the culling of fish

[aclockworkorange]

I agree with the comments on the necessity of culling. But the only time it should be considered IMO is if you're considering either breeding the fish or selling it to someone else down the line (as in not intending to keep it for life). If you're just looking for a "wet pet," and whatever defect the fish has doesn't affect its quality of life, by all means keep it!

If you consider yourself a "serious" fish keeper, and are keeping species that are rare and facing potential extinction in their natural habitat sometime in the future (like lake Victorian africans or some SA/CA cichlids, some chinese species like hillstream loaches, or some marine species), IMO your goal should always be to keep the gene pool strong and breed them if you have the means to and get them out into the hobby. Some fish in the hobby are actually extinct in the wild... Red tailed sharks come to mind. In cases like this it is especially important to consider this stuff.

 

[Blue2Fyre]

I dunno I can see both sides. If the fish has already made it to a decent size with it's deformity then I can't see the point of culling. If we are talking small fry I can definitely see it.

I got a bag of electric blue haps at an auction. I've always wanted a nice looking male for my display tank. They were only .5" but 3 of them had badly crooked spines. They were also smaller than the more healthy fish so I culled them. I just couldn't justify the feeding and tank space for them. Plus they would have been picked on my the larger fry. Sounds heartless but they most likely would not have made it to adulthood anyway.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I understand the decision to cull a fish is always hard. Like I stated, if it is solely a pet and its a deformity that doesn't drastically affect the fish's quality of life, I see no reason to cull. But please don't but bad genes out into the hobby. Many fish are facing ever depleting habitats around the world. If youre serious about making contributions to the hobby you have a responsibility to put the best stuff out there for future generations.

 

[bigbadfish711]

I understand the decision to cull a fish is always hard. Like I stated, if it is solely a pet and its a deformity that doesn't drastically affect the fish's quality of life, I see no reason to cull. But please don't but bad genes out into the hobby. Many fish are facing ever depleting habitats around the world. If youre serious about making contributions to the hobby you have a responsibility to put the best stuff out there for future generations.

Well said

 

[dadecountyalan]

culling a fish is a necessity. i have done my share with culling discus. ive done it when i tried to breed and ive done it growing discus out. if i dont like the quality ill sell it or give it away. if i dont find a home in 2 days. bye bye. i understand people might have emotions and feelings towards certain fish but you have to remember its a fish. not a dog, cat, ect.

and theres many ways of culling a fish that causes them no pain

 

[bobblehead27]

yeah..i got a tailless convict a while back, i had a few people saying i should just put her down because it was a defect or injury. she is a perfectly healthy fish...lovely and cute!

I hate when people suggest killing a fish just because it could of had a birth defect or was injured in the past..or a hybrid

I get the culling thing but why after the fish is grown do people suggest putting it down when the fish is perfectly healthy now?!....GGRRRRRR

anyway..rant on!!!!!!!
This little girl really holds her own
here is my little rescue ^_^ ..one of the most colorful convict females i have seen!(need new pics of her she has grown!!)

I used to have a kenyi johanii mix that turned out to have no tail (sorta similar to this) and it was my favorite fish i ever had (i called it fredo)... He was such a fun fish to watch cuz of his personality... and his colors changed from a dark purple to a deep black and back depending on what mood he was in... unfortunately one day i tried rushing him into a smaller tank that had not fully cycled and he died I have never been so mad at myself :-D:-D:-D:-D

if i dont find a home in 2 days. bye bye. i understand people might have emotions and feelings towards certain fish but you have to remember its a fish. not a dog, cat, ect.

and theres many ways of culling a fish that causes them no pain

what exactly makes a fish less valuable than a dog or cat? you can't come onto a fishkeeper site and say something like that, some of us love our fish more than cats or dogs...





Of course i understand that one should not breeed a deformed fish, but i don't see killing one as an option either... maybe as a fry if you use it as feed fish then it's not as bad i guess cuz people use feed fish all the time... but never just killing a fully grown or anything other than a fry... i'm sorry, i just can't see it... just don't breed or sell the deformed fish... or even if you want to cull your fish, whatever, it's america i guess, but i don't think its right that you should tell someone they should kill their fish which they very well may love just like Smarchant did... people will get really offended, i know i woulda if anyone told me i should kill Fredo...

 

[Carefree_Dude]

Someday, when aliens enslave us, weak and deformed humans will be culled.

 

[Raetak]

Someday, when aliens enslave us, weak and deformed humans will be culled.

Well I can't say that would be a bad thing, at least they care about the over all health of humanity. I mean look at humanity, many people CANNOT live without drugs, or are only alive because we rule the planet and have free time to help them.

what exactly makes a fish less valuable than a dog or cat? you can't come onto a fishkeeper site and say something like that, some of us love our fish more than cats or dogs...





Of course i understand that one should not breeed a deformed fish, but i don't see killing one as an option either... maybe as a fry if you use it as feed fish then it's not as bad i guess cuz people use feed fish all the time... but never just killing a fully grown or anything other than a fry... i'm sorry, i just can't see it... just don't breed or sell the deformed fish... or even if you want to cull your fish, whatever, it's america i guess, but i don't think its right that you should tell someone they should kill their fish which they very well may love just like Smarchant did... people will get really offended, i know i woulda if anyone told me i should kill Fredo...

Actually I'm pretty sure that puppies/cats get culled + thousands of cats and dogs are killed every year because there are to many of them.



Over all I STRONGLY believe in culling. This is mainly due to my ownership of a Firemouth that lacked any color, it was grey and black, NO red. This is due to irresponsible breeding / not culling!

 

[ziggy2]

That's a unique looking fish.

 

[libayn]

im not taking either side in the debate but i do have a question this topic brings to mind.a fish seen as not up to someones standard is culled so why do people have issue with a fish being kept in to small a tank where it becomes stunted ? a fish culled is excepted but ones living conditions can be seen as cruelty.its just something i found interesting reading this topic.ty for any input