Who wants a million fish?

[jimnyc]

So I've noticed that since about 2 weeks ago my NEW 2 black convict cichlids have been hiding out in this cave/rock fixture I bought. They are also very territorial, but I knew that going in. I also noticed they would only eat one at a time, never together.

I got down at eye level and peeked through the cave opening, and sure enough, babies everywhere! They look exactly like look itty bitty baby fish, so I know I'm right. They are on the gravel basically, but frickin everywhere. Mom and Dad aren't too thrilled with anyone that comes near their cave, and the other fish don't even think of it anymore.

So I first figured, big deal, they will just eat them anyway if I don't separate them. Nope, these are GOOD mommy's and daddy's I found out, and will basically protect their "fry" with their lives. WTF am I going to do with these things? Mom will feed them for a spell, then you need to start feeding them fry food for their little bodies. But they need to start growing eventually, and this many would not only kill my tank, they will also start killing my 3 other fish! And you really can't separate them for a bit. And even then, I would need a huge tank to raise them until big enough to give away, sell or whatever. I don't want to kill them or siphon them away. And I would feel bad taking them away from Mommy, even though its just a fish. Not to mention, they're like my little buddies already!!

Or do I just get a red belly piranha?

[Jeff]

So I've noticed that since about 2 weeks ago my NEW 2 black convict cichlids have been hiding out in this cave/rock fixture I bought. They are also very territorial, but I knew that going in. I also noticed they would only eat one at a time, never together.

I got down at eye level and peeked through the cave opening, and sure enough, babies everywhere! They look exactly like look itty bitty baby fish, so I know I'm right. They are on the gravel basically, but frickin everywhere. Mom and Dad aren't too thrilled with anyone that comes near their cave, and the other fish don't even think of it anymore.

So I first figured, big deal, they will just eat them anyway if I don't separate them. Nope, these are GOOD mommy's and daddy's I found out, and will basically protect their "fry" with their lives. WTF am I going to do with these things? Mom will feed them for a spell, then you need to start feeding them fry food for their little bodies. But they need to start growing eventually, and this many would not only kill my tank, they will also start killing my 3 other fish! And you really can't separate them for a bit. And even then, I would need a huge tank to raise them until big enough to give away, sell or whatever. I don't want to kill them or siphon them away. And I would feel bad taking them away from Mommy, even though its just a fish. Not to mention, they're like my little buddies already!!

Or do I just get a red belly piranha?

Well you answered my question I asked in another thread That is cool, when I had the Cichlids on a few occasions it looked like they where trying to build a nest of sorts but I never had the caves in the tank, I wonder now if they had a place to hide if they would of taken care of the eggs ( I am guessing that is how they where born ) anyway that is cool, now you can grow them out and next year this time of year you can have fish for dinner of Friday's.

[LongTermGuy]

"Who wants a million fish"

[jimnyc]

I'm gonna hit up the local mom and pop pet store around here. I'll gladly give them the entire fry and the Mom if they'll take them. They can sell each of the little bastards in a few months for like $5 apiece in their store.

I was tempted to ask the woman if I could get like a 75, or even a 125 gallon tank... but when I told her this morning about all the babies, she was kinda adamant about getting rid of them as quick as possible, and her best idea is to just flush the little buggers. Then again, I think she would flush ME if she had a chance.

[LongTermGuy]

I'm gonna hit up the local mom and pop pet store around here. I'll gladly give them the entire fry and the Mom if they'll take them. They can sell each of the little bastards in a few months for like $5 apiece in their store.

I was tempted to ask the woman if I could get like a 75, or even a 125 gallon tank... but when I told her this morning about all the babies, she was kinda adamant about getting rid of them as quick as possible, and her best idea is to just flush the little buggers. Then again, I think she would flush ME if she had a chance.

Help them Live...now they depend on you....

[Trigg]

I'm gonna hit up the local mom and pop pet store around here. I'll gladly give them the entire fry and the Mom if they'll take them. They can sell each of the little bastards in a few months for like $5 apiece in their store.

I was tempted to ask the woman if I could get like a 75, or even a 125 gallon tank... but when I told her this morning about all the babies, she was kinda adamant about getting rid of them as quick as possible, and her best idea is to just flush the little buggers. Then again, I think she would flush ME if she had a chance.

we sold our baby hamsters back to the store for food credit, I fingered it was the least they could do since they sold me two MALE hamsters in the first place.

[Jeff]

I'm gonna hit up the local mom and pop pet store around here. I'll gladly give them the entire fry and the Mom if they'll take them. They can sell each of the little bastards in a few months for like $5 apiece in their store.

I was tempted to ask the woman if I could get like a 75, or even a 125 gallon tank... but when I told her this morning about all the babies, she was kinda adamant about getting rid of them as quick as possible, and her best idea is to just flush the little buggers. Then again, I think she would flush ME if she had a chance.

we sold our baby hamsters back to the store for food credit, I fingered it was the least they could do since they sold me two MALE hamsters in the first place.

I was going to say Jim I bet that the little Mom and Pop store will give you credit for them, heck if they gave you even a buck a piece in credit that would get you a good bit.

[jimnyc]

So I went and visited the pet stores, and no one is interested!! Petco and Petsmart both sell these fish, but looked at me like I had 19 heads when I started talking to them about a "fry". Useless bastards. Then I went to my local guy, and he just kinda laughed. He said he doesn't even want them in his store as they clean out tanks! He told me that they will just chase my other fish around until they die from stress. He just laughed when I offered to just give him the babies, or the adults, or both. He also said, even if I were to flush them, the adults are going to be pissed. Even if I get rid of the babies, and the Mom, he said once they have the babies and go into "protection mode", that's it, it's lights out, they stay that way!

So what the hell am I supposed to do with these little idiots? Realistically, looks to be about 40 babies. Even if I did look the other way and flush them, then what about mommy and daddy? These idiot parents will just reproduce until they kill your tank!

I'm thinking of putting ALL of them in a big baggie, and just dropping them into the convict cage at Petco when no one is looking!

[jimnyc]

Yay! I actually did put an ad up on craigslist for them and surprisingly someone wants them and is gonna pick them up tomorrow! Even bringing a bucket with a portable aerator to get them home safely. Let him deal with them!

[fj1200]

Yay! I actually did put an ad up on craigslist for them and surprisingly someone wants them and is gonna pick them up tomorrow! Even bringing a bucket with a portable aerator to get them home safely. Let him deal with them!

I can only imagine that ad. What is the street value for black convicts?

[jimnyc]

I can only imagine that ad. What is the street value for black convicts?

Probably about a dime with the damn reproducing going on, but I'm happily giving them away! Maybe if it were 2 males? But I woke up this morning to find the other Demasoni cichlid dead. So now I'll only have 2 fish left after today. Anyway, I was honest!! Here's the ad I wrote up, sweet and simple...

--

Giving away 2 very healthy and young Black Convict Cichlids and their fry. That's right, they have babies and I don't want to separate any of them, or kill them - but I don't want to raise them either. The proud parents are only about 1 inch themselves. 100% free, just pick them up.

[tailfins]

Probably about a dime with the damn reproducing going on, but I'm happily giving them away! Maybe if it were 2 males? But I woke up this morning to find the other Demasoni cichlid dead. So now I'll only have 2 fish left after today. Anyway, I was honest!! Here's the ad I wrote up, sweet and simple...

--

Giving away 2 very healthy and young Black Convict Cichlids and their fry. That's right, they have babies and I don't want to separate any of them, or kill them - but I don't want to raise them either. The proud parents are only about 1 inch themselves. 100% free, just pick them up.

I'm not surprised you found a taker on Craigslist. Some people like a challenge to see how many of the fry they can successfully raise to adulthood. Also it appears a Black Convict Cichlid bite doesn't break the skin, it just feels like a nibble.

[Abbey Marie]

I can only imagine that ad. What is the street value for black convicts?

[jimnyc]

Well that didn't work out perfectly as planned!

It was an older fella that came to get them, and has less expertise than I do. All he brought was the smallest of buckets that you would keep bait in, but at least he head the oxygen. It really didn't matter much anyway. I yanked out the big rock hiding place, a few fake plants to get to everything. I literally watched the fry disappear in front of my own eyes!! Somehow the little idiots are able to squeeze/scramble INTO the gravel!!! I tried and tried, but not a single one came up. I tried again, nothing. Took me about 5 minutes to get the adults out. Still no sign of babies. He had to go and said "How about I just come back some time next week". Oh, hell no, he walks out he ain't coming back!!

So he took the adults. I then cleaned the tank with netting. Then I used the siphon to clean the gravel where they were all at. I couldn't even tell if they were in the bucket or not. The water was scrambled and dirty by that point, and down the tub it went.So either they are gone, or I may see a few fish popping up soon enough - which by my estimation will make for very quick eating for the only 2 remaining fish, the Red Peacocks.

Effin tank is all cloudy from being disrupted, plants floated to the top, had to remove the driftwood... Now I have to replace the water, add some healthy chemicals and such, replant everything... Time to rearrange things anyway. And I couldn't do a great cleaning for a tad spell there as I was afraid of killing the little buggers who have now just been issued a death sentence anyway!

[Abbey Marie]

Sex causing problems again.