Local Fish Store with an Ick problem

[6Bolt]

Hello Everyone,

I "was" in the process of purchasing a Naso Tang from the LFS and had them put the fish on hold till I can get my QT ready. I found out yesterday that this particular fish now has ick and was told "don't worry about it, every tank has it anyway." They had not isolated the fish, nor have they indicated to do so.

My gut is telling me to stay away from this fish store completely regarding any live goods. I've read online regarding this pest and proper treatment. I was planning on isolating all my fish for four to six weeks anyway in the QT, while I set up my main tank. What is everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[Tahoe61]

I would not buy any live stock from them.

 

[SomethingCool]

I wouldn't either. I know u are setting up a AT and all but still is stay away just on principle

 

[SomethingCool]

a QT*
..darn auto-correct

 

[6Bolt]

Thanks!

 

[6Bolt]

I did buy a mated pair of Clown Fish from them already, which they are holding for me as well.

 

[mcarroll]

What's the story with these fish being on hold for you? Why?

How long are you monitoring these fish before you decide to purchase?

Unless you and your tank are pretty well seasoned, there's no good reason to even consider bringing home fish that are demonstrating symptoms of anything.

Do you understand the store's system? Is it possible that their tanks are all isolated by strong UV like ours were? We would still try to isolate demonstrably sick fish in their own tank for recovery whenever possible though....usually not a problem in a store with lots of tanks. But no fish needed to be removed from the system to another place to be isolated.

The policy about selling a fish with ich would be worth asking more questions about...doesn't sound right to the point that I'd be a little surprised if there wasn't more to their story for some reason.

How did you "find out" that your selected fish had ich?

 

[GHsaltie]

I would also pass if I were in your shoes. With how wholesalers are now it's extremely common to come across an illness/parasite of some kind, however you are setting yourself up for success by purchasing specimens that appear healthy, fat and are displaying normal behaviors.

 

[randy4083]

For some reason all the lfs around me all have ich also and I'm starting to wonder if everyone is getting bad batches of fish from wherever there getting them from. All 3 stores around me have a bunch of fish that have diseases I mean they have some fish without them but most of there fish have something

 

[Scott.h]

Every tank doesn't have ich, so that is false. If you start a tank with dry rock and all the fish you put in there were quarantined in copper before they were added, it won't have the parasite.

I have a lfs that is known for it also. For me, it's gone beyond fish to even buying their corals. What it comes down to it they don't care enough to correct it. As long as people continue to buy they don't need to. When I first started out I didn't know other options. After their fish gave my tank ich then they tried to sell me everything from medication to a uv sterilizer. They quickly lost all my business. Now I buy from a store that quarantines for 2 weeks before they see the floor. Once on the floor they are in copper already. Many years later I haven't had a problem since.

 

[mcarroll]

For some reason all the lfs around me all have ich also and I'm starting to wonder if everyone is getting bad batches of fish from wherever there getting them from. All 3 stores around me have a bunch of fish that have diseases I mean they have some fish without them but most of there fish have something

It's the time of year more than likely.....shipping in the heat is probably just as stressful as shipping in the dead of winter....maybe even more stressful.

If they are a decent shop the fish will recover....sucks for the store more than anyone else since they have to sit on and care for all those fish until they recover and again become salable. Can't sell em, can't order new fish. On the bottom line that looks like you decided to just stay home and watch TV for a few weeks. It looks like that on the rent check too.

 

[6Bolt]

What's the story with these fish being on hold for you? Why?

How long are you monitoring these fish before you decide to purchase?

Unless you and your tank are pretty well seasoned, there's no good reason to even consider bringing home fish that are demonstrating symptoms of anything.

Do you understand the store's system? Is it possible that their tanks are all isolated by strong UV like ours were? We would still try to isolate demonstrably sick fish in their own tank for recovery whenever possible though....usually not a problem in a store with lots of tanks. But no fish needed to be removed from the system to another place to be isolated.

The policy about selling a fish with ich would be worth asking more questions about...doesn't sound right to the point that I'd be a little surprised if there wasn't more to their story for some reason.

How did you "find out" that your selected fish had ich?

These fish were being "housed" at the LFS for a friend of the owner. They were not for sale at the time even though I had inquired about them. I really liked their colors and how they interacted with people. I figured I could give them a great home in my tank (120 Gallons).

No, my tank nor I are seasoned at all. I've started building the main tank and will start a build thread here later in the week.

The store's system does not use UV equipment. How do I know this for a fact? Well I inquired about the necessity of a UV sterilizer and was given the response that they don't use them.

The LFS takes in fish from the area, they do not isolate them and add them directly to all of their tanks.

I found out that the fish had ICH when the employee mentioned it to me. I also noticed it's entire body is covered in the "typical" white dots.

 

[6Bolt]

Every tank doesn't have ich, so that is false. If you start a tank with dry rock and all the fish you put in there were quarantined in copper before they were added, it won't have the parasite.

I have a lfs that is known for it also. For me, it's gone beyond fish to even buying their corals. What it comes down to it they don't care enough to correct it. As long as people continue to buy they don't need to. When I first started out I didn't know other options. After their fish gave my tank ich then they tried to sell me everything from medication to a uv sterilizer. They quickly lost all my business. Now I buy from a store that quarantines for 2 weeks before they see the floor. Once on the floor they are in copper already. Many years later I haven't had a problem since.

All my orders will be online only at this point

 

[justingraham]

All my orders will be online only at this point

Tsm coral on this site buy from them

 

[6Bolt]

It's the time of year more than likely.....shipping in the heat is probably just as stressful as shipping in the dead of winter....maybe even more stressful.

If they are a decent shop the fish will recover....sucks for the store more than anyone else since they have to sit on and care for all those fish until they recover and again become salable. Can't sell em, can't order new fish. On the bottom line that looks like you decided to just stay home and watch TV for a few weeks. It looks like that on the rent check too.

Tsm coral on this site buy from them

I will check them out. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

"don't worry about it, every tank has it anyway."

If you live in Southern California then that statement is 100% TRUE and APPLY to all LFS, the LFS that don't have ich then their tank all in low salinity (Hyposalinity), if you don't acclimate your live stock correctly then they will die. I'm only buy corals, invertebrate from them because they have separated plumbing system setup for corals and fishes. Quarantine new arrivals is a must, even if you're order fish online then it doesn't mean your new fish doesn't carry ich and not counting the fish value only cost 10 buch but the shipping is 5 times higher than the fish value itself.

 

[becks]

I'm in the opinion that all fish at a LFS have ICH.

 

[Brew12]

I agree that almost all LFS will have Ich in their systems. The larger problem I have in this case is that the LFS isn't holding the fish to make sure it recovers. Under the right circumstances, a fish can handle Ich with its immune system. If it can't, there is a problem. Either the store isn't maintaining high enough water quality/food or the fish itself has an issue.

All it takes for a LFS to get Ich in their systems is to bring it in on one fish. Not too many stores can afford to take their systems fallow for 2+ months to clear them of parasites. The best of my LFS (well, not too local) runs low levels of copper in their fish systems to keep parasites under control. In my opinion, it is almost impossible to get a parasite free fish. I choose to QT them with copper and prazi prior to putting them in my DT to keep parasites out of my DT. You also have the option of running a system that relies on the natural immunity of the fish to keep parasite numbers in check.

 

[tj w]

Agree with Brew, typically a fish can live with ich for a while but nowadays it seems velvet is just as common also. I've had 2 tank crashes due to this and will not ever have another fish that hasn't been through qt. Your best bet is to keep doing plenty of research and ask questions.

 

[CoralStop]

I would stick to liveaquaria, they seem to have great deals on healthy fish and have live guarantee. I think minimum order for free shipping is now $99 so that's a plus!