How do I make sure I buy healthy fish?

[mayreee]

I am really nervous about getting more fish after over half of the 16 fish I bought at my LFS died, but I need to make some schools larger. All my original fish survived and I am 100% positive that I bought fish in poor health and it was not my water conditions that caused the deaths. Some fish introduced ich into my tanks, but it has been cured. One thing I know is I am not going back to the same LFS even if I have to drive further to get healthy fish. I have also met other people that have had the same experience with that LFS.

My question is, is there anything I can do to make sure I am getting healthy fish? I know you can’t be 100% positive that that fish is healthy but, is there any signs to look for, any questions to ask? I know I should get a quarantine tank, but I can’t right now. I do not have the money (I know it would be cheap) or the room in my small apartment for even a small 10 gallon tank. Maybe I will ask for one for Christmas and try and make some room.

Thanks in advanced. Marie

 

[daveedka]

Really the only re assurance is to watch them for a long time. most of the better LFS's will hld fish for you and you can check on them over the course of several weeks. aside from that, if they have good color and normal behavior there isn't much you can tell in a short visit. If you watch your prospective purchase for a couple of hours you might be able to avoid fish that flash or show other signs of ich, but there really isn't a garauntee. I recently had a guppy in my q-tank that showed several problems ofter a week of healthy activity. I almost jumped the gun and put it in the main guppy tank the day before it started looking bad. 2 other guppies in the same tank had no problems at all and after another 4 weeks they are happily swimming around in the breeder tank.


In defense of the LFS's (did I say that) It is really impossible for even the best LFS to avoid disease. there are simply too many fish that go through their waters too quickly. I only avoid the LFS's that don't recognize disease, or the ones that knowingly sell diseased fish. Ironically every LFS I know that allows me to hold fish are also the ones that won't sell unhealthy fish knowingly.
dave

 

[beviking]

daveedkas got it. My short answer is no, no gaurantee and you should get a hospital tank. But you already knew this so follow daves advice. Hopefully Santa will be good to you...if you've been good!