Is your LFS pest-free?

[JoJosReef]

I've admittedly been to few LFS and even fewer coral shows/conventions. However, I haven't yet been to one where I didn't spot aiptasia in the tanks or a few frag plugs overrun with algae. I think if I saw flatworms, I would just leave. I was at a local coral farmers market yesterday. All of the vendors had beautiful corals to admire. However, some had spotless frag tanks, and others had noticeable pests, specifically aiptasia. Sometimes the aiptasia was quite obvious, e.g. a single polyp zoa with an aiptasia larger than the zoa. Sometimes, the aiptasia was tucked under the frag rack or side of the frag plug. For me, it was a turn-off seeing aiptasia in a display tank at a coral show, just as it makes me hesitant to buy corals at an LFS with aiptasia in their tanks. Is this an over-reaction? Are some pests in an LFS to be expected? I'm curious to know, who's had experience with pest-free LFS, and is that important to you?

 

[Slocke]

I am very Lucky to have a very very good LFS. I wouldn’t say they have no pests rather that they spend so much time working on their displays that you won’t see the pests even though it’s a big store. I know I will get pests anyway but what does it for me is the care they put into it.

 

[blecki]

Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't have something.

If the LFS is keeping fish in hyposalinity / low levels of copper / oversized UV they could have common fish diseases with no apparent symptoms - and in fact; unless they are doing the full QT treatment with all the medications for long enough; they almost certainly have fish going in those tanks with ich/velvet/brook/uronema/etc. They come from the wholesaler with them.

For coral if they are regurally adding fish to and selling fish from their frag tanks then those tanks probably have fish pathogens for the same reason. As for coral pathogens in a frag tank, I have literally never found anything worse than aiptasia is any of my local stores... I figure if they've got a frag tank full of healthy frags the chances of them having one of the common pathogens is pretty low. Like, if they had a lot of healthy acros, they probably don't have AEFW. It's also a lot easier to get rid of coral pathogens as a simple dip is enough for most of them.

 

[MoshJosh]

I think even good fish stores will have a pest from time to time. Even with quarantine and dips I don’t think the store can catch everything (given the volume of live stock coming in and out).

That said I try not to buy out of tanks with clear infestations and I try not to buy frags with visible pests.

 

[To(meany)Tang]

I'd say your just being considerate of your fish temple. I personally see ich on the fish in the frag tanks at my lfs and although i love looking at the corals I never buy them. Side note: although I did end up in coral qt anyway because I decided to buy 10 frags at aquashella from different vendors lol. I'm new to corals and I have the impulse even more to put those frags right in my DT because I don't want them to die. Glad I didn't because I caught an aiptasia and now bryopsis that showed up 2 weeks after qt. Yikes lol. I say trust your heart

 

[exnisstech]

My go to saltwater only fish store has some pest. But the guy that works there really looks over pieces being sold and does a good job making sure they are clean or he cleans them before bagging. I typically dip everything and some get removed from the plug so in don't fret over it.

 

[Seansea]

I voted for #3 but the reason is that my local local lfs has incredible deals. THere are pest but you can get zoa rocks with 4 diferent kinds and like 80 polyps for $60. Might be an aptasia in there but i try to get it out before it goes in my tank. Purple tangs for $100. So gotta make best of it.

The other local one i use is cherry corals and they are a bit pricier but have higher end corals and are pest free. Those are the only 2 i buy from. Never have made purchase online.

 

[JoJosReef]

Fish disease is a tough one. Lots of coral displays that have a tang or a rabbitfish swimming around keeping the frags clean or maybe a filefish for aiptasia. I've seen these in the holding tanks at AquaSD. Presumably these are like the LFS long-term pets and generally healthy, so low risk of leaving parasites on the corals. Still, would be slightly more conforting to see the corals in a fishless system, likewise inverts.

 

[bushdoc]

I stopped buying corals from one LFS which think that aiptasia should accompany all their frags. Even if frag seem to be aiptasia free, you might discover later that it was hiding somewhere there.
Other two LFS have occasional aiptasia, but by buying frags from them and subjecting to quarantine, I minimize the risk.

 

[The_Skrimp]

Absolutely not. I had to pick the fourth option because there are great LFSs in my area but “pest free” is asking a lot. Even the better shops I go to have sold me frags or chaeto with a pest or two on them.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I was at that CFM yesterday also. I believe there is generally not such a thing as a pest free tank, LFS or not. Although coral farms probably can reduce pests more than others. These are mostly local guys trying to make a few bucks to offset their addiction.
I expect pest from everywhere and do what I can to manage it. A pest to one organism is food for another. Also I am the guy who fills up a jug of water from the ocean and throws it in my tank. I understand some people want this utopian world inside some panes of glass, but with a successful tank, I don’t think that can happen.
Cant have the Yin without the Yang.
P.S. how do you know it wasn't the aptaisa that was for sale and you get a free zoa polyp...

 

[Kodski]

I think this is an important topic and a really good question!

Personally, I believe that every LFS will have a pest of some sort due to probability. Even a small LFS rotates WAY more frags through their store than any hobbyist will through their tank. So its safe to say the probability of pests goes way up. Plus, the shear amount of time and work that would be put into quarantining the amount of coral a LFS would sell wouldn't make sense. Plus many stores take trade-in's from local hobbyists which are bound to have a few pests.

On a coral farm level, I believe its a different story. Take Tidal Gardens for example. The do receive new corals, but all new corals are separated and go through a strict quarantine procedure before being released into their grow out systems. It makes sense on this scale though because its a long term investment and generally they receive colonies and not just a small frag. So in turn they create and sell frags from colonies that are already quarantined. The amount of space and initial investment this requires is too great for most LFS.

Personally, I consider aptasia to be a pest along the lines of algae. It's not impossible to get rid of if I happen to get some in my tank. I've fought it before and it was an easy battle for me. So if I see a LFS with aptasia, I'm not particularly bothered. I think the overall cleanliness of the tanks, health of the corals and fish, speak what I need to know about the store I'm in. My favorite LFS has aptasia growing in the corners of every tank but every coral is healthy and spotless. Every tank is algae free, all fish are fat and disease free. In fact, out of all the LFS's I've every been to, I'd be hard pressed to find a cleaner tank. I've been in plenty of stores that I wouldn't touch the water let alone buy anything from their tanks even if I don't see aptasia.

In short, I think it all comes down to judgement. If you really want corals you can assume are pest free, find a trusted coral farm like WWC or Tidal Gardens who quarantine all new corals, and only sell frags from their colonies. Even then, people will tell you to still watch for pests. I really think it all comes down to how much risk you're willing to take on, which everyone is going to have a different answer for.

 

[ZoWhat]

Define pest-free

....as in no college age staff workers only there to stand around and look ignorant?

 

[i cant think]

Generally I enjoy pests as not all of them are bad, I love finding baby Acropora crabs on colonies and welcome them (Although I’ve not seen any in years as they don’t survive dipping in the LFS).

 

[ZoWhat]

.....I little disappointed you two didn't do a 30src make out video message, sharing a lollipop

 

[JoJosReef]

Define pest-free

....as in no college age staff workers only there to stand around and look ignorant?

I can top that. The college age worker at my LFS told me that ich is not a disease, it's just something every fish has that comes out when they get stressed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

I can top that. The college age worker at my LFS told me that ich is not a disease, it's just something every fish has that comes out when they get stressed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m a high school age worker at my lfs and know better than that. I could also hook you up with some copper.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

And no, my lfs is not pest free. Any softie is guaranteed to have its fair share of tube worms and asterinas.