Widowed dwarfs

[awholley]

I was wondering what people do when one of an adult breeding pair of fish (especially an older pair past their prime) is widowed. I currently have 2 widows and one widower (3 different species) taking up an entire tank each. they are too old to sell and likely well past their breeding prime. Do you replace the deceased partner with a younger one, or just put the fish in an out-to-pasture tank? Some people probably cull them at this point, but I don't want to do that.

My current plan is to make an out-to-pasture consolidation tank, but I was wondering what others do.

Alan

 

[element]

I was wondering what people do when one of an adult breeding pair of fish (especially an older pair past their prime) is widowed. I currently have 2 widows and one widower (3 different species) taking up an entire tank each. they are too old to sell and likely well past their breeding prime. Do you replace the deceased partner with a younger one, or just put the fish in an out-to-pasture tank? Some people probably cull them at this point, but I don't want to do that.

My current plan is to make an out-to-pasture consolidation tank, but I was wondering what others do.

Alan

Good question i'm intersted to see what others have to say on the subject. I'm forunate that aside from my fish room where presently keep about 15 different species of dwarf cichlids. i also have a 110 gallon fully planted display tank , when ever i have a widow(er) and can't or choose not replace the mate i place them in there to live out the rest of thier days. some closely related species will appearently cross-breed , recently male pebas and female rotpunkt(thanks mike) seem to have bred in mine although between the 2 fluval 404s and many small predators in the tank i doubt any fry could survive .

-jason

 

[apistobob]

I have a couple of tanks that I use for assorted fish that I don't plan to breed or sell and plan to keep until they die. They often contain an interesting mix of species and sexes. Occaisionally I will have as many as five or six different species in these tanks and they make great community display tanks.

In these somewhat busy tanks I have never experienced hybridization or cross breeding. However, I have to say that most fish are past their reproductive prime before I put them in these tanks.

Finally, I have had a number of fish that have lived for several additional years in these tanks. Don't assume that all dwarf cichlids are short lived!

Bob

 

[_BaDgUy_]

Mine usually go in a "show" tank, where no one is expected to breed.
I try to give them the best place I can for them to end their lives the best way possible.

 

[Mike Wise]

I, too, have a couple of mixed community tanks that I use for odd apistos. If I have a tank set up, but no pairs for breeding, I often put these apistos in them to keep the filters active. Otherwise I tend to ignore these tank & the water evaporates or turns into a green slime pit. If the fish show signs of suffering, then I introduce them to Mugsy, my 12" (30 cm) Electric Catfish.

 

[Nick S.]

Comunity

I used to have a 96g comunity tank for my retirees as well, but my 55 that I had only had short term ocupants other than Ralph the Silver Arowana (16" when he made the leap of faith). He was great for dealing with culls and suffering fish.