Giraffe cichlid getting bullied to death

[Connershawzz]

Tryna figure out how to go about it , I’ve been trying to sell my 4 giraffes since my fish have been growing faster than expected. Woke up this morning to my biggest one about 3.5” beat to heck and I feel awful because I love all my fish. It will just sit pointing up between the filter and glass. My only other running tank right now is my wife’s axolotl/pleco tank and that’s sitting at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The answer is probably euthanizing, but how do I go about that?

 

[Connershawzz]

 

[BadHairDay]

Tryna figure out how to go about it , I’ve been trying to sell my 4 giraffes since my fish have been growing faster than expected. Woke up this morning to my biggest one about 3.5” beat to heck and I feel awful because I love all my fish. It will just sit pointing up between the filter and glass. My only other running tank right now is my wife’s axolotl/pleco tank and that’s sitting at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The answer is probably euthanizing, but how do I go about that?

It's horrible to see, I had those a few years ago (they were Haplochromis venustus then, but I think they've been reclassified) and they did sometimes get battered, especially against the rocks in the tank. Is it possible to divide the tank temporarily just to give it time to recover?

 

[Fishfunn]

Can you take the fish to a LFS since he is being bullied?

 

[GaryE]

They're now Nimbochromis venustus.

Chances are, the loser in thee battle is a second male. Hopefully, there isn't a third waiting his turn.

You can take the winner to a store (no store will take a fish beaten up like that), or get another tank. There's no other real solution - they aren't going to make friends now that the hormones have kicked in.

 

[Fishfunn]

another tank. There's no other real solution - they aren't going to make friends now that the hormones have kicked in.

From the picture, I dont see the fish looking that bad. LFS would most like to take him, especially if he is treatable. My LFS in Florida would take him.

 

[Wills]

If you can’t put a divider in the tank or move him to another the best trick I’ve seen is a small bathroom basket upside down and weighted down over the fish, food can get in flow can get in it’s as if they are sheltered in rocks or structures etc. just gives you time to work out a plan and them time to recover and the baskets are easy enough to get from just about anywhere

 

[Connershawzz]

Thank you all! My lfs finally agreed to “rehome” my giraffe/venustus cichlids and few others cichlids that aren’t doing the best in the tank. For some reason they have been so strict for the past 2 years on not taking fish from people. But I think I’ve finally earned the trust from them. Very happy to get these fish to a home that will be better suited for them.