Free Rookie Advice

[K9Decoy]

Please learn from my mistake. I recently lost a Clownfish and a Dwarf Lionfish because I purchased them the same day that my LFS got them delivered. The Dwarf Lion died the same night I took him home, and the Clownfish developed a severe case of Marine Ich, which despite much treatment and TLC from me, eventually claimed his life.:sad And it wasn't my tank chemistries either, everything was where it was supposed to be.

PLEASE give new additions at your LFS at least a day to a week to adjust. They are VERY stressed out upon arrival, and need to relax. Just imagine being stuck in a little plastic bag the size of a softball for an 18 hour flight as you slowly run out of oxygen. You'd be stressed too.:argh

If you are worried that waiting a week for a fish that just came in to adjust is too long because someone else might buy it, just ask the LFS if you can pay for it then, and pick it up later in the week. Most good stores will hold it for you at least 24 hours or more. Trust me, you and the fish will be glad you gave it that time to adjust.

[DEmigh]

You obviously have learned something from the experience, but I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that your LFS consented to sell them. I don't have to earn a living in his (her?) market, but it seems irresponsible to me.

[MonoSebaelover]

That is also irresponsibility on the stores part. My lfs will not sell the fish the day they got in. They will wait till the next day. A lfs got a huge shipment in yesterday which I will go check out today (of course if I get anything I will quarentine). Quarentining is a HUGE thing, and should be done no matter what. I was bad and didn't quarentine my new Majestic Angel and within a day or two all fish had broken out with ich or velvet not sure which one. Now almost a week later am still battling it with no progress but no losses either. I think my problem was I disturbed the sand bed two days prior to the angel introduction to catch a wrasse and the substrate released lots of spores so am now paying. Now my poor new Radiata Lion is quarenting in a 10g tank and waiting impatiently to go into his new huge home but that won't be for another week or two. Anyway, two good points to this thread. Never buy new fish and always quarentine.

[K9Decoy]

Yeah, I am definitely going to quarantine ANY new fish that I get in the future. I have a 5.5 gallon right now that is housing my Bicolor Angel to make SURE that he isn't going to get the Ich since he was in the tank with the Clownfish that had it. If he ends up being clean, then I'll keep it running as a quarantine tank for future residents. An important lesson learned indeed...

In other news, I spoke with my LFS about selling me the fish so soon after they arrived, and the salesman actually agreed to speak to the store manager about initiating a policy that would make customers wait for 24 hours to purchase new arrivals! One man CAN make a difference!