Special ordering fish through LFS

[Salty_Box_Reef]

Planning on getting a couple clowns from my lfs but they aren't something that's normally stocked, so therefor they will need to special order them for me. I'm wondering what my best practice would be for receiving them and acclimation? Here's the conundrum; my lfs gets their shipment in the early afternoon 11:00-1:00, I'm off work at 5:00-6:00. So that's 4-6hrs sitting there. Should I let them tank them and then repackage them and take them home(I'm about 10min drive from my lfs)? Or should I make them keep them over night and get them the next day? I would hate to loose one, not to mention I plan on a grade A Picasso so I can't really afford to be purchasing multiple Picasso's.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

why not order off a vendor from the site. have them over night a day your off.

 

[Salty_Box_Reef]

Cause I would like to keep some business in my town. I do a lot of online ordering but my lfs has some good guys in it that have earned some of my business.

 

[mcarroll]

I don't like the leave-em-there strategy.

Why not wait to order until you can make the time to be there for the pick-up? Sounds worthy of a day off if it takes that.

-Matt

 

[o2manyfish]

If you can pick them up the day they arrive then it's no big deal. Fish are shipped around the world in plastic bags with oxygen. A couple of clowns are okay for 48+ hours in the proper bag.

Once they arrive at the fish store, then they are inside and you don't have to worry about them being subject to any drastic temperature changes.

They will be fine in the bag till you get them home. Keeping them out of one less tank is that much less stress and risk you will be subjecting the fish to.

Enjoy them!

Dave B

 

[Tylermacdonald15]

If they were packed correctly they will be fine for a few hours extra. Just ask the LFS to leave them in a dark box or dark room. Putting them in there tank then yours is way to much stress in 24 hours. Unless they want to hold them for a week to reduce stress. But as far as I'm concerned, the fewer tanks they are in, the less likely of them picking up some new illness they didn't have.

 

[Palting]

Planning on getting a couple clowns from my lfs but they aren't something that's normally stocked, so therefor they will need to special order them for me. I'm wondering what my best practice would be for receiving them and acclimation? Here's the conundrum; my lfs gets their shipment in the early afternoon 11:00-1:00, I'm off work at 5:00-6:00. So that's 4-6hrs sitting there. Should I let them tank them and then repackage them and take them home(I'm about 10min drive from my lfs)? Or should I make them keep them over night and get them the next day? I would hate to loose one, not to mention I plan on a grade A Picasso so I can't really afford to be purchasing multiple Picasso's.

In my opinion, it depends on your LFS. Having said that, I am a little leery about your particular LFS. You said they do not stock clowns? I mean, clowns are probably the most common saltwater fish in any marine LFS. One of my LFS is a mom and pop operation, and they routinely have a dozen clowns in their tank. If you are saying they do not keep Picasso clowns routinely, that's a little more understandable since Picasso clowns are relatively expensive.

For the more expensive fish that I have my LFS special order, I make it a point to be at his store as soon as the fish arrives. The fish stays in the shipping box, the LFS calls me, and I go pick it up ASAP, acclimate my QT to the bag water, then place the fish in QT.

I also have a deal with my LFS. If for any reason I cannot come to pick up a particular fish, they go ahead and tank the fish and keep it for at least a week. If the fish dies, looks sickly, or I am not happy with it for any reason, they keep the fish and order me another one. It is for arrangements like these that I make it a point to get as much or everything I can with my LFS as payback. They want my business, I want special arrangements, we support each other.

 

[Tahoe61]

Having specially ordered fish from the LFS I make sure I know when the shippment comes and request that they leave the fish in the transport bags and not introduce them to the stores displays, this has worked very well for me. I then acclimate them over roughly an hour to my display.

 

[Salty_Box_Reef]

My LFS stocks clowns. Just not what I'm looking for. A stubby, and a grade A picasso. I was under the impression the fish should be removed from their bag ASAP. If they are fine in it for a few hours extra, then I'll just grab them on my lunch and keep them in the styrofoam box and pick them up on my lunch hour, then store them inside my office.

Question, could I leave them floating in their bags in my tank for about 4hrs? Given my lunch schedule I could always grab them from my LFS and set them in my tank, but I wouldn't have time to drip acclimate them.

 

[mcarroll]

My guess is that his clowns won't be alone in the bag. I'd confirm before I'd assume that.

Even if they are alone, you have no idea as to the quality of the water in the bag. Could be fine, but seems risky.

-Matt

 

[mcarroll]

If you can get them home, that's great!

I think I would advocate just putting them into your tank while you are there, after a very short temperature acclimation. (If you can run a drip from your tank at the same time they are floating, do that too.) 10 minutes tops. I've acclimated plenty of captive as well as wild fish this way without issue -- and I like it better than any of the other options so far.

At minimum I would de-bag them into a bucket (or buckets) you can float in your sumpand get some aeration going. An ammonia test would be crucial as well.

I wouldn't leave them in the shipping water without positively knowing there was no ammonia.

Good luck, and post pics when you do get em!

-Matt

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

id just take a half day. High grade Picasso are spendy for a clown and burn some PTO

 

[1.0reef]

Planning on getting a couple clowns from my lfs but they aren't something that's normally stocked, so therefor they will need to special order them for me. I'm wondering what my best practice would be for receiving them and acclimation? Here's the conundrum; my lfs gets their shipment in the early afternoon 11:00-1:00, I'm off work at 5:00-6:00. So that's 4-6hrs sitting there. Should I let them tank them and then repackage them and take them home(I'm about 10min drive from my lfs)? Or should I make them keep them over night and get them the next day? I would hate to loose one, not to mention I plan on a grade A Picasso so I can't really afford to be purchasing multiple Picasso's.

What LFS? I know a few in the bay area that stock picassos, and one that specifically breeds picassos nearby.

 

[Salty_Box_Reef]

It's in Sonoma county. Where in the bay breeds them?