Punching Holes In Fins To Reduce Aggression?

[RD.]

Maybe I just don't see it, but what does he have to gain from telling a group of three guys that he punches holes in male dovii fins when tank breeding them if he doesn't actually do it?

If you view this comment from a sales perspective, from someone whose business is based on selling large aggressive species of fish, it opens the door to anyone that doesn't have a large tank (such as a 240 gallon), in being able to keep & breed some of these large aggressive species. That could equate to several thousand hobbyists that have smaller tanks and have always wanted to keep some of the larger more aggressive species, but didn't think that their tank was large enough. According to Don, this is an easy fix, just punch some holes in the males fins.

From a hobbyist perspective, all I see is the potential of having a bacterial infection set in at the site of each hole, and a male that will most likely still be able to beat the living hell out of a female in a 100 gallon tank.

Probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

 

[Sarah88]

Since the tail grows back why not just take a pair of scissors and cut the whole thing off at the base?

while both are bad, totally taking the tail off (i assume you mean BEFORE the base so that it can grow back?) would hinder the fish's ability to move forward all together (if you mean after the base as to mutilate the fish and prevent tail from ever growing back) then that is not even comparable because that would be permanently deforming the fish and would cause a great deal of pain to the fish (but i know your just playing devil's advocate here haha)

 

[bobblehead27]

Sounds fine to me.

Painlessly put some small holes in the males fin to decrease the probability of the female being killed painfully by a big male with big teeth.....Who can argue with that.

Sound absolutely fine in a breeding practice like Don's. Like others have said, I wouldn't do it at home, though. I would just use a divider.

I would agree, but who knows what sorta disease and infections the fish might encounter due to the holes in the fins, plus who's to say how many's too much? I would never do it even if it was perfectly safe tho, i couldn't pull myself to hold a fish down and punch holes in it's fins.

 

[balton777]

Sarah, I was being sarcastic but I've had a fish who's tail was down to the nub and it could still swim just fine. That's how I know that poking a couple of small holes in it won't do anything to slow him down.

Agree with RD's last post.

 

[AcsFoolMike]

If you view this comment from a sales perspective, from someone whose business is based on selling large aggressive species of fish, it opens the door to anyone that doesn't have a large tank (such as a 240 gallon), in being able to keep & breed some of these large aggressive species. That could equate to several thousand hobbyists that have smaller tanks and have always wanted to keep some of the larger more aggressive species, but didn't think that their tank was large enough. According to Don, this is an easy fix, just punch some holes in the males fins.

From a hobbyist perspective, all I see is the potential of having a bacterial infection set in at the site of each hole, and a male that will most likely still be able to beat the living hell out of a female in a 100 gallon tank.

Probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

That's a fair point, RD., I could see that.

 

[High City Rida]

TO be honest I heard this story first from a member here who obtained an 18'' male Dovii from Don's stock and was breeding in a as fate would have it a 120g. Now all Dovii owners will understand this is not ideal by any means but we all have had our moment's. Needless to say they are still breeding in the tank and he did not use this knowledge that was passed to him but as a multiple parachromis and breeder of Dovii I will say the concept and theroy is sound but in no way will curve his aggression just as stated will only give her a better chance of survival in a small tank. Honestly if you can't get a bigger tank to provide more cover then you should not even try keeping Dovii which really is one of the few sp of CIchlids I could see using this method on Red Devil, Black Nasty's, and maybe Umbee included.

 

[balton777]

Will someone please recommend a good hole punch? Thanks.

 

[sheheartsfish]

I would not buy fish from him. I do not condone people that mutilate animals, and punching holes in fins constitutes under that as well.

Agree'd. I have never heard of him though, until now.

 

[Sarah88]

Balton i find that the first one that actually has HOLE PUNCH clearly written across the top seems to work the best, otherwise you know those things could be confusing lol

 

[aclockworkorange]

I have heard of this guy.. but I couldn't tell you who he is..

But based on 2 things said in this post:

1. punching holes in fins
2. Dovii + manga in same pond = hybrid

I would not buy fish from him. I do not condone people that mutilate animals, and punching holes in fins constitutes under that as well.

And as long as you have different species that can breed together in a tank/pond that you can not monitor; you have to sell them as hybrids- not pure because you don't know for sure.

Just FYI, if you keep a lot of cichlids, I'd bet there's a conkel fish somewhere in their blood line in at least one of your fish. Do you need more fish for your random hybrid "projects" BTW?