Decisions: getting rid of fish...

[staceyanna]

I posted recently posted in the bottom dweller forum about my two catfish possibly not getting enough to eat since they are always in a cave somewhere. I have 2 3inch catfish (the ones in my sig) that I would like to unload. I got my tank and fish preowned as a package and I wasnt aware of what I got until I went through much research. The Striped Rafael catfish I have are nocturnal so I barely see them if at all, and am now learning they can get up to 8-10" long as well as the fact they munch on small fish when they get hungry enough. Those factors have led me to try and get rid of them and replace them with some more serene daytime bottom dwellers like some panda corys or emerald corys.

So now I am scared that if they dont get enough to eat, they will pounce on one of the Danios or my tetras in the night. Should I get rid of them? There are two. =(

I called 3 LFS in my area, and one doesnt take in fish at all. Another will take them off my hands for free (they dont give store credit or anything) and the other 2 LFS will only give me $2-3 for each in store credit. Is there any other way to get rid of them other then going on eBay or Aquabid? I'm a noob and am just getting my sea legs and really dont want to try and ship them as I dont want them to perish in the process. So now how do I sell/trade them?

You can see all of my fish by clicking the links in my sig as those are actual pics of what I have, save for the danios which I havent gotten a pic of just yet.

[wataugachicken]

maybe try to sell them on the craig's list (an online classified ad website) for your area, or some other type of free classified ad.

drop some algae tablets or shrimp pellets into your tank just before you turn out the lights. the catfish will probably eat them overnight.

[mvigor]

If you want to be rid of them, don't worry about $6, just give them to any LFS that will take them and be happy that you're done worrying abou them eating a $6 fish in your tank.

[ash]

I would just take them to a LFS too. They are pretty common, so you're not likely to find someone who is going to pay full retail plus shipping (which for fish runs around thirty bucks) for a fish they can get for $6 down the street just like you did.

[staceyanna]

I guess my conscience got the best of me. I hear about the "conditions" at the LFS so much I almost dont have the heart to take them to one! I would rather sell or giveaway locally. A trade (maybe with a breeder?) would work even better so I can get another 2 bottom feeders to replace these.

At any rate thanks for the replies, I will see what I can conjure up. And try to find a container large enough to house these two and take them somewhere. Thanks again. =)

[ash]

If it's any help they grow pretty slowly and rarely get to ten inches in captivity.

[YoFishboy]

If it's any help they grow pretty slowly and rarely get to ten inches in captivity.
Thats true...i had one in a 75g years ago..took him a long time to hit 6 or 7 inches....and the danios are pretty fast....use bottom feeder wafers to keep him full...its your call.....

[ash]

mine is I think seven and he is about six and a half inches. He gets blackworms, bloodworms, shrimp pellets, he used to like beef heart but has for some reason lost interest- he gets a pretty high protein diet and I don't think he's grown in a year or so.