would die in time.

It was a red zebra kenyi who was evil to core. I had tried him in 7 or so various tanks ranging from 55g to 300g and the end result was always the same, he would coral all the fish to one corner and lay some smack down on whoever ventured into his turf. It was the 300g that was his demise.

I knew that when I put him in there he would try his tuff guy act and for a bit he chilled out because in that tank he was not a big fish. Eventually the others in the tank took it personal and I found what was left of rocky the red, he ended up being a shell of his former self. So much for a kenyi who peeves off a zebra tilapia amongst a few others.

Now my real ? is this. I have a pacu that I rehomed from someones 55g who has turned somewhat murderous. Thus far it has killed a adult green terror, a adult jack dempsy and it just offed my 12 inch tiger oscar. I am about to take it out and treat it to the plastic bag quat sanitizer spa treatment, kinda like taking a big bat and smacking it good.

Problem is no one around here can rehome or will rehome a pacu, I kind wish I actually never rehomed it for someone else. There is one of two last resorts for this fish. I am setting up a 230g and a 300g shortly and am thinking of doing a species only tank, but, that means my thin out my stock plan goes to pot or I have two friends who have big tanks in their restaurant in floor 600g and above floor 500g. If the rehome fails I am hesitant to dedicate a tank only to a pacu.

Have any of you ever killed a problem fish that turned murderous?

 

[~ocean]

no i haven't but in that case u could hand it to a local LFS because they'd might want it!

 

[Angler]

That would be pretty irresponsible.

Kill a fish for displaying it's own natural behaviors?

 

[seaofdreams]

That would be pretty irresponsible.

Kill a fish for displaying it's own natural behaviors?

I'd have to agree here, fish can't differentiate between right and wrong, it's just acting how it sees fit. I think part of keeping pets is understanding that once you have the pet, it is up to you to do the best you can to meet the basic requirements and keep the pet healthy. It seems like too much of an "easy way out" to euthanise an otherwise healthy fish because you're a bit frustrated that it killed your fish.

 

[Stephaan]

R u sure no one there needs the Pacu? just give it a way to a LFS

 

[andres]

I'd have to agree here, fish can't differentiate between right and wrong, it's just acting how it sees fit. I think part of keeping pets is understanding that once you have the pet, it is up to you to do the best you can to meet the basic requirements and keep the pet healthy. It seems like too much of an "easy way out" to euthanise an otherwise healthy fish because you're a bit frustrated that it killed your fish.

While that makes sense for the pacu, what about the other fish it killed? I think if you have a normally non aggressive fish killing all of your fish then you need to remove it. If you have no place for it (tried to give it away, ect) then sometimes killing it is all you can do.

It would be a different story if that pacu was a rhom and he should have known it would have killed all the tank mates.

 

[chefjamesscott]

now about giving the fish the best life I can once I have it.

I took a 10 hr bus ride, rented a uhaul truck and bought a 8 ft 300g in calgary alberta and then drove all night to get the tank home. A total of 35 or so hours with no sleep all to get a larger tank for this pacu. So I would say I have done pretty good with giving it a good life. Now if only my home fish room was done I would have a 700-1500g pond for it to live in.

I have tried to do the lfs option, but, no takers on a 22" pacu. I also tried the offer it out there for free rehome but had people with 55-90g tanks wanting the fish and I could not let it go to a downgrade.

I am really considering more than a few options, and though irresponsible it may seem, I am not going to murder this fish out of anger. Rather I would prefer that other fish like my emperor, my 3 zilli tilapia and a few other very uncommon fish don't get eaten alive. When I rehomed this pacu my studies on the net showed that it would be a peaceful tank mate.

Just so yall know I am not adverse to pacu, because I have 2 in the tank and only one has become a jeckle an hyde fish.

I am goining to sit on this for a day or 2 as the pacu has killed a fish with a 3 week break inbetween rampages. will have to see what people say

 

[seaofdreams]

While that makes sense for the pacu, what about the other fish it killed? I think if you have a normally non aggressive fish killing all of your fish then you need to remove it. If you have no place for it (tried to give it away, ect) then sometimes killing it is all you can do.

It would be a different story if that pacu was a rhom and he should have known it would have killed all the tank mates.

I do certainly agree that the fish has to be removed from remaining fish because you have an obligation to keep those fish safe but I think killing the perpetrator is a little extreme.

 

[andres]

I do certainly agree that the fish has to be removed from remaining fish because you have an obligation to keep those fish safe but I think killing the perpetrator is a little extreme.

I agree, but he has a point. Not many people will take a 22" pacu. If they will, usually they don't have a tank big enough.

If your gonna kill it atleast eat him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI6n8Q1yjtw

 

[cichlaguapote]

Fry it up. It's a fish.

Also this is why rehoming others fish doesn't work sometimes. You don't know what they put that fish through, what it's previous tankmates where that made it develop certain behaviours, etc.