First fish! Acclimating advice?

[TriggerFinger]

Hi r2r!

I purchased my first fish today, a very small starry blenny! He’s still at the store and I would like to pick him up tomorrow if I can get a water change completed tonight.

He’s in a tank with a butterfly of some sort and the lfs runs copper in some of their tanks and he’s in one of these. They have had him since 11/7. I’ve seen him eat on two different days and he appears to be healthy and active. Swimming in and out of the one rock in his tiny cube, pecking at it etc...

Lfs said to drip acclimate for 1 hour and then either grab or net him so I don’t get lfs water in my tank.

Is this sold advice? Is 1 hour sufficient? Any tips for blennies?
Thanks guys

Edit: any suggestions on food?

 

[Jesterrace]

I would say that the biggest factors will be the difference in salinity levels. Many LFS run at low salinity for convenience or hiding illnesses. Find out what the salinity is at your LFS and what it is in your tank. A huge variance in salinity can be an issue. It would be considered best practice to QT it for a while, but if they have had it in copper for a few weeks it could be okay. Also is there a big difference in temp between your tanks and their's

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I would at a minimum drip him for at least 1 hour depending on difference in salinity. You definitely want to net him and not get the LFS water in your tank.
If you are unable to QT him then I would wait 4 weeks before considering another fish. If possible during that’s time set up a QT tank for future fish.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I will ask on salinity and temp tomorrow. Mine is 1.025 at 78.0 degrees. I assume longer acclimating the bigger the difference in salinity and temp? What’s considered a huge variance?

I only have a qt set up right now while I’m still getting the main tank ready so that’s where the fish will go, no other fish for the time being.

If I have to medicate then I will have to find a different tank because this one has mature live rock and other non fish or coral life forms.

 

[nereefpat]

Since it's going into a qt, instead of a display, this one is easy.

Check the salinity of the bag the fish is in. Then match the qt to that within a point or two. Then float the bag (for temperature acclimation) for about a half hour. Then scoop the fish out, transferring as little water as possible.

Blennies are really hardy, so you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Might have to wait on picking the fish up...I noticed the beginnings of some algae on the glass and it may be bryopsis

 

[ReeferBean]

Might have to wait on picking the fish up...I noticed the beginnings of some algae on the glass and it may be bryopsis

In your display or the quarantine tank? No need to run a bright light over the display tank if you don’t have any fish or coral. Same with the qt really.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I only have the qt right now that’s holding a shipment of live rock. I added hermits a week ago and noticed this algae last night during a water change.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Here’s here!! He was in .018 sg with copper and mine is .024. Bag was not tied properly and leaked so he got put in a bucket right away with a drip acclimater. He was mostly white and probably ticked and cold. I dumped a couple small buckets to his bucket to bring the temp up and it took 45 mins to match the salinity. I couldn’t get the temp to match my tank exactly and there wasn’t enough water in the bucket for my big heater so he went in with a 3 degree difference. After about an hour in the tank he’s perched right out front and appears to be colored normal. Hope he does well and eats in the morning. Wish me luck!!