View Full Version : Cichlid lovers, what do you do?
spartyblaze
12-13-2002, 5:42 PM
Hey, just a quick check - what does everybody do with their fish once they've outgrown their tanks?
I usually do what any aquarium nut would do (and according to my bank statement, the most expensive option) and BUY A BIGGER TANK for them. I've also passed a few onto friends, and my fish normally exterminates all others in their new home.
What about credit at LFS? What % do you normally get, on average? My local place refuses to buy or give credit for fish, which I personally take offense to - especially because I've spent thousands there in the past years..... But I'm considering switching because of this recurring problem.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time or space for a fish room, like Mojo's - but I just can't bear to let my babies go after watching them grow for so long....
valerie
12-13-2002, 6:04 PM
an easy solution is just don't buy fish that you know will grow bigger then you are willing to accomidate.
Kit Walker
12-13-2002, 6:13 PM
That is how I ended up with multiple tanks. However sometimes you just see a fish you want and need a change. There are many people with aquariums at my work, and recently I found a home for my 2 oscars. If you ask around at your work you may be surprised how many keen aquarists there are, and will be willing to look after unwanted fish. LFS will usually offer very little.
goldfries
12-14-2002, 12:18 PM
hehe. buy a new tank for them.
but i guess the best rule is to know what you're getting.
The pond. Any of the non-paired fish or fish that have outgrown the biggest tanks...get ponded.
quantim0
12-14-2002, 1:56 PM
yes mojo, we're all lucky enough to have a pond in our basement. :D
i ususally give them to the lfs or a friend. but not usually because it's too big but because i want something new or the fish is creating problems in the tank.
Wippit Guud
12-14-2002, 2:32 PM
Originally posted by MoJo
The pond. Any of the non-paired fish or fish that have outgrown the biggest tanks...get ponded.
I can just see it.... all these cichlids roaming in the pond, and "Jumbo" gets added. One of the established cichlids comes up to Jumbo...
Random Cichlid: What's your name, fish?
Jumbo: My name is Gladiator.
Frameshift
12-14-2002, 2:32 PM
Originally posted by spartyblaze
What about credit at LFS? What % do you normally get, on average? My local place refuses to buy or give credit for fish, which I personally take offense to - especially because I've spent thousands there in the past years..... But I'm considering switching because of this recurring problem.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to sell full grown cichlids? I work at a LFS, and we only accept fish on donation because we lose money if we give store credit. They take up huge amounts of space, eat a ton, and take months to sell, if that soon. I would look at a LFS as a last resort for getting rid of fish, you have no idea of what kind of home they are finding. Do research before buying fish to learn the adult size of the fish and buy accordingly.
When I started in this hobby I had a oscar, JD, and firemouth in a 30 gallon tank with some danios and gouramis. I did the research and found out that a 30 gallon could not house them for long. I did the responsible thing and bought a large tank (100 gallon) and today my fish are happy and healthy.
I find it extremly irresponsible to buy a fish just to trade it in or give it away. Fish are a pet, like any other animal and buying one is a long term commitment.
[Edit:] After rereading my post it seem that I am thrashing spartyblaze, but I am not. I am thrashing irresponsible fish keepers around the globe.
Serrateeth_2002
12-15-2002, 3:37 AM
i killed the fish that grew too big for the tank,not my fault since my dad bought it without consulting me,then i put it in a tank,lied about saying it died of disease,if i released it in the canals,he would kill me.
fishlips
12-15-2002, 8:06 AM
I trade them in for credit. The place gives out one third of full value.
Fishlips - where is that?
O-man21
12-15-2002, 5:36 PM
I recently had to give my 12 inch oscar away:( :( i had him for 5 years. i gave him to my lfs. they took him and gave me 5 bucks for him. hey it better then nothing...
I'm replacing him with 7-10 kribs in his 75 gallon. I'm planning to sell the babies to the lfs, they said they'd give me 5 bucks for each baby.
To answer your question, I give him to my lfs.
P.S: the reason I gave him away was cuz he never stopped moving stuff.. I had nothing in the tank except gravel and he would swim to the bottom, then swim to the top and spit it out of the tank. I took all the gravel out but then he just layed on his side. I had to do it.. I feel so bad for him.
PetsUnlimited here in Nova Scotia is sort of odd. Anything small, like barbs, tetras or corys, and you'll get a credit for the full value of the fish at retail price. I've also received full credit for some mid size fully grown cichlids - I got $24.99 for my 7" Jack Dempsey when I returned him and $14.99 for my 5" Severum.
Large cichlids (8+ inches) and large plecos are handled differently for some reason. I traded in a 13" common pleco a couple weeks ago and was told the store policy on plecos is to replace it with a baby pleco. I returned to the store the next day and they slapped a $49.99 price tag on it. Needless to say I was not impressed by that. A friend of mine recently traded in a pair of breeding Jags (approx 11" male, 7" female) and received $9.99 each for them. He visited again within the week to notice the pair listed at $89.99.
I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do down the road when I move out of my apartment, I've got some fish that I just barely have enough tank space for and some oddballs that don't quite fit in anywhere. I can't even imagine what they'll offer for my semi-rare, exotic fish. Haplochromis Ahli breeding pair that I bought for $70.00, or my Polypterus Senegalus pair that cost me $50 for the pair as juveniles but eat about $10 worth of food a week. Something far too low would be my guess :(
Oh well, I'm more excited about planning my new 125 or 180g tank when I finally graduate and settle down. Torn between two ideas at the moment, first option is arowana's and some marbled or motoro rays; second option is a fahaka or mbu puffer all by itself. If I could ever spend the money on it, M. Tigrinus would be awesome as well :)
O-man21
12-15-2002, 9:54 PM
wait and get the M. Tigrinus. I love those fish
$600 Canadian for a 7 inch M. Tigrinus is a little steep at the moment tho...
Toooloud
12-16-2002, 5:10 AM
LFS's around here will give 1/2 of what they sell them for on fresh water, larger fish will be taken on Consinment.. meaning they will take it and tell you a value.. then depending on how many days its there and how much they feed it.. he value slowly decines..
fishlips
12-17-2002, 5:05 PM
Waterbury aquarium
O-man21
12-17-2002, 5:42 PM
oh, I didn't know they were 600 dollars, nvm don't get it, I can get one here for 50 bucks, I thought it would be around there.
That' seems fair Toooloud, I think that would be a way to buy fish off people.