General Care Discussion :: How to rid of unwanted fish?

[DocShay]

First thing that comes to mind when I read that aloud is "feed em to the turtle!"

But..

I got this chinese algae eater not long ago, he was very agressive and annoyed my 2 tin foil barbs. That soon stopped, but I realised this guy isnt eating any algae!

I read online some afetr a certain age won't eat algae anymore. So this big ugly mean sucker is just eating fish food, and polluting the tank even more.

He's much to quick for my turtles to catch, and I feel a little mean flushing a live fish down the toilet. Kinda bad way to "pass on".

I was thinking about maybe freezing him, then feeding him to my turtles. I heard another member on here does that with guppies...

Good idea? bad? Should I just flush em?

[megcornell]

Chinese algae eaters don't get nearly as lazy as plecos, I'm sure he's still eating algae, perhaps you just don't see him?
I don't however see the drastic need to get rid of him... can't you just leave him in the tank and let all the fish do their own things? As with all fish in a tank, eventually your turtle will probably eat him.

And freezing is a very slow way for fish to die. It'd be less harsh to put him in hot water which would shock him.

[Bumby's Mom]

Give them to a fish store, they shouldn't be murdered because you don't want them anymore.

[mikee]

Bumby's Mom -- You cannot murder a fish. You can murder only humans. It would be very hard for me to consider murdering the bass I catch. The idea of freezing the fish and feeding it to the turtles is a good idea. If you are worried about the fish's feeling, letting the turtles eat away at it would be just terrible. Ha Ha Ha. Just smash it in the head and throw it in the tank and be done with it.

[ACF&RESLOVER]

If you take the algae eater to a pet store, they will take it and resell it.

[octpusgirl8]

I've read in a couple different fish keeping books that the most humane way to kill a fish that is sick and miserable is to throw it down on the floor really hard. It sounds kinda brutal but it kills it really quickly. I've also heard that putting them in really hot water kills them very quickly but that seems like it would be painful to me.

[mikee]

OOORR!! -- Cut it's head off with a sharp knife:: And then throw the two pieces on the tank. -- Folks!!?? It is a fish!! Like feeder fish!! No more, no less.

[kgielda]

Ohmy I can't watch!!!

I'm a vegitarian, I'm allowed to be squeemish.

I would just leave it in the tank like a regular old fish.

[Tenodera]

I would just leave it in there...why kill it? There's always a chance it will live.(Like my tetra that survived many many months with my turtle.)

and to me, every life, even a fish is just as equal to every other life on this planet.

[mikee]

Ten -oder -- With that statement that you made, that every life is equal, I hope you are not including humans? If me catching fish and shooting deer is acceptable to most folks, is it not acceptable to you?? A lot of people feed feeder fish to turtles for food. I hope you can get over it. I am shocked that you have turtles and are this squeamish.

[SpotsMama]

Ok, I'm concerned about the tone here so am going to lock this topic. I think all the useful comments have already been made.

It's key that forum participants show respect for other participants' points of view at all times. Part of the beauty of this forum is it's diversity, but diversity won't thrive if some people start disrespecting others.

[steve]

Sorry to post in a locked topic (I'm abusing my privileges), but you can try to give it to a petstore. Or post an ad on craigslist...

[marisa]

And I have to second (or third or fourth) the idea of not killing it just to have it off your hands. Surely, as was mentioned more than once, there is a place for it, like another petstore or another owner...