Belly Crawlers

[Molino]

I bought 6 young Apisto Pandurinis at an Auction at the beginning of the month.

2 of these do not have properly developed swim bladders, ie they can't stay floating in the water without constantly using their tail, and when doing so are usually vertical. The rest of the time, they move around on the bottom of the tank (belly crawlers). Other than that they are very healthy with good appetites.

Should I cull these fish? It seems cruel, but I don't think they should have a chance to breed with this deformity.

[Frameshift]

Are you planning on breeding then selling the offspring? If so then I would cull the two deformed fish.

If they are just for your enjoyment, or you are just breeding to breed, I.E. feeding young to other fish etc. then I would let them live.

[Molino]

Thanks for the reply. I would like to breed them, so maybe I will cull the two belly crawlers :(

The only problem is I suspect of the four healthy ones 3, or maybe all four, may be males :rolleyes: Oh well...