Cull or not to Cull? That is rhe question

[FishyPastor]

Ok on this batch of angels there starting to look like angels. I do not want to cull to soon since I might get rid of a perfectly good fish. Some fish if there grossly deformed I will get rid of. Now the angels are Koi's so I have a large variation in color patterns, When will I know for sure what color they will be? Also on the finer points what should I get rid of?

[sunfishman]

How old are they? some fish color up sooner thsan others, some take a couple weeks and some take several months.

[FishyPastor]

There a month and a half old.

[Lady Hobbs]

I think many of the breeders cull by the look of the fins, too. If they are bend or not looking perfect, those go.

[skullduggery1]

What do you do with culled fish?Monster fish food?Garden fertilizer?

[dbosman]

What do you do with culled fish?Monster fish food?Garden fertilizer?

Either works.
Breeders of high quality show stock won't sell culls.

Some will give away stock that isn't up to their standards but is otherwise healthy, but the best breeders don't want their culls diluting their potential sales.

[sunfishman]

Personally, I'm against culling, I realize it is needed to keep good bloodlines, but killing something because it doesn't look nice, and otherwise healthy, IMO is wrong. But if it's body is used for a purpose, IE fertilizer, fish food, heck, even crab bait, it is justifiable. But could you please post some pics, and say who stays/goes so far? maybe someone can tell you if you should keep it or lose it.

[gabbyguppy]

Culling doesn't have to mean killing. I am a dog breeder and I cull my litters down to 1 or 2 breedable dogs per litter. I sell the rest at a greatly reduced price to nonbreeding pet/performance/working homes.

I don't think it's unethical to sell a healthy animal that might have a slight beauty flaw. I'd venture to guess that most of my fish would not measure up to the standard of perfection at a fish show. I don't think most folks care about the perfect specimen, they just want a healthy one.

I would not kill a fish based on color pattern alone. If it had a spinal deformity or some other serious health issue, I would probably cull (as in kill) it.

Karen