Does your LFS quarantine?

Westside Guy · Mar 4, 2019

Let me start off by saying that in a perfect world I would have a QT tank in my condo but there simply isn't any room.

I live in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area and have visited a large number of the LFS in my area and so far have only found one that quarantines. They do it for only for 2 weeks which I know really isn't long enough but it is still better than nothing.

Am I really achieving anything by purchasing my fish at this one particular store as long as their pricing is competitive or is only 2 weeks of QT offering me no additional protection?

Big G · Mar 4, 2019

The only QT you can truly trust is your own. The chances of error are so great when QTing multiple fish in a store setting is unsettling.

And then the question remains what did they do for the QT? QT can mean a lot of different things to people.

ReefWithCare · Mar 4, 2019

lol ---- ya no

If they did I would buy from them. Since they don't I just order from LA for the guarantee on fish. I'm not as worried with corals so I will buy corals from the LFS. I QT fish and corals.

Westside Guy · Mar 4, 2019

ReefWithCare said:
lol ---- ya no

If they did I would buy from them. Since they don't I just order from LA for the guarantee on fish. I'm not as worried with corals so I will buy corals from the LFS. I QT everything.

Who do you order from in LA? What type of guarantee do they offer?

ReefWithCare · Mar 4, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Who do you order from in LA? What type of guarantee do they offer?

Sorry Live Aquaria. They have a 14 day guarantee on fish and they give you 5% back. You just need to check on the source where they are shipping from. Warehouse CA has different salinity then FL or WI warehouses. I shop exclusively FL/WI warehouses for Live Aquaria.

Billdogg · Mar 4, 2019

Big G said:
The only QT you can truly trust is your own. The chances of error are so great when QTing multiple fish in a store setting is unsettling.

And then the question remains what did they do for the QT? QT can mean a lot of different things to people.

^^^This^^^

Although it's nice of them to keep them away from their older fish for a couple weeks, it really doesn't do much other than weed out the already too sick/injured so they don't sell them to you. I use a 20g tank for a QT that sits dry 99% of the time. When I need to use it, I simply set it wherever and fill it with water from the DT. Water changes come from the DT as well. I use a powerhead and heater in it. No filtration. Just check ammonia daily and do a WC as needed. Your DT will thank you too! When I'm done with it it goes back into storage until next time.

ReefWithCare · Mar 4, 2019

It's been my experience that people will QT a fish for you whether locally or online if it is a high end or exotic fish (e.g. - Achilles Tang, Clarion Angels, Rare Triggers), but if you are purchasing small cheap fish like say Azure Damsels, Royal Gramma, Blennies it's not happening. You have to be willing to do things like pay upfront or pay more then normal retail. TSM Corals is a good example of this (and they only sell high end fish).

Money can be made with high end and expensive fish, but it's a big loss with little fish. Even trying to QT Designer Clownfish as a business is hard to profit because all the clownfish farms have a MOQ of 20 designer clowns and there are way too many varieties available now to stock.

I get the impression that you have a small tank being in a condo. That's a tough position to be in if you are wanting to get QT everything and have limited space in your living area due to lease restrictions etc.

Westside Guy · Mar 4, 2019

ReefWithCare said:
I get the impression that you have a small tank being in a condo. That's a tough position to be in if you are wanting to get QT everything and have limited space in your living area due to lease restrictions etc.

It has nothing to do with lease restrictions, etc. but basically comes down to our living space and interior decorating. It took me over 6 months to convince my wife to agree to placing a tank in our living room and I landed up getting a Red Sea Reefer 250 which she really likes but at the end of the day she made it clear that will be the only tank in our condo.

I won the biggest battle by getting the Reefer 250 so I know when to call it a day!

Westside Guy · Mar 4, 2019

ReefWithCare said:
Sorry Live Aquaria. They have a 14 day guarantee on fish and they give you 5% back. You just need to check on the source where they are shipping from. Warehouse CA has different salinity then FL or WI warehouses. I shop exclusively FL/WI warehouses for Live Aquaria.

The only Live Aquaria I can find is located in Wisconsin and is part of Doctors Foster and Smith.
https://www.liveaquaria.com

jda · Mar 4, 2019

Nope. Put me in the camp of "it is not their job." I don't really QT anyway... just isolate and make sure that they are not shy, responsive, eating pellets and not stressed.

AcroNem · Mar 4, 2019

Ha. No.

If a store tells you things in their store are actually run through quarantine, they're lying right to your face. Strict and true professional quarantine is a lot for anyone, especially a store.
You need to

-Have separate systems
-all at least 8-10 feet apart
-different tools for each that are sterilized after every use
-on set quarantine and treatment protocols
-fallow invertebrate systems where all inverts are held for at least 34 days
-corals that are also run through proper quarantine and treatment
-staff and quarantine that is isolated from sale area, and that follows strict and perfect biosecurity protocols
-fish need to be checked via skin scrape/gill clip or both under a microscope to ensure they are clean.

So no, none of mine or any that I've seen come close to actually running their stock through quarantine. It could potentially be done, but the discipline and care needed to do it is above just about anyone that runs a store in my opinion.

DangerDave · Mar 4, 2019

I have a LFS about an hour away that has a great quarantine process. It takes about a month to get the fish into displays. Unfortunately because of the added cost, they mostly only carry higher end fish. I'd happily pay more money for regular fish that are done this way. I think I am in a small minority in this position.

I also have a couple LFS that are also a reasonable distance from me that carry the "standard" fish. One of them keeps the fish permanently medicated (the water is clearly green), and the other just acclimates and sells immediately. About 70% of the fish from these places die quickly.

reefproaquatics · Mar 5, 2019

westside guy if you are looking for truly QT'd fish check out TSMcorals.com or give them a call.

IDAN · Mar 5, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Let me start off by saying that in a perfect world I would have a QT tank in my condo but there simply isn't any room.

I live in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area and have visited a large number of the LFS in my area and so far have only found one that quarantines. They do it for only for 2 weeks which I know really isn't long enough but it is still better than nothing.

Am I really achieving anything by purchasing my fish at this one particular store as long as their pricing is competitive or is only 2 weeks of QT offering me no additional protection?

The one in Boca do it also, where did you do?

AcroNem · Mar 5, 2019

reefproaquatics said:
westside guy if you are looking for truly QT'd fish check out TSMcorals.com or give them a call.

I can't find anything on their site about their process, have you spoken with them about it?

ca1ore · Mar 5, 2019

Claims notwithstanding, it’s hard for me to imagine how a LFS could do a proper quarantine and stay in business. Just doesn’t pass the common sense test for me. I will always assume not and do it myeslf. I will also, under certain circumstances, do quarantine for local hobbyists.

DangerDave · Mar 5, 2019

reefproaquatics said:
westside guy if you are looking for truly QT'd fish check out TSMcorals.com or give them a call.

That’s who I was talking about! I only wish he carried more of the less expensive fish to go through his QT. I get it though...

Westside Guy · Mar 5, 2019

IDAN said:
The one in Boca do it also, where did you do?

Hydra Aquatics on Stirling Road in Dania Beach, FL..

IDAN · Mar 5, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Hydra Aquatics on Stirling Road in Dania Beach, FL..

I was there before, try one weekend Barrier Reef in Boca, It's not cheap but they have great stuff

DarthSimon · Mar 5, 2019

DangerDave said:
I have a LFS about an hour away that has a great quarantine process. It takes about a month to get the fish into displays. Unfortunately because of the added cost, they mostly only carry higher end fish. I'd happily pay more money for regular fish that are done this way. I think I am in a small minority in this position.

I also have a couple LFS that are also a reasonable distance from me that carry the "standard" fish. One of them keeps the fish permanently medicated (the water is clearly green), and the other just acclimates and sells immediately. About 70% of the fish from these places die quickly.

Yep, you hit the nail on the head Davey....