When To Cull Angelfish Fry And How

[heatherw2]

I have almost one month old blue pearlscale/ platinum fry and I would say one third have very stubby/ one to no ventral fins

They were not bellysliders and are very healthy but would like to know if they still have a chance to grow them in or should I cull those ones and if so how?

That would be a difficult thing to do so humanely whats the best way.

[jeremoose]

Give them away as feeders is probably the way that makes the most sense to me.

Edited April 9, 2012 by jeremoose

[jvision]

If you'll be culling them as feeders, you probably don't want them getting much more than 1".

[Blue Ram]

Whenever I have to put a fish down, I always use the "clove oil" method. A few drops of clove oil in a container with the fish and aquarium water and its done quite quickly.

[heatherw2]

I just didnt want to do that too soon, thought they may be still growing ventral fins at different stages

Will give it one more week.

[Sprucegruve]

Whenever I have to put a fish down, I always use the "clove oil" method. A few drops of clove oil in a container with the fish and aquarium water and its done quite quickly.

^^^^^

this is the best method in my opinion,painless.

i also go one step further and after they are sedated,i put them in the freezer for a couple hours,then throw them away

[jeremoose]

IF you can use them as feeders then I see no reason why you'd just kill 'em, but that's just my opinion.

[Sprucegruve]

some people dont like feeding live food,and would rather have the fry die with no pain(clove oil)

for anyone that doesent care about feeding fish to other fish go ahead and throw the fry in with a predator

[Vallisneria]

Where do you find clove oil?

[Sprucegruve]

natural health store,

Eugenia caryophyllata AKA clove oil

[angel al]

Those ventrals won't get any better so it's time to cull.

[heatherw2]

Thanks,

I have used the clove oil method, seperating approximately 100 from 300 fry should be a challenge.

From what I was reading there seems to be a genetic defect with the pearlscales, I have three female blue pearlscales and two have platinum partners and one has a double black partner, I have had at least a quarter of the fry have this problem, at least they were not huge batches of fry with those ones.

I have a gold marble pair that always produce perfect fry.

Does thisa mean the blue pearl females are not good for mating or am I going to run into this problem with any pearlscale angels?

[Jayba]

Time to set up a tank with an Oscar if you plan on continuing to breed angels.

[jeanie1978]

You could set up an oddball tank or find someone who does. My community tank has lots of oddball/damaged fish and they tend to *coughs* handle any reproduction problems. Wished you lived up here, I'd take them. Good luck.

[heatherw2]

Thats a good idea but angelfish do take up lots of room and I have 20 already that are two months old that I have to deal with.

Im waiting to be able to see the month old fry better since the smaller ones swim with their ventral fins close by their side and its hard to tell yet which ones need culling.but thankyou for the advice.