What should I do with my Midas Cichlid?

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oii

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2007
489
2
46
Michigan
I've had him for about 2 years in a tank with 2 jack dempseys and 2 convicts. I had a pleco in their tank a long time ago but they ended up getting sick of him one day and taking a huge chunk out of him. Other than that I've had no problems. I've always been afraid to throw feeders in the tank because I always assumed they would just make the dominant fish more aggressive towards the smaller ones so I have never given them feeders, only pellets and flakes.

I got them all when they were babies between 2-3 inches which was fine but now hes about 11-13 inches long. He just recently started getting aggressive and beat up my 8inch jack dempsey who was the second biggest fish in my tank. He beat him up so bad that I couldn't save him and had to euthanize him. The rest of the fish never grew and are all still 2-3 inches including the other jack.

I know that my midas is only going to get bigger and more aggressive and I don't know how I should go about getting rid of him since I cannot keep him and don't want to go out and buy a bigger tank. Somebody suggested putting him on craigslist.com or taking him to a non-chain pet store for store credit. He's in the 30gallon tank by himself right now and he's seems to be the angriest he's ever been. He's never been beaten up, or been sick or anything like that and has no flaws at all. I know I can't keep him but I don't just want to give him away to anybody. How should I go about selling him or trading him and how much is he worth? On another note how do I tell if he's actually a he or a she?

midas.jpg
 
First of all, its a male. Notice the nuchal bump on its forehead?
Second, he may sell for $40-$60 near you, but near me it would be 60-80.
Thirdly, feeding just flakes and pellets isnt a very good diet. You need to supplement them with a protien based food such as shrimp, squid, fish, worms etc.
Fourthly, How could you keep him in a 30 gallon, or was he in a bigger tank? (I hope it was bigger than 75G).
Fifthly, Just call up a non-chain store, and tell them that you are going to bring in a 13" midas/red devil. if they say yes, bring him in.
 
Mystix212;1221268; said:
First of all, its a male. Notice the nuchal bump on its forehead?
Second, he may sell for $40-$60 near you, but near me it would be 60-80.
Thirdly, feeding just flakes and pellets isnt a very good diet. You need to supplement them with a protien based food such as shrimp, squid, fish, worms etc.
Fourthly, How could you keep him in a 30 gallon, or was he in a bigger tank? (I hope it was bigger than 75G).
Fifthly, Just call up a non-chain store, and tell them that you are going to bring in a 13" midas/red devil. if they say yes, bring him in.
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I don't think it would sell for that much, at least not in my area. We have a very similar one at the store that we would be happy to get rid of for $25. Large Cichlids are tough to get rid of.
 
Mystix212;1221268; said:
First of all, its a male. Notice the nuchal bump on its forehead?
Second, he may sell for $40-$60 near you, but near me it would be 60-80.
Thirdly, feeding just flakes and pellets isnt a very good diet. You need to supplement them with a protien based food such as shrimp, squid, fish, worms etc.
Fourthly, How could you keep him in a 30 gallon, or was he in a bigger tank? (I hope it was bigger than 75G).
Fifthly, Just call up a non-chain store, and tell them that you are going to bring in a 13" midas/red devil. if they say yes, bring him in.
Click to expand...


I'm trying to take all this in and I want to let you know that I appreciate all of it. I'll let you know that this is my first tank that I've had (I've had it 2 years and I'm 19) and anything I can learn from the members here I am thankful for.

here go my answers..

First off I always thought the bump on his head is where a he and a she would store their food.

Secondly.. where would I sell him?

Thirdly, I never knew that. Next time I am out I will pick up some brine shrimp.

Fourthly.. I've had him since he was 2inches long and he grew to the size he is now off of pellets in a 30 gallon tank. (I always heard fish grow to their environment.. I guess not)

Fifthly. Theres a really good pet store near me that has some pretty awesome fish but I don't think they sell very well. They've had a pair of breeding jaguars (roughly)16inches long for over 4months for sale for $150 and they still haven't sold. I'm not sure if they are going to want to take him. Last off, is a midas cichlid the same thing as a red devil?
 
Welcome to MFK, Oii
good luck on re homing this aggro fish! its legal to ask for an adoption fee on craigslist, so hopefully you can get something in return. anybody that asks for this fish, make sure they have a large tank that will accomodate such an aggressive fish.
 
Sturgeon;1223435; said:
Welcome to MFK, Oii
good luck on re homing this aggro fish! its legal to ask for an adoption fee on craigslist, so hopefully you can get something in return. anybody that asks for this fish, make sure they have a large tank that will accomodate such an aggressive fish.
Click to expand...

yeah I know, I really don't want to get rid of him but I currently have him in a 30gallon. :-/ If people actually read my posting I'm hoping they can hook me up with at least a 50+ gallon tank for him. Until then I'll just keep calling around the local salvation army's. I have seen 40-50gallon tanks in there filled with stuff and with stands for like $30. I'm strapped on cash but I can probably gather up at least $100 if I find something on craigslist. I don't really see anybody paying $75 for him but I don't really want to get rid of him and I might be able to negotiate.
 
Oil,
Where in MI are you located? Is the midas white or is it the picture? The forehead hump doesn't indicate sex although males are usually more pronounced. I have a white female midas with a hump equal or larger.
KNH
 
KNH;1223593; said:
Oil,
Where in MI are you located? Is the midas white or is it the picture? The forehead hump doesn't indicate sex although males are usually more pronounced. I have a white female midas with a hump equal or larger.
KNH
Click to expand...

I am located in Howell but I could deliver. Somebody told me he was a male because of the lump on his forehead but I didn't think that was a good way to sex fish... It* has never laid eggs in 2 years so I am assuming its a male. He's light orange/almost white. Everybody who has ever been to my house refers to him as "The Big Ugly Pink Fish" and everybody hates him except me and my mom haha. Were you interested in him? If so where are you located?
 
oii;1223599; said:
I am located in Howell but I could deliver. Somebody told me he was a male because of the lump on his forehead but I didn't think that was a good way to sex fish... It* has never laid eggs in 2 years so I am assuming its a male. He's light orange/almost white. Everybody who has ever been to my house refers to him as "The Big Ugly Pink Fish" and everybody hates him except me and my mom haha. Were you interested in him? If so where are you located?
Click to expand...

Well........... I'm trying to talk myself out of it but maybe:D I live in central Ohio. I have a 750g community tank with a female midas that keeps laying eggs and attepting to breed with a tilapia. A breeding pair of midas may cause some grief for everyone else in the tank so I'll have to think about it. Do you have any other pics of him? ( I would guess yours is male due mainly to his size) If you want to pm me feel free.
KNH
 
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