Selling/Giving Fish to LFS

[webcricket]

I've run out of places to put my sunburst platy offspring. Anyone I know with a fish tank (and anyone they know with a fish tank) will not take anymore of them. The little orange and yellow bodies in my tanks are making me dizzy!

The last of my breeding age males are leaving tomorrow for a new home, but I know the females I have left will be dropping more fry on me over the next days, weeks, and months - so I need some advice.

How does one go about getting fish stores to take fish (will chain stores take them - my nearest mom and pop shop is 30 minutes away, Petsmart and the like are closer)? How big should they be before a store will take them (I'm guessing 1" or so)? Any other tips will be very much appreciated...

 

[patoloco]

First, go to the store and talk to the manager. He will tell you if they will accept them or not.

Some places do that, some others just don't.

 

[OrionGirl]

Not only will the females continue dropping fry for some time, but you may end up with another male. Gender is a fluid concept in fish (and amphibians), and in all female groups of livebearers, it is not uncommon for a dominant female to develop a gonopodium. There still some uncertainty if these sex-change fish are in fact fertile, but I wouldn't risk it. Going with an all-male population is a better option, since males don't seem to have the same plasticity.

 

[patoloco]

I've read that the sudden gonopodium growth is not a change of sex, but a late development of some males. Nor sure now.

 

[webcricket]

Hmmm, interesting about the sex change thing. I'd not heard that before. My reasoning for getting rid of the males and keeping the females is that the person taking the males doesn't really want fry.

My 3 large adult females are in a community tank with the newest fry and a bunch of juveniles I believe to be female (I'm keeping my eye on them though). I have the adult (going to new home)/juvenile fish I know to be males separated out into a different 20 gallon.

Ultimately, I'd like to keep only the 3 large adult females I have (hopefully sperm free at some point) and get rid of all the offspring.

I'll check in with the managers at the local chain stores and see what they say.

 

[F1shkeeper]

haha, I would just get a predator fish to eat the fry. It'll save you money on food.

 

[joephys]

Most fish are better off not eating only live fish. The ones that do need a live fish diet should only be eating about 2-3 times per week.