Foxface died during acclimation

[((FORDTECH))]

Most fish I get in are about 1.020 and I take them to 1.024 in 1-2 hours

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I did make sure I got oxygen in the bag, I used a petite to get air in the water and create some bubbles…maybe I didn’t get enough? I also kept the fish floating in the sump so it would stay the right temperature. I do feel the SG was too low but my usual store keeps theirs pretty low to (I’ve gotten readings from 1.018-1.020) and I’ve never had this happen before…this is my biggest fear with trying out new stores.

I think the salinity rise was just too much for the fish to handle. There are some variables to how much a fish can tolerate - kidney health, size of the fish, how long the fish was kept at lower salinity, species of fish involved. I’ve seen a tilapia go from freshwater to full strength seawater instantly and survive, and I’ve seen small thin bodied reef fish dehydrate and die with a 4 point rise, even with proper acclimation.
Jay

 

[kierstin1993]

Honestly I dont think it was the stores fault besides the fact they didn’t say take days to acclimate. My guess is if you did take days fish would have been fine. Next time I would buy the fish but if that must of a difference in salinity I would do it over 2 days or so if not more

Now I know to acclimate them longer and in a different container, but I only got the SG to 1.021 so I didn’t actually raise it more than .05 and my usual store has their tanks around 1.020 and I’ve never had an issue doing an hour acclimation.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I have no idea how this is relevant. Again if you read my post you’d know I watched the woman bag it and drove home for 2 hours, so clearly I bought it in store. What does you waiting for a fish delivery have to do with any of this? Nothing.

It's not relevent but you have introduced me in your questions.
Please remove me.
I'm happy to review your questions but honestly it's your choice

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Now I know to acclimate them longer and in a different container, but I only got the SG to 1.021 so I didn’t actually raise it more than .05 and my usual store has their tanks around 1.020 and I’ve never had an issue doing an hour acclimation.

I think this might have been a combination of things possibly. Store owner did say fish was there for months at that salinity. Add in the fact you said it had spots so maybe was sick. Then along with salinity there is other peramiters and things in the water that make the chemistry different between your system and there’s that all added up was to much stress I’d say.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

'Hello, so I bought a magnificent foxface today around 1pm. me a little over 2 hours to get it home. I began drip acclimating it and had to run to the store for some coppersafe as I noticed it had a couple spots when I got home. When I got back home it was dead.'
@kierstanz
I must say, it was a quote


So from your collection from store.... To home...

 

[kierstin1993]

I think this might have been a combination of things possibly. Store owner did say fish was there for months at that salinity. Add in the fact you said it had spots so maybe was sick. Then along with salinity there is other peramiters and things in the water that make the chemistry different between your system and there’s that all added up was to much stress I’d say.

I think it was sick but it was literally one spot at the store (atleast that’s all I saw when I checked). Took the gamble and I saw more spots when I got home. I guess it’s a lesson learned, probably won’t shop there anymore as it was too far to deal with the drama. Thanks for all the input! Now I know for next time!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I think it was sick but it was literally one spot at the store (atleast that’s all I saw when I checked). Took the gamble and I saw more spots when I got home. I guess it’s a lesson learned, probably won’t shop there anymore as it was too far to deal with the drama. Thanks for all the input! Now I know for next time!

I buy and sell a lot of fish and honestly will tell you a good 50% of them have spots when I get them. After proper care and diet they go away

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Like I said I’m not blaming you but I’m not convinced it’s stores fault either. In This situation it may be more your fault then store so I would give them another chance especially since they gave you credit

 

[kierstin1993]

I buy and sell a lot of fish and honestly will tell you a good 50% of them have spots when I get them. After proper care and diet they go away

That’s what I was thinking! But I really can’t wrap my head around it being the salinity alone…could have been different water chemistry like you said.
If they were closer I’d be more likely to try again. But my usual store is 40 minutes away and this one was 2 hours…only went for a black Friday sale.
Also, a little embarrassed…that’s why I asked what people here thought. I’m getting the feeling I wasn’t as right as I feel I am and that’s making me reluctant to take the credit even though I’m upset I’m out the money.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

That’s what I was thinking! But I really can’t wrap my head around it being the salinity alone…could have been different water chemistry like you said.
If they were closer I’d be more likely to try again. But my usual store is 40 minutes away and this one was 2 hours…only went for a black Friday sale.
Also, a little embarrassed…that’s why I asked what people here thought. I’m getting the feeling I wasn’t as right as I feel I am and that’s making me reluctant to take the credit even though I’m upset I’m out the money.

How much was it. Being magnificent I’m sure 200$ ish

 

[kierstin1993]

How much was it. Being magnificent I’m sure 200$ ish

$210 but 40% off so after tax I paid $134

 

[((FORDTECH))]

$210 but 40% off so after tax I paid $134

Very good price that’s under wholesale for the most part to bad it did t make it.

 

[damsels are not mean]

I would suggest abandoning drip acclimation in favor of using a QT tank. Set the salinity of the QT to the same as the fish is coming from and just dump them in asap. You'll never lose another fish to this sort of stress again. That bag is not a good place to be.

 

[((FORDTECH))]

So now it’s pretty much 4 hour drive round trip for 134 $ . I’d have to think about it also kinda not worth my time for that money

 

[kierstin1993]

I would suggest abandoning drip acclimation in favor of using a QT tank. Set the salinity of the QT to the same as the fish is coming from and just dump them in asap. You'll never lose another fish to this sort of stress again. That bag is not a good place to be.

Thanks, now I know! Can’t believe I’ve been doing it all these years and never thought of this!

 

[kierstin1993]

So now it’s pretty much 4 hour drive round trip for 134 $ . I’d have to think about it also kinda not worth my time for that money

Definitely a great price, but I agree, I’m not sure it’s worth the drive.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Thanks, now I know! Can’t believe I’ve been doing it all these years and never thought of this!

It's not just you, millions do this in fresh and saltwater. It's outdated methods really. But everyone wants to be safe and dripping sounds safe. Nothing wrong with that. I think inverts might be more sensitive but I don't care to test it. With corals... I'm a fan of the late jake adam's method (just put the coral in your tank) and it has never killed anything for me.

 

[Garf]

Definitely a great price, but I agree, I’m not sure it’s worth the drive.

Did he agree that his salinity is that low, or perhaps you have a salinity measurement/calibration problem with your tank?

 

[kierstin1993]

Did he agree that his salinity is that low, or perhaps you have a salinity measurement/calibration problem with your tank?

I told him the salinity was 1.016 and he said “ya”. That was it. Like this was normal to him. Then he told me I should have acclimated it much faster. I only got the salinity to 1.021 before it died…not really sure why he thinks acclimating faster would have helped but I now understand that my methods are outdated and I should have put the fish in fresh saltwater that matched what was in the bag and then acclimated the fish at a much slower rate.