I’d like you to meet this little guy. I named him “Arrowhead”. Arrowhead is a three inch Central American Cichlid called Amphilophus trimaculatus. What makes him unusual and gives him his name, is that he is missing 90% of his dorsal and his entire caudal fins. In nautical terms...rudderless…for the past year and a half
His presence in that tank was all Mother Nature. After the large adults breed, I let the fry with the them until they are around a half inch…or at least visible. Lol. I net and move the fry to a tank to grow…or just feed them to other fish.
Good time to mention, I am NOT Dr. Doolittle. I don’t feel bad about the ready made food for my other fish. And I’ve been known to speed along the demise of a fish that wasn’t doing well. But if I decide to keep the fry, or raise a fish, I am all in. And I’ve done a great job keeping animals alive for many years..
So. The Arrowhead was pretty crafty from the start. He kept avoiding the net and being moved to safety with his siblings. So I left him in. And he got beat up. A lot. I thought eventually, as in nature, it would resolve itself. But as time went on the Arrow prevailed. The others don’t seem to care that he’s sharing the tank. But when food hits the water he has to be quick or lucky to get fed. A fish buddy said, you should cull that fish. I said, are you kidding. This little guys a survivor. So I make a special effort to make sure he gets fed. I thought about moving him, but sometimes status quo is best. I’m really digging this little guy.
His presence in that tank was all Mother Nature. After the large adults breed, I let the fry with the them until they are around a half inch…or at least visible. Lol. I net and move the fry to a tank to grow…or just feed them to other fish.
Good time to mention, I am NOT Dr. Doolittle. I don’t feel bad about the ready made food for my other fish. And I’ve been known to speed along the demise of a fish that wasn’t doing well. But if I decide to keep the fry, or raise a fish, I am all in. And I’ve done a great job keeping animals alive for many years..
So. The Arrowhead was pretty crafty from the start. He kept avoiding the net and being moved to safety with his siblings. So I left him in. And he got beat up. A lot. I thought eventually, as in nature, it would resolve itself. But as time went on the Arrow prevailed. The others don’t seem to care that he’s sharing the tank. But when food hits the water he has to be quick or lucky to get fed. A fish buddy said, you should cull that fish. I said, are you kidding. This little guys a survivor. So I make a special effort to make sure he gets fed. I thought about moving him, but sometimes status quo is best. I’m really digging this little guy.
I remember a time when prople woud intentionally clip or stunt a fish for a premium $$. lol Crazy.