Question: Should Tropheus/Petrochromis males be culled???

[newb]

I do believe that if the fish is gonna be killed then remove it. But I dont like the idea of ordering fish and planning ahead of time on removing X-number of males when they arrive. Each group is different. I dont want anyone to feel Im singling anybody out at all...cause Im not. I read these situations all over the internet so I know that it is a common practice. Like I said before, it IS a proven method to work if breeding is the main goal in mind...BUT I would love to see the opposite be shown as well. I group of fish brought in and system set in place between them. Granted, when petros fight...it happens quick(real quick sometimes) and you have to be there to break it up. I personally never let any of my fish really go at it in the tank. I will tap the glass or cut the lights or something to break it up. I think the message is still recieved even though the fight didnt go to death. Its like being beaten up by your older brother...it may get broke up after a punch or two, but you get the message of who is stronger real quick. I dont like how pics and videos are taken and cheered on while these fish go at it in a tank. The aquarium setting is a cage and just like any other animal...it is wrong to cheer the fighting of a caged animal. There are a lot of steps that can be taken to break up aggression in a tank...I would say try all of these ways first...and if it still looks as though the weaker may die...pull it.

[Gene D]

I don't think cull neccesarily means kill. I would think handing them off to some one else who wants them is the preffered option. That is why I think removing is a better option than letting the colony kill them off

[newb]

Why don't u guys give away or sell to petstores so the males don't have to die? Seems like a waste of good money to me

Im saying that the fish dont always have to die. I believe that if put in the tank and left alone, then yes, the fish may die. Im saying put forth effort to break up aggression such as tons of flow, ditters, lights out, no scape, physical break-up of fighting, etc. to stop death before it happens. In no way at all am I saying just let the fish kill each other. Im in this hobby for the FISH...not the aquarium look. The fish come first. I love these fish cause they have been left so natural in the hobby. I am a firm believer in keeping the species pure and truely caring for them as a piece of nature. I know it is not natural to be in an aquarium, but I will strive to do as much as possible to make it as natural as possible.

[Gene D]

Randall, to an extent I agree with you but I think the problem is largely created by the importers. Venting is a very simple, very quick process. Yet most importers will charge you a price increase of 10-50 percent in order to make a greater profit. The result is that we end up with ramdomn ratios because most of us being budget concious are not willing to pay $75 for a $50 fish to gaurantee the desired ratio. I would think that if an importer really wanted to build a good customer base they could flip the fish over take a quick glance and gain the additional revunue through satisfied return clients who did not have to cull because they got the ratio they wanted to begin with

[newb]

Does ratio REALLY matter??? Obviously to some extent it does...you wouldnt want 11Males and 2females...thats worse than a night-club!!! But a common 1M:1F ratio should be manageable(pretty sure I spelled that wrong!).

[newb]

Im not talking about breeding them...Im just saying keeping them in an aquarium without murdering each other.

[Gene D]

Ratio is not everything but it does have an impact on the overall happiness of the colony. I guess this is where you get into the different reasons people keep fish:

Love/interest of the species kept
The calming effect
Asthetics
Breeding
Home decor

So I guess the final answer is what are the goals/objectives of the keeper. Thats the best I can figure anyhow

[tbui1178]

So I guess the final answer is what are the goals/objectives of the keeper. Thats the best I can figure anyhow

+1

[myjohnson]

From my experience with petros, I see they each have their own personalities (more so then tropheus).

If you got a male that gets along with others (i.e. John's male in his polyoden colony) then it's all good. He will breed with the other 9-10 females and not want to kill them.

But if that single males was cool hand Luke, he would have been killed off all those females.

Each group will act different and need different considerations when trying to set-up a working colony.

There is no one way that's going to work for all situations.

[fshfrk]

I don't cull to cull. Actually the dominate male does the culling. Like Geoff taught me "There's no tomorrow with petros" I would rather dip out a slightly beat up fish today than dip out a dead one tomorrow. Are ya'll getting all giddy thinking about the up coming group buy? I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! Think I'm going to get 2 groups!