I've had my share of heartbreak fish deaths from most of the lfs in Edmonton over the years. From these deaths, I want to share a few tips I have developed for my personal use on picking fish from a lfs:
- be knowledgeable about the fish you might like in your tank you hope will be at your lfs. If you see a fish you like but don't know anything about it (after following the instructions listed below), ask the lfs person if they can look up the species characteristics, such as food preferences, adult size, reef safe or not, aggressive/gets along with others, etc.
- when you find a fish you like, spend at least 5 full minutes observing its behaviour in the tank. Watch for things like a crowded tank, shyness, strange swimming behaviour, torn or shredded fins, wounds, ich, velvet, lumps where there shouldn't be lumps, if the fish is abnormally skinny. If any of these are present, pass on the fish. It is in poor health.
- if the fish passes the above inspection, observe the other fish in the tank and in the other tanks beside, above or below it for signs of parasites. If there are parasites in one of these tanks, parasites (perhaps dormant) are likely going to be in the tank your fish is in, as banks of tanks share the same water and filtration systems. Again, pass on this fish.
- if the the fish passes the two above inspections, ask a store person to feed the fish to make sure it is eating. Don't take the word of ANYONE at a lfs that the fish is eating, see it for yourself. If it does not eat, pass on this fish.
I have gone into my favourite lfs (and other lfs) several times over the years and not been happy with the fish I have seen and opted to come back another day. Buying fish should not an impulse purchase, even though we might think we'll never see another fish like that for a few months (which would probably be true).
Wait for fish that are in good health, NO MATTER WHAT!!! Doing so will reduce, but not eliminate, the chances you are bringing home a sick fish.
Whew! If I have overstated something, or left anything out, please feel free to point out my errors.
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