Buying Baby Fish

Kehaulani · Jun 22, 2015

Hey reefers. Does anyone know where you can purchase baby/smaller size fish. I really enjoy watching my fish grow. I don't have anything in my 75 gallon yet other than corals. I'm thinking a baby/small tang and some clowns? Just not sure where to purchase them from. I work at petco and when we get our fish sometimes we get baby size ones but it's a real hit or miss.
Thanks
-K

KJ · Jun 22, 2015

You can order smaller size fish in your LFS.

Ebone · Jun 22, 2015

my lfs special ordered my little baby clowns

gar732 · Jun 22, 2015

Look for a local breeder for clowns, then you can cherry pick. I sell my clowns pretty cheap since they are smaller. An lfs or online store can get small tangs.

4FordFamily · Jun 22, 2015

Some small fish are very difficult and require the care and experience of a veteran reefer IMO. Others such as baby hippo tangs are relatively easy in a disease free tank.

I've even had trouble with tiny yellow and Sailfin tangs. I bought a 2" Desjardini Sailfin and a 2.5" yellow tang about 6 weeks ago and both are nearly 3" now! But they're difficult for the first few weeks.

ksanfranfan · Jun 22, 2015

I bought my 2 clowns as babies back in either 2002 or 2003 at a Petco that had a good reputation with husbandry back then. They've done well over they years and like youI enjoy watching my fish grow from juveniles into adults.
Same thing with my yellow tang, bought it when it was ~2 inches give or take and it has been doing very well now for almost 3 years now. Same goes for all of my other fish including my mandarin.
I know a lot of the lfs here where I live get juveniles in frequently. Probably just need to check around where you live.

Kehaulani · Jun 23, 2015

I don't have much Lfs around me. The one guy that owns a fish store likes to rip people off if he knows you're not an experienced reefer so I tend to stay away from him. Anything I need to know about smaller fish that may be different from larger ones? Or any advice on feeding? BTW thanks for the input guys.

eatbreakfast · Jun 23, 2015

The metabolic needs of young fish is greater than that of adult fish. Most need frequent, small feedings daily.

Sourcing captive bred fish will almost always get young fish. For wild fish there are "seasons" where small fish are available.