OK there's a long story here, but I'll give the readers digrest
version. I think I need to get rid of my Chinese algae eater as I
think he's the underlying reason I've lost three adult females this
month. I should specify that I have seven (well... now six really) Peacock Cichlids and a chinese algae eater in a 75 gallon tank. I have been watching my fish very closly this past week, and this last female had great color and wasn't acting stressed AT ALL. I just went downstairs and caught the algae eater chewing on her side. Then I found this online:
"One downside to these fish is that when they age, they can become
very aggressive towards other algae eaters"(I've had him about 5 yrs)
"They also have a habit of attaching themselves to larger fish,
which can inflict some serious wounds"
She's too far gone at this point and he won't leave her alone. I
separated her (in the tank) as I just can't stand by and do
nothing. Which brings me to my other problem. She's obviously
going to die, but I have a hard time pulling a fish out while I can
still see gill movement. I know I'm probably stressing my other
fish by leaving her in there, but exactly what am I supposed to do?
And secondly, if he has to go... what do I do with him? My DH will
flush him if I ask him to, but I hate to kill a perfectly healthy,
albeit aggressive fish.
Ugh! Why can't they all just get along! lol Has anyone else had
similar experiences?
Shanna
Any advice?
version. I think I need to get rid of my Chinese algae eater as I
think he's the underlying reason I've lost three adult females this
month. I should specify that I have seven (well... now six really) Peacock Cichlids and a chinese algae eater in a 75 gallon tank. I have been watching my fish very closly this past week, and this last female had great color and wasn't acting stressed AT ALL. I just went downstairs and caught the algae eater chewing on her side. Then I found this online:
"One downside to these fish is that when they age, they can become
very aggressive towards other algae eaters"(I've had him about 5 yrs)
"They also have a habit of attaching themselves to larger fish,
which can inflict some serious wounds"
She's too far gone at this point and he won't leave her alone. I
separated her (in the tank) as I just can't stand by and do
nothing. Which brings me to my other problem. She's obviously
going to die, but I have a hard time pulling a fish out while I can
still see gill movement. I know I'm probably stressing my other
fish by leaving her in there, but exactly what am I supposed to do?
And secondly, if he has to go... what do I do with him? My DH will
flush him if I ask him to, but I hate to kill a perfectly healthy,
albeit aggressive fish.
Ugh! Why can't they all just get along! lol Has anyone else had
similar experiences?
Shanna
Any advice?
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If your particular fish is agressive then there's not much you'll be able to keep him with.. so getting rid of him and handing him over to the LFS, is the best choice, just say he didn't get along with your others. As for your fish, give her time to heal, etc... if you feel it's completely nessarsary to kill the fish, i wouldn't flush it, there's already a thread about the best ways to kill your fish (charming, lol).. and flushing is THEE most inhumane and cowardly way, because the fish can survive the flushing and die alone, and, sometimes painfully... The best thing to do, is get a bowl of water, keep it in the freezer overnight, then the next morning, crack all the ice, so the bowl is full of FREEZING water, then slowly dip the fish in.. it'll take about 15seconds to die, and is the best way to do so.. or you can do the same technique with alcohol, which is apparently better.