Live breeder population control.

[james_A]

Many years ago I had a goldfish pond, in the winter maybe two big fish would die. In the summer there would be fry everywhere in by fall there would be the same number of fish as the previous fall. Nature would ensure a balance.

Now I have a fifty five gallon tank with Black/dalmatian Mollies and sword tails. I am not sure how many generations there are but the population has grown to beyond the capacity of the tank. I had been lead to believe that fry would be eh hem "recycled" but not so. What to do with the surplus population? Tropical fish retailers don't want them and friends do not want any more. Now someone told me to give the young to someone with salt water fish for feed but that seems somehow callous. I could cope with a little infanticide but not murder.

Is there and equivalent to a Mollie birth control pill? Else with no offense intended is there a predator that will eat fry but leave adult fish alone?

I have gone to a lot of trouble to make the tank as natural as possible even to the point of eliminating nitrate build up with plants and specialized filtration, what I need now is for a stable population.

Any suggestions?

[smaug]

In the way of researching peacock eels I found that they supposedly like to eat fry.If so,it would make a usefull interesting addition to your tank.

[Red]

South American Bumblebee Catfish, I use them in my sisters 55gal guppy tank. They love to eat little babies, and will leave some to grow up, and when peacock eels got big enough, they would eat the bigger guppies.

[MrJim]

Can you introduce another fish into the community that, while not a "predator", would still eat the small fry yet get along with everyone else?

[smaug]

Sure,you just need to make sure there not big enough to eat the adults.Many staking type predators fall into this category.Especially ones that are night stalkers.

[MrJim]

South American Bumblebee Catfish, I use them in my sisters 55gal guppy tank. They love to eat little babies, and will leave some to grow up, and when peacock eels got big enough, they would eat the bigger guppies.
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[Red]

and the south american bumble catfish only maxes out at about 3-4"

[smaug]

South American Bumblebee Catfish, I use them in my sisters 55gal guppy tank. They love to eat little babies, and will leave some to grow up, and when peacock eels got big enough, they would eat the bigger guppies.
You know this for a fact?I only say this because striped raph cats are said to eat anything that fits in there mouth and I know for a fact that is bunk.

[Red]

positive, have talked to guys before about having problems with peacock eels and they get pretty big.

[smaug]

positive, have talked to guys before about having problems with peacock eels and they get pretty big.
There is the problem,you have not personally experianced this.Dont quote heresay.

[Red]

I know that for a fact, and they will eat mid size adults/females. Kept a peacock eel with a oscar and it hit 7" and fed good size convicts.

[smaug]

I know that for a fact, and they will eat mid size adults/females. Kept a peacock eel with a oscar and it hit 7" and fed good size convicts.
Oh<,,,,,,,,,,,you see you didnt mention that you actually kept them before,but that you have talked to people who have,,,,,,,glad you cleared that up,,,,,,,now I believe you:14:

[Red]

yeah, sorry I meant that I have never had them with full blown guppies.

[james_A]

yeah, sorry I meant that I have never had them with full blown guppies.


Thanks I looks the Fish up it sounds just the job.

[Eileen]

I have a 55 gal. community tank and I have mollies mixed with glow-light tetras, rasboras, bushy nosed plecos, Dwarf rainbow fish and 1 large Angelfish that controls any fry it sees also the Rainbows do a good job. It's survival of the fittest. My Angel was 1" when I got it now it's 3 1/2" and it's still growing. It will be about 6" when it gets bigger. 1 is all you need. Mollies have larger fry then other livebearers so the fish that feeds on them must be big. It's fine with all my other fish in the tank.:fish: :fish: :fish:

[james_A]

That is also a good idea. Btw I also have a cyclid tank currently with an Oscar Discuss and Pacu all about 3 inches. So I suppose if I get a large one it starts munching on the bigger fish I could put it in the cyclid tank and it might hold its owe.