What do LFSs do?

[Seachelle]

I recently bought 2 clownfish from my LFS ,and unfortunately, they passed away after 8 days in my care. One of them had what looked like webbing on its fin, but other than that, I didn't see any physical abnormalities. They began swimming strangely, and seemed to stay at the surface, and within a day, they were dead. Someone on a Facebook site I posted pictures to said it looked like Brook. When I contacted the LFS to ask what I should do to treat it, they told me they doubted it was brook, since they hadn't had a lot of fish dying, and with the shared system their tanks run on, if one tank had Brook, they all would. The only other inhabitants of the QT I had my clownfish in were an arrow crab, which I've had in there for over 3 months, and 2 snails. The LFS suggested that the fish died from chemical burns. It is entirely possible that I might have put my hands in the tank with lotion on or sprayed something near the tank. I have no reason to doubt what they're saying about not having Brook, but it made me think, how do LFSs deal with getting serious diseases or parasites? If you have to run your tanks fallow for 3 months after having Brook or Velvet, I'm sure a LFS can't afford to do that. If things are running on a shared system, it wouldn't just be a matter of changing out one or two tanks. They'd also have to change or disinfect the whole sump system. With the number of people I see on R2R who have had serious diseases, I imagine LFSs must have them on a regular basis. Does anyone know how they deal with these issues?

 

[Jubei2006]

LFS dont. They usually run hyposalinity and low levels of copper to keep parasites down. I would ask them what their quarantine peruod and protocols are. In addition, check their tanks for other sick or dead fish. If you play close attention, you may see some other problems. This is why I stopped buying fish from any of my LFStores.

 

[Seachelle]

LFS dont. They usually run hyposalinity and low levels of copper to keep parasites down. I would ask them what their quarantine peruod and protocols are. In addition, check their tanks for other sick or dead fish. If you play close attention, you may see some other problems. This is why I stopped buying fish from any of my LFStores.

I've been there when they've gotten a shipment of new fish, and they've gone straight into the sales tanks. Unfortunately, I've heard that most LFSs do this because QT is not economically feasible for them.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I've been there when they've gotten a shipment of new fish, and they've gone straight into the sales tanks. Unfortunately, I've heard that most LFSs do this because QT is not economically feasible for them.

It's typically not feasible. My main LFS turns out stock something fierce due to its popularity, but fish are priced accordingly for the most part. Also most fish are bought on utter impulse (my old FOWLER days I was notorious of it). The LFS that I deal with that will QT's stock on the other hand charges 20-30% more and your ordering your stock ahead of time.

 

[airedwin]

LFS dont. They usually run hyposalinity and low levels of copper to keep parasites down. I would ask them what their quarantine peruod and protocols are. In addition, check their tanks for other sick or dead fish. If you play close attention, you may see some other problems. This is why I stopped buying fish from any of my LFStores.

Where do you get fish from then?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

LFS dont. They usually run hyposalinity and low levels of copper to keep parasites down. I would ask them what their quarantine peruod and protocols are. In addition, check their tanks for other sick or dead fish. If you play close attention, you may see some other problems. This is why I stopped buying fish from any of my LFStores.

+1

 

[Jubei2006]

Where do you get fish from then?

TSM aquatics for my 500 gallon.

 

[Jubei2006]

Where do you get fish from then?

TSM has a 30 day medicated quarantine.

 

[airedwin]

TSM has a 30 day medicated quarantine.

Thanks

 

[Seachelle]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

You should be quarantining all new fish, regardless of where they were purchased

 

[TheHunterYall]

My LFS keeps their fish Parameters at reef levels, 1.025 salinity, etc, same as their reef tanks. It’s a small shop tho. Also tanks are medicated. He also won’t sell someone something with a problem, etc. and will hold it as long as you would like. The fish have been there varying times.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

Yes. Fish today Have to be QT'd in a separate system, if only for observation. Medicated if needed. I used to be able to cowboy fish into my display, and any issues could be treated with food soaked in whatever meds, or cleaner shrimp. Those days are long, long gone IMO.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

This.

 

[threebuoys]

I recently bought 2 clownfish from my LFS ,and unfortunately, they passed away after 8 days in my care. One of them had what looked like webbing on its fin, but other than that, I didn't see any physical abnormalities. They began swimming strangely, and seemed to stay at the surface, and within a day, they were dead. Someone on a Facebook site I posted pictures to said it looked like Brook. When I contacted the LFS to ask what I should do to treat it, they told me they doubted it was brook, since they hadn't had a lot of fish dying, and with the shared system their tanks run on, if one tank had Brook, they all would. The only other inhabitants of the QT I had my clownfish in were an arrow crab, which I've had in there for over 3 months, and 2 snails. The LFS suggested that the fish died from chemical burns. It is entirely possible that I might have put my hands in the tank with lotion on or sprayed something near the tank. I have no reason to doubt what they're saying about not having Brook, but it made me think, how do LFSs deal with getting serious diseases or parasites? If you have to run your tanks fallow for 3 months after having Brook or Velvet, I'm sure a LFS can't afford to do that. If things are running on a shared system, it wouldn't just be a matter of changing out one or two tanks. They'd also have to change or disinfect the whole sump system. With the number of people I see on R2R who have had serious diseases, I imagine LFSs must have them on a regular basis. Does anyone know how they deal with these issues?

Sorry for your loss. I have to ask, did you check the ammonia, etc in your QT? The only chemical burn I think would be likely would be ammonia, or perhaps a copper or other medication overdose. Certainly, soap, glass cleaner with ammonia, hand lotion, etc would be a no-no. You should post your pics here too and perhaps something will stand out to someone.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I dont blame LFS's for all mysterious new fish deaths. I'm sorry to say, and not directing at you personally, but I think that most new clownfish deaths are blamed on first-time fishkeepers. Its not the LFS job to educate people

 

[Sleeping Giant]

So sorry to hear about your loss, did you happen to take pictures of them before and after passing?

 

[polyppal]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

Yup. Think of how many stops that stressed fish is making once it’s pulled out of the ocean. It’s immune defenses are low and it’s being transferred to tanks with potentially hundreds of other fish in the same condition for weeks on end. By the time it gets to you it’s pretty safe to assume it’s been exposed to something harmful.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I recently bought 2 clownfish from my LFS ,and unfortunately, they passed away after 8 days in my care. One of them had what looked like webbing on its fin, but other than that, I didn't see any physical abnormalities. They began swimming strangely, and seemed to stay at the surface, and within a day, they were dead. Someone on a Facebook site I posted pictures to said it looked like Brook. When I contacted the LFS to ask what I should do to treat it, they told me they doubted it was brook, since they hadn't had a lot of fish dying, and with the shared system their tanks run on, if one tank had Brook, they all would. The only other inhabitants of the QT I had my clownfish in were an arrow crab, which I've had in there for over 3 months, and 2 snails. The LFS suggested that the fish died from chemical burns. It is entirely possible that I might have put my hands in the tank with lotion on or sprayed something near the tank. I have no reason to doubt what they're saying about not having Brook, but it made me think, how do LFSs deal with getting serious diseases or parasites? If you have to run your tanks fallow for 3 months after having Brook or Velvet, I'm sure a LFS can't afford to do that. If things are running on a shared system, it wouldn't just be a matter of changing out one or two tanks. They'd also have to change or disinfect the whole sump system. With the number of people I see on R2R who have had serious diseases, I imagine LFSs must have them on a regular basis. Does anyone know how they deal with these issues?

Check reviews on LFS, see if anyone speaks of it. What are your parameters? Did you acclimate your fish? any swings? is there enough surface aggravation?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

So basically, unless the LFS treats and QT all their fish, you should assume they have something, be it ich, Brook or Velvet?

Unless you are buying fish from a place like TSM, you should quarantine all fish. I like medicated quarantine, others like observational. So yes, assume every single fish is infected with at least one of the common pathogens.