rehoming fish

[FoxyWench]

ok so everyone knows how hard it can be to rehome a dog or cat...
but i now find myself in the predicament of having to rehome 5 very special to me fishies...

unfortunatly i cant take my 55 gallon to the new apartment with me, and my mum is unable to take care of the cichlids (just no desire or time which is fine) none of my frineds are fishy people...
*pouts*

so yeah i have to find them all new homes, it makes me sad, once we buy a house the tank is going back up, im planning on keeping the tank and just rehoming the fishies, but if someone wants the entire set up its theres as a group deal, tank and fish...

but how do you screen fish owners lol, you cant realy run vet checks on fish.

*sigh*

just wanted to complain lol thanks for listening!

[xpaeanx]

What kind of fish?

BTW, just out of curiosity.... when are you planning on buy a house.... and what are you going to do with the tank till then?

[Punkygirl0101]

If I lived near you I would take them for you until you could take them back!!

I posted ads for goldfish before. My pond fish were breeding, and overstocking my pond (Its 2,000 gallons). And so I had to try and find homes for the baby goldfish. I did use some for food for my RES..but there were a LOT of baby goldfish..he couldn't eat them all!

I didn't care if people took them for food, but I didn't let ANYONE take them and put them in a tiny bowl so that they could live a horrible life, and slowly die.

I pretty much dropped them off myself, and saw everyone's set ups. Not much you can do! lol

[PoodleMommy]

I know nothing about fish I had a goldfish I won at the fair once that lasted 7 days and got flushed (died first!)... but I would say just use your common sense... Ask them about previous fish they have had and how long they have lived and how they cared for them... basically whatever care they need ask the new people about.

How do you advertise though? I would think that is the biggest issue... maybe craigslist if your really really careful.

[Punkygirl0101]

I used craigslist! As long as you can actually SEE with your own eyes (Don't rely on so called pics) their tanks, and they can share a bit of how knowledgeable they really are..Then I think its fine to rehome using CL.

As far as screening people, some good questions to ask are this:

1) Are you experienced with cichlids? Fish Experience in general?
2) Do you know the proper water parameters to keep the fish healthy and happy?
3) Do you know what foods they need?

A place to try listing them is www.aquabid.com

When you list them, be descriptive. Most people will like to purchase proven pairs or harem groups, I hardly ever see a single listing for a cichlid (as they do better in groups, anyway).

Things along these line will work. I have an e-mail somewhere that I usually mail my customers before they purchase from me, I think it may have been deleted though. If I find it I will post in here.

Foxy, I wish I could take 'em. Shipping wouldn't be an issue, and they'd probably thrive in my tank.

[FoxyWench]

thanks for the advice ive got 2 weeks, if nothing by then ac you may be getting an IM lol.

there peacock cichlids, peacocks are considered the most peacefull and brightest colored of the malawi (though each person in cichlids has their own preference)
and there one of the few cichlid species that does well and still colors up in a male only tank.
there absolutly stunning.
were planning on buying in 2 yrs, that should be long enough to come up with a down payment, the bf to get some more good credit to cancel out the bad that came with the divorce and give the market a little bit to bounce back so we wont have to have a high risk mortgage...
mum and dad have offered me shed space to store the big tank, but they dont have the time or patients for the fish. i may see if the landlord might be willing to let me have a smaller tank, its just the 5 of them and there between 4-6 inches each, and if i put enough rocks in i should be ok...but it would depend on the landlord...
we have a 29 gal thats currently not in use...*ponders* Mabe that would work...hmm
lots of rockwork, extra filtration...im lucky because our water out of tap is actually the perfect ph and harndess for peacocks lol...cant get many other fish to live in it lol...but the peacocks are doing well.

as you can tell, i REALY dont want to rehome these fish, there not like many fish, they greet you when you walk into the room and my dragonblood actualy enjoys being petted...

[Boxer100]

I once moved 2 tanks to a new house from my apartment. One 10 gallons and one 15 gallons. I put the fish in bags and quickly put them in the warm car. I left a little water, maybe 1/3 of the tanks so that the useful bacteria is still there when I add more water and the fish do not get too stressed out. It took me around 5 hours to move the tanks and put them back together with fish inside. A lot of work is involved, but it is worth it!

[FoxyWench]

the problem im having is THIS move is from a home into an apt and its a second floor, im sure the landlord isnt going to want 500lbs of water above his head, and i dont think theres enough wallspace to put the tank in...
we wont be looking into buying for at least 12 months, more likey closer to 2 yrs at which point setting up my 55 is on the top of my to do list, its just right now i dont think its feesable.

the 29 gallon MIGHT be doable...i still have to check with the landlord, but in truth if a good home comes along for them that'll give me some cash to help with the move i will rehome them...
the other problem is the apt is about an hour away, i know shipping of fish is doable with heat packs ect...but its ALOT of work to do...

good suggestion though

[vanillasugar]

I've re-homed fish (one of which I had actually taken in from a friend of mine), but it was much easier as it was to friends of mine, and they took the whole kitandkaboodle. I tried really really hard, but am NOT a good fish keeper, and the friends who took them had always wanted fish. They're much better off now