The Best Way to Acclimate Discus After Shipping?

[Bree7]

What is the best way to acclimate six discus after shipping?

I've heard of a few ways:

1.) Probably the most common: You let the bags sit in the tank to equalize the temperature in the bag to the water in the tank. Then, after fifteen minutes, add a little tank water to the bag. Repeat until the majority of water in the bag is from the tank. Then, release without letting the water in the bag into the tank.

2.) "Float and drop" I've heard of this one, too.. But it goes against everything I've learned about acclimating fish properly. When you float the bag to equalize the temperature, then put the fish straight into the tank. What about Ph differences? All of the water perimeters should be completely different, won't this stress the fish? However, I have heard of many quality/professional discus breeders using this method. Thoughts?

3.) Drip Acclimating: Empty the fish and water from the shipping bags into a bucket. Use knotted airline tubing to slowly drip tank water into the bucket. Once the bucket is almost full, release fish into tank.

I've heard to always move discus around with your hands, not a net, to avoid scratches and stress.

I know discus are extremely sensitive to water conditions, and I want to know which method will be the least stressful and the most safe after being shipped. What has worked best for you guys? What would you suggest? Or do you have a different method?

Thank you!

 

[fishorama]

Shipped fish often have high levels of ammonia that gets toxic fast after the bag is opened. That's why the "plop & drop" method is suggested but it's not something I've done. I've only had fish ( loaches not discus) shipped twice & I added a few drops of Prime dechlor to the bag & then drip acclimated them over a couple hours. I have quite soft, low TDS water so I worry about osmotic shock. Apparently discus are hardier in that respect. Ask the supplier, I bet they say plop 'em in.

When I got my juvies from a local hobby breeder a few towns away the TDS (total dissolved solids) was ~900, mine ~200ppm so I stayed up until 3am slowly acclimating them & raising my tank GH/KH. They may have been ok anyway but I feel I need to do it that way.

I also think moving fish by hand sounds scary, I'd probably drop them & they'd get scuffed up that way

 

[grays]

I did the plop and drop tactic when I had fish shipped and things went fine.

 

[stephcps]

I was very worried about this as well. If you "search" this on Simplydiscus...almost all say float and drop. This is what I have done with almost every fish I have ever bought with no issues. They also mostly say use your hands to catch and move. I use a net...I dropped one of mine on the floor and scared the crap out of me!!! If you do use your hands...be prepared for the amount of slime...extremely slippery!!!

 

[Bree7]

Thank you, guys: I think I will go with the "plop and drop" method.

Oh, and Steph, I replied to your comment on my other thread with a question for you: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227208&page=3

 

[Spardas]

Plop and drop if the pH is lower in the bag than your own water. Some people ship their fishes in lower pH intentionally so this can be done. Hans does this but I'm not sure about Kenny although I also plop and drop for his fish. I recently got 14 7" + fishes from Hans and all I did was float them for 20 minutes and dropped them into the tank.

As for catching the discus with your hands, it's really not that bad. There's little to no splashing if done correctly and can be a very quick and painless process. I moved about 60 discus ranging 4"-7" in size from one tank to another tank in about half an hour. There were no splashing at all and everybody was happy and swimming after I plop them in their new home, ^^.

The key is to make sure you support their entire body with one hand and to cover their eyes completely. Sometimes, you may get a really feisty one or a really peevish one that will shake a few times but it'll calm down after a few vigorous shake given that you keep their eyes in the dark. Then just hold on to it and move to where you want to drop it in, ^^.

 

[Reframer]

you open the bag and put some Prime in there and then can drip acclimate without worrying about the ammonia.

 

[Jannika]

This thread answered some questions for me. It makes sense that they'd ship in lower pH water.

 

[Bree7]

This thread answered some questions for me. It makes sense that they'd ship in lower pH water.

I'm glad, it answered mine too.

Thanks guys!

 

[KingOfTheDeep]

i use the float method, but i don't just float the bags then put the fish in. after the bags have been floating for at least 30 minutes, i open them, remove some water, and put a small amount tank water in, i do this every 10-15 minutes for about 2 hours.

IMO proper acclimation is not just water temp, they need to acclimate to the conditions as well, many times the water in the bags is a higher PH, PH shock is not something you want discus to go through.

been using that method for 10 years and never had a problem.