Would you trust LFS

Halal Hotdog · May 11, 2018

Mr. Limpid said:
I thought of that about them holding it for some time, but they would be adding new fish to the system during those 2-3 weeks. This cause the clock to restart each time. Even thought if I asked which Naso was there the longest and found out what day they get new fish in and take him home the day before. Would the one week be enough time? I'm leaning toward the larger QT tank or giving up on the Naso.

You're correct, every new addition resets the clock. If the Cu is at therapeutic levels it would be very difficult for a free floating parasite to survive and make it to another fish, but not impossible. Every LFS gets sick fish, and most plumb all of their tanks together. Some have UV sterilizers, but most do not. A bigger QT would definitely be a more ideal way to go, was just recommending something you could do if you decided not to QT.

JaimeAdams · May 11, 2018

I guess the real question is how good your LFS is. There is one in my city that will treat with copper at $5 a day, granted they are probably adding other fish along the way to that system, but at that point it would cost you $150 for 30 days. If I were your LFS would you trust me to QT your fish? I am the full time sol employee at a LFS. I would trust me to do it correctly, but I fully understand that the majority of LFS are questionable wether they would do it correctly or not. Currently I only fully treat fish at home for friends, unless I see something on a fish at work them the entire system immediately gets treated. How big of a Naso are you trying to treat in a 20 long? I have 2 20L with 1 Naso each that are in the 7 inch range and they have been doing fine for the last 3 weeks that we have had them, eating like champs. I have seen some tangs freak out in small tanks though and be skittish to the point of causing themselves trauma.

Greybeard · May 11, 2018

Mr. Limpid said:
Greybeard, your comment make sense about the undersized environment, so how do you handle adding new fish to your established tank. Especially with all the fish now a days having ick and other issues?

Simple... I cheat. I'm lucky enough to have a LFS guy that will order stuff in for me, and actually perform a quarantine service. Yes, it's rare to find a LFS that is capable of, or willing to do so... it's also rare to find a customer that is willing to PAY for such a service. I am. I've seen folks go in and price check vs LiveAquaria in the LFS. Might as well stay home, there's no way a LFS is going to offer decent service, clean tanks, any form of quarantine at all, and still come anywhere near LA's prices. As I've said, trust is earned. My LFS guy has earned my trust.

I might also say this: It seems, sometimes, that folks are always adding fish to their tanks. I rarely add a fish, and never on impulse. I have 10 fish in my 140g display... and I'm not going to be adding any more, unless something happens to one of the ones I have now. Fish live a long, long time, if properly cared for. I strive to maintain a low stress environment for my fishes... I don't overcrowd, I don't buy known aggressive species, or species that I wouldn't expect to coexist peacefully with the fish I already have. I feed well (too well?? Perhaps) with high quality foods (LRS, Rod's, PE Mysis). I rarely loose a fish. Had a clown go carpet diving about 4 months ago... I might replace him, eventually. No rush. When I do, I'll select a clown that has been at my LFS for several weeks. I'll have visually inspected the individual as well as I can, I'll have seen him eating, over the course of a week or two, looked over his tankmates... everything I can do to make sure the fish is healthy before I take him home.

Once there, I'll acclimate, net him, and put him straight into the tank.

Could I end up, some day, having some sort of an outbreak? Sure. When/if that happens, I'll deal with it as best I can. Happily, so far so good. Haven't had a major problem in many years... last was an outbreak of GBD in the late 90's. Took out my entire seahorse herd.

paphater · May 11, 2018

I wouldn't trust any of my local guys and I wouldn't trust yours unless I could see that they have a proper and separate QT system setup. You can usually find used aquariums fairly cheap and if nothing else go to your local big box store and buy the biggest tote you can find and you'll be set.

Halal Hotdog · May 11, 2018

One other thing to keep in mind: there is a good chance that one day you may have to QT your entire DT. There have been people that add live rock or some coral, then BAM all the fish get sick. Having a larger QT may not be a bad idea if/when that day ever happens.

Sierra_Bravo · May 11, 2018

I was recently introduced to a fish supplier in Houston when I bought my bimac anthias. One of the anthias jumped out of the bucket and he was adament that I could not take the fish home with me until he was positive what we were seeing on its body was sand from the floor and not abraisions. He also asked me about my QT procedures. That told me a lot about him and I'll be a repeat customer from now on.

As for my local LFS, there are two owners that I tend to trust and are knowledgable. Another owner is a nice guy but has been in it so long he is not up on anything new in the industry and really doesn't care to know. The majority of their employees I honestly feel as if I am more knowledgable than they are based on the conversations I've had.

Mike Reef Addict · May 11, 2018

Everyone at my LFS is an aquarsist either fresh or salt some do both most of the people that work there also do service contracts Tom has been in business they run copper in all of the fish banks an I have personally never had an issues. They have stickers on all of the tanks "WARNING this water contains copper, do not put it in YOUR tank with invertabrates" most of the staff are pretty knowledgeable. Some are more well rounded in certain areas (things they keep) out of the 25 years they have been there I have been a customer om am off 20 almost 21 of them. I don't QT anything but I trust them...

Now as for "your" LFS o
I couldn't say but everyplace I've ever worled at or managed has had hobbists as employees an we were always straight up with people, one store I was the livestock manager at we had a mandarine in a display reef an I would only order them in for experianced reef keepers. Same thing with stone fish and blue dot octopus if it could kill you or you might kill it I wouldn't sell it to you...

We lost a few costomers here and there but we gained a lot by having a knowledgeable staff and by being honest.

Mr. Limpid · May 11, 2018

Greybeard said:
Simple... I cheat. I'm lucky enough to have a LFS guy that will order stuff in for me, and actually perform a quarantine service. Yes, it's rare to find a LFS that is capable of, or willing to do so... it's also rare to find a customer that is willing to PAY for such a service. I am. I've seen folks go in and price check vs LiveAquaria in the LFS. Might as well stay home, there's no way a LFS is going to offer decent service, clean tanks, any form of quarantine at all, and still come anywhere near LA's prices. As I've said, trust is earned. My LFS guy has earned my trust.

I might also say this: It seems, sometimes, that folks are always adding fish to their tanks. I rarely add a fish, and never on impulse. I have 10 fish in my 140g display... and I'm not going to be adding any more, unless something happens to one of the ones I have now. Fish live a long, long time, if properly cared for. I strive to maintain a low stress environment for my fishes... I don't overcrowd, I don't buy known aggressive species, or species that I wouldn't expect to coexist peacefully with the fish I already have. I feed well (too well?? Perhaps) with high quality foods (LRS, Rod's, PE Mysis). I rarely loose a fish. Had a clown go carpet diving about 4 months ago... I might replace him, eventually. No rush. When I do, I'll select a clown that has been at my LFS for several weeks. I'll have visually inspected the individual as well as I can, I'll have seen him eating, over the course of a week or two, looked over his tankmates... everything I can do to make sure the fish is healthy before I take him home.

Once there, I'll acclimate, net him, and put him straight into the tank.

Could I end up, some day, having some sort of an outbreak? Sure. When/if that happens, I'll deal with it as best I can. Happily, so far so good. Haven't had a major problem in many years... last was an outbreak of GBD in the late 90's. Took out my entire seahorse herd.

I glad to hear that there are still LFS out their that do that. I'll have to be glad that this LFS keep a system with copper in at least. I have another LFS that buying from them is like Russian roulette, ick will be the least of my issues, I don't buy from them.

LCC · May 11, 2018

Like Greybeard, I do not quarantine new fish, well that isnt intirely true. If they look sick, act sick, or are in a tank with something that does. I do not buy them, so no online fish orders for me. Now this method has worked well for me but its probably just luck. That being said i had an ich outbreak once about two years ago which i treated with primafix and melafix. There are probably other/better products to use but thats what worked for me at the time. Both products require turnng off the skimmer and a massive water change after the treatment. The only fish effected during that ich outbreak was a blue hippo tang who easily stressed.

I feel that alot of these deseases can be introduced to your tank via other additions. Are you quarantineing your snails and shrimp? They come out of the same tanks and systems as the fish in most LFS. Had bubble algae introduced to a 40g breader by a snail bought on line, still dealing with cleaning that up. I wouldnt expect your LFS to hold fish for a month prior to selling them. They stay afloat with sales and floor space is valuable. When my LFS started getting sick animals they changed vendors.

This defenetly isnt the best way, but it is a way that has worked for me. If you have a quarantine tank set up then i would defininetly use it.