How do hobby breeders handle the stock they create ?

[mattcham]

Not euthanize mattcham. Euthanasia is putting down animals that are in pain or sick. You are farming them.

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You are correct. I used wrong wording.

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[dandries]

Thanks.

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[joejeff]

So at what age do you typically make the stock choice?

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[joejeff]

As in who to cull and who to raise.

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[mattcham]

If you are culling for color (want only albinos) you can cull immediately after birth. If you are culling for body shape (fancy Ranchu goldfish) you might not be able to cull until after 3 months. Depends on your fish and your goal. Be careful not to cull solely based on size (e.g. kill 50% of the slowest growing fry) because the size may be due to gender and size does not necessarily reflect resistance to disease. When my fish get sick due to transport or birthing related stress, it is not always the largest fish that survives.

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[obedey]

Hey mattcham have you ever done a cold water euthanasia before? Just wondering because I did a crayfish once in -1deg Celsius salt water and it thrashed around for maybe 5 seconds vs instant movement stopping I've seen when people cook crabs and the like in boiling water.

 

[mattcham]

I have not used cold water culling before. Only used them as feeder fish for larger fish in the past. Will need to start culling in about 2 months though...

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[Matt68005]

I sold my halfblack red guppies to Lfs for .50 each. For guppies it's at 4-5 months old

 

[Toad]

I trade mine for store credit, give them away or sell/trade my guppies. I've never really had to cull really, I don't pull fry from the main tank so anyone who can't swim fast enough or what have you doesn't make it very long...


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[Gillie]

I've never really had to cull really, I don't pull fry from the main tank so anyone who can't swim fast enough or what have you doesn't make it very long...


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That's still culling, but the way nature intended.

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[Toad]

I know, I just consider it a bonus to not have to do it myself plus my breeding plan has pretty much been as long as it's healthy and I enjoy the colors I keep it. Otherwise rehomed.


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