What to do!

**Entold** · 09-28-2012, 12:49 AM

I went into my LFS to pick up a hydrometer for my new SW tank. While I was in there the manager handed me a bag and said take it to cycle the tank. Not only did I not want to use a fish to cycle, he gave me a niger trigger. I didnt know what to do because obviously if I left it with him, it will be dead in a day or two, so I brought 2 5g buckets of that already cycled water and I put him in a 10G til my tank finishes cycling. What else can I do to help him? He looks stressed but hes eating.

Any tips?

**XanAvaloni** · 09-28-2012, 3:20 AM

oh. my. Well this is an interesting situation. You walk in to buy a $9 piece of equipment and the manager hands you a $40 fish. You don't mention if he asked payment or if it was a gift. YOu mention this is a new SW tank but not whether it is your first SW tank. According to foster&smith this fish needs a *180 gallon* tank to live properly. and we don't know how big your new tank is. One might almost think the donor has the thought to put you to work to nursemaid this (admittedly stunningly gorgeous from the pictures) fish for him for a few weeks and then return it happy, plump and healthy for future sale to somebody else. Hmm. If you are cool with this it could work to everybody's benefit, but it seems rather....abrupt....on the manager's part.

At any rate if it's doing okay in the morning I guess you just need to assemble provisions for him. Fresh meat seems to be the major qualification, along with " varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, small fish and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.." Sounds like an interesting diversion while waiting for the main tank to cycle. Heck you and fish may even get along and decide on a long term relationship.

But for future interactions with this manager you might want to look into the uses of certain words, particularly "NO". Manager does seem to have rather imposed upon your good nature in this exchange. Just saying.

best of luck with the whole endeavor.

**greech** · 09-28-2012, 10:19 AM

The best thing to do is to either politely return the fish or give it someone local to you that can provide it a good home.

Outside of those options, if you are intersted in providing the best possible chance of survival, go out and by 10 lbs of cured live rock, keep it wet all the way home and add it to 10g. Put a small HOB filter or powerhead in the tank to move the water, mix up a lot of fresh SW, test the water daily and do water changes as needed based on those test results. Also get a stick on ammonia meter and some Prime water condition to combat ammonia. Obviously all of that is going to cost more than the fish itself.

**Entold** · 09-28-2012, 10:34 AM

I certaintly didnt pay for it so I guess it was a gift? Pretty bad gift if you ask me. I have him in the 10g with like 20lbs of LR. Has a AC50 and Maxijet 400 on it.

Think he'll survive?

**greech** · 09-28-2012, 12:10 PM

If the LR is cured then it stands a good chance but you will need to pay close attaention to the water parmeters and step in with water changes, Prime, etc. as needed. What size tank is it going in eventually? If this fish is not something you want, will outgrow your tank or won't be compatible with your future tank mates, politely return it and tell the LFS why.

**Entold** · 09-28-2012, 9:54 PM

29gallon and im afraid if I return him, he'll just stick it on the next unsuspecting customer who will know less than me. I have a friend with a 300gallon so Ill make some phone calls "/