How long before I buy a fish from lfs

[Duke4Life]

A good LFS is invaluable, seeing fish in person is something I greatly value. How a fish behaves, interacts, how readily it feeds, can all be nuanced observations, that I feel are better observed in person than even a wysiwyg pic.

? For ya TJ: how do more serious fish collectors go about this? I'm with you in seeing it 1st but what about those more sensitive fish?

 

[melypr1985]

The CO2 expelled by the fish can't escape, so it lowers the ph, ph below a certain point (around 6, I believe) renders ammonia harmless, once the bag is open the CO2 can escape making ammonia dangerous again.

Thats it!!! Thank you!!

 

[Pete polyp]

A good LFS is invaluable, seeing fish in person is something I greatly value. How a fish behaves, interacts, how readily it feeds, can all be nuanced observations, that I feel are better observed in person than even a wysiwyg pic.

This is where I have a big disadvantage because there are no lfs worth speaking of within 100 miles. It's pretty bad when petco would be the better option and that's still 50 miles away lol. And even at 100 miles away the stores there really aren't that great. Feel blessed if you have a great lfs that will take the extra steps to make sure you're getting healthy fish.

Ok so it's a 14 day hold for observation at diver den before anything is offered for sale. I'm pretty sure if a fish is looking diseased at that point the qt process occurs. It's a pretty respectable place to get livestock and the people running the place are very skilled. From what I have read about the place they go above and beyond what a typical lfs will do.

 

[eatbreakfast]

? For ya TJ: how do more serious fish collectors go about this? I'm with you in seeing it 1st but what about those more sensitive fish?

I am fortunate and work with a high end LFS in Greenwich, CT, so have a good relationship with a few sources in the supply chain. Also, the greater NYC area has a lot of places, some of which don't know what they get in.

Ok so it's a 14 day hold for observation at diver den before anything is offered for sale. I'm pretty sure if a fish is looking diseased at that point the qt process occurs. It's a pretty respectable place to get livestock and the people running the place are very skilled. From what I have read about the place they go above and beyond what a typical lfs will do.

They don't begin a true quarantine, they won't sell a fish with obvious defects and disease, but they are all in a system together, new fish that arrive alongside fish that have been there and are up for sale, I'm sure they treat there systems, but that us no different than most LFS.

DD has a well deserved reputation, and their guarantee is very good and their customer service is top notch. Guarantees and customer service vary from LFS to LFS, but having a good one is something very valuable to me.

 

[Falreef]

Two excellent LFS for reef / saltwater are in CT.
One is Life Aquatic in New Canaan.
The other is Greenwich Aquaria, on the Post Road Rt 1 in Old Greenwich.

 

[Albert Bazaar]

If they're eating then pick them up and throw them in your own qt. Or just buy from live aquaria and diver den. I know diver den holds their fish for a minimum of 30 days before offering them for sale.

I will look at this Diver Den.I have never heard of any distributor holding livestock for 30 days before selling.Even when I import animals go out after 2 weeks if they are healthy.

 

[Albert Bazaar]

KNOW THIS FOLKS.Many of you probably already know that 90% of the problems with imported/wildcaught fish relate to the introduction process when they get off the plane.
If it is not done properly,pests or not,it will not survive to it's full potential.Once the gills and internal organs are damaged,regardless of how well you treat it,regardless of the rich varieties of foods,the animals life has been cut short and is vunerable to any parasite,fungus,disease,bacteria that is waiting in the system.

These fish arrive with Ammonia levels so high it's well.well beyond lethal.Why are they alive??Because the PH has also dropped to ridiculous levels.
If the importer transhipper,,etc..doesn't match the ph of new system water to what's in the bags.DAMAGED pure and simple.This process takes anywhere from 18 hours to 30hours depending on the importer.

They all say they do this.But guess what,you'll just have to buy more.I have found what people say and actually DO are 2 different things.