Extra! Extra! What do you do with that “extra” fish?

[Pistol Peet]

425 degrees preheat oven cut 1 lemon in half salt to taste .lol joking

 

[mfinn]

Don't think I have ever been in a position where an "extra" fish is in play.

 

[Scratch08]

 

[KrisReef]

Extra! Extra! What do you do with that “extra” fish?

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Ok, so there’s not really any big news here - just a question about your approach to “extra” fish. You know, the one that showed up. Maybe it was given to you, or it looked lonely at the fish store, or it was part of a pair or a group and now you only have one left. Do you give it away, take it to the fish store, move it to the sump, add another tank, or just revise your plan and build around it? Maybe the fish is kind of a “third wheel” (or should it be “third fin”?), it was not part of the master plan, or you firmly believe that there is no such thing as an extra fish. Please share your thoughts in the discussion about what to do with extra fish.

Photo by Maroun.C

I justed posted on a local forum asking folks to consider dumping their extra tangs in my tangless tank that has started to grow Ulva. People have seemed confused, but what I am hoping is that someone with two tangs that are fighting will solve that battle by giving, or selling me the extra fish. I don't want to import another fish when every so often a problem, extra fish has to go back the the LFS. The stress of going back to the LFS (and their community tanks) has killed a lot of fish in my experience.

Of course I am hoping someone with a Gem tang, or an Achilles tang will call me and ask if they can deliver it to me, right away, but I am ok with a Long Nose Black tang or any other algae eater (that isn't sick with the plague.)

I'll probably just purchase one when I see a good specimen, but I can let the ulva grow a bit more and see if I can adopt an extra fish.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Does it count that I have an Aquarium, my wife doesn’t know about, yet.

 

[Jbell370]

My fish are my pets, there are no extras. I don’t believe anyone in my immediate network would care for them as well as I do, even the reef damsels that constantly bite me. Most of my guys have been with me a long time through 4 tank upgrades, 32g 60g 120g and have earned their place in the current 240g.

When the gf brought home 3 clowns as a gift, even though I had a pair, I went and set up another tank.

That’s just me, I prefer all my pets over people.

 

[vlangel]

I have a mature tank with a lot of hiding places that will support a lot of fish for the size tank it is. However, there are those times where a fish gets bullied or a friend is taking down their tank and still has 1 fish. Those 3 fish have ended up in my sump. It's fine and they are living quite happily in that 30 gallon sump/fuge.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Every aquarist should have more than 1 aquarium running all the time. The more time goes the stronger I feel about this.

 

[Flame2hawk]

Well the other question is why they wouldn't fit in the 625 gallon - fish migrate in and out of areas all the time. Perhaps you're overthinking? If not - follow your individual plan IMHO

Just think tank is well stocked already with plenty of angels and tangs so yes another issue is introducing them without the emperor and queen in particular tearing them apart! As far as original plan which was to raise them and sell them, that now is not an option as they’ve become adopted family members with their great personalities! They are just like scribble also in 625g. Just great personalities in shared sub species. Think my family members w/b quite upset if I go with original plan. This happens rarely but has in this case!

 

[ReefSakes]

I’m dealing with that right now! I have a beautiful pair of personifier angel fish that I just had to have. They are alone in a 55g and happy as can be BUT we all know that they will outgrow that tank rather quickly. I have a 625g & 240g that are at capacity….I have fallen in love with my Personifier pair and although originally raised them to sell, just cant do it….dilemmas…dilemmas…( pardon the touch of cloudiness as glass needs cleaning)

Beautiful pair

 

[Klyle]

My two clowns decided to kill each other…so i separated them and got another tank. Huge mistake imo. Now i have (more than) twice the work, but only the same amount of time. It’s taken me a few months to realize this, so now I’m in the process of planning on consolidating the best parts of both tanks. I will be selling a lot of equipment soon and probably giving away a bunch of corals…I will attempt to reacquaint the clowns, but I’m doubtful it will work. Which brings me to my answer- there’s no way I’ll just take one of the clowns to my lfs for them to resell to who knows! I’ll need to find a local hobbyists that i trust and who wants to home a 3.5 year old clown. It’s going to be hard parting with a family member. Anyone in the MSP area interested?? I’ll need you to fill out my adoption form…kidding.

 

[Flame2hawk]

Beautiful pair

Thx….so beautiful I cant get rid of them!

 

[ReefSakes]

Thx….so beautiful I cant get rid of them!

I understand! I have a beautiful male. It and my scribbled has the best personality in my angel system.

 

[Chanman1965]

I am 100 miles plus from a quaility Marine LFS so I have to buy on line and most suppliers do not sex their fish(suchas cardinals) so if I order 3 juviniles hoping that the odds will give at least one male and one female then I place the pair in my DT and the "extra" in my 55 gallon refugium.

 

[Joe.D]

So, I have a question stemming from this point…

I have a fish that is being picked on by another. My LFS has offered to take back as trade - which, I’d love to do. My question is, short of taking out all of your rock, how do you catch the fish? I’ve tried chasing with the net, then it just goes and hides in the rocks.

I‘m still relatively new to reefing - my tank has only been up for about 7-8 months. Would love to hear how ideas for catching/trapping fish you’d like to remove from your tank.

 

[Klyle]

So, I have a question stemming from this point…

I have a fish that is being picked on by another. My LFS has offered to take back as trade - which, I’d love to do. My question is, short of taking out all of your rock, how do you catch the fish? I’ve tried chasing with the net, then it just goes and hides in the rocks.

I‘m still relatively new to reefing - my tank has only been up for about 7-8 months. Would love to hear how ideas for catching/trapping fish you’d like to remove from your tank.

I know they do sell fish traps…but that also probably depends on the type of fish. What is it?

 

[Flame2hawk]

I rarely have had problems catching fish when needed. It takes patience, observation and feeding a bit to attract them. I’ve also used plastic sheets to corner them off when needed. You usually only get one shot as you plot it out.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

Ive got a problem snowflake eel that is looking mighty tempting to add to a sushi roll currently…

 

[Joe.D]

I know they do sell fish traps…but that also probably depends on the type of fish. What is it?

Lubbock’s Wrasse

 

[sp1187]

i got recipes.