Thoughts on returning fish?

leilani908 · Feb 3, 2020

Hello!
I'm just wondering what're people's thoughts on returning fish. I currently have a gold head sleeper goby, and I really like him, but I'm not liking that he keeps putting sand everywhere. I want to start putting corals on the sand bed but I'm worried hell cover them. I do enjoy that he's making my sand look really nice though.
Anyone know any alternatives or advice on what to do? I feel to bad to return him.

sp1187 · Feb 3, 2020

leilani908 said:
Hello!
I'm just wondering what're people's thoughts on returning fish. I currently have a gold head sleeper goby, and I really like him, but I'm not liking that he keeps putting sand everywhere. I want to start putting corals on the sand bed but I'm worried hell cover them. I do enjoy that he's making my sand look really nice though.
Anyone know any alternatives or advice on what to do? I feel to bad to return him.

home it to some one local new to the hobby.

Phildago · Feb 3, 2020

leilani908 said:
Hello!
I'm just wondering what're people's thoughts on returning fish. I currently have a gold head sleeper goby, and I really like him, but I'm not liking that he keeps putting sand everywhere. I want to start putting corals on the sand bed but I'm worried hell cover them. I do enjoy that he's making my sand look really nice though.
Anyone know any alternatives or advice on what to do? I feel to bad to return him.

I've returned a few. Sometimes I give them a shot in the tank and if they kill or destroy they must be returned

MTBake · Feb 3, 2020

He will definitely cover coral on the sand bed, ime.

Mine was super fun to watch though. I worked around his behavior the best I could as far as coral choices went.

leilani908 · Feb 3, 2020

sp1187 said:
home it to some one local new to the hobby.

Idk anyone local or new. How would I go about doing that?

Phildago said:
I've returned a few. Sometimes I give them a shot in the tank and if they kill or destroy they must be returned

He's not really destroying anything, I just worry about the coral he keeps covering. I knew this fish did this, but I hoped it would be okay. I could probably just work around it, I'm just thinking future wise.

MTBake said:
He will definitely cover coral on the sand bed, ime.

Mine was super fun to watch though. I worked around his behavior the best I could as far as coral choices went.

Do you still have it?

vetteguy53081 · Feb 3, 2020

That's what gobies do. Store, may or may not accept it back

Phildago · Feb 3, 2020

Yeah, it's hard sometimes to know if they'll be a good fit. It's probably better to bring him back sooner than later if you're really thinking about it though.

If it's manageable and you don't mind then definitely keep him, but theres definitely some weighing of pros and cons

leilani908 · Feb 3, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
That's what gobies do. Store, may or may not accept it back

I know my LFS will accept him back.

Phildago said:
Yeah, it's hard sometimes to know if they'll be a good fit. It's probably better to bring him back sooner than later if you're really thinking about it though.

If it's manageable and you don't mind then definitely keep him, but theres definitely some weighing of pros and cons

Yeah. I'll really have to think about it.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 3, 2020

leilani908 said:
I know my LFS will accept him back.

Yeah. I'll really have to think about it.

Youre fortunate. here they don't because they feel they now risk parasite/bacteria, etc Not knowing state of customer's Tank

Mav88 · Feb 3, 2020

My dottyback covered my new favia while I was at work, I changed my flow to make an area in the corner for sand to blow to, Solved that problem, and now sand doesn't get on the rocks and other corals. It's a small tank so its easy to do.
I have a small pile there now that I rake down.

Katrina71 · Feb 3, 2020

If he's keeping your sandbed clean, I'd opt for a magnetic frag rack.

leilani908 · Feb 4, 2020

Katrina71 said:
If he's keeping your sandbed clean, I'd opt for a magnetic frag rack.

Yeah I've thought about getting a magnetic frag rack. Thank you!

vetteguy53081 said:
Youre fortunate. here they don't because they feel they now risk parasite/bacteria, etc Not knowing state of customer's Tank

I think they take it back no matter what, but they put it in its own thing in case of that.

Bossman · Feb 4, 2020

I don't think it's out of the ordinary to return a fish. In some cases you may have a restocking fee, or no credit at all. But if the fish is causing issues, I don't see a problem returning. In the case of restocking fee, partial store credit, it is what it is.

I purchased a Valentini puffer to replace one that had jumped. But the new one from the LFS immediately started eating my acans. So I returned it the very next day and received all of my money back. But I buy a lot from that LFS.

I have a Two Spot Bristletooth tang now that chases his tankmates frequently. I'm planning to trap and rehome him to the LFS. I asked them first and they said they will take him.

OrionN · Feb 4, 2020

leilani908 said:
Hello!
I'm just wondering what're people's thoughts on returning fish. I currently have a gold head sleeper goby, and I really like him, but I'm not liking that he keeps putting sand everywhere. I want to start putting corals on the sand bed but I'm worried hell cover them. I do enjoy that he's making my sand look really nice though.
Anyone know any alternatives or advice on what to do? I feel to bad to return him.

You are lucky that you have a choice. If the fish does not fit in your tank, best to remove it so that it can be happy elsewhere.
Here in Corpus Christi, Petco does not take anything back and the other LFS just take fish "donation" back only. Once the fish went through the door of either establishment, their responsibility ended. If you did not look at the fish careful enough, well, it is your problem.