Time to Admit I'm a Bonehead

[AJ_77]

I knew you were trying to tell me that when we were both at the LFS that day. Like a bonehead, I didn't listen. (blah blah blah, dismal survival rate, yada yada yada...) Thought I could defy the odds.

On a similar note, that little Bicolour I got for my son the same day is doing swimmingly. Everything he hoped for, and so full of spunk it's amazing. Eats like a little horse.

Hope your little angel does well.

[Bob I]

Absolutely true. You are indeed a bonehead, but no more so than I am a bonehead. I am one today, and have been in the past. Too often we go to a LFS, and see a fish, and can't resist it. In my case if it is small I will probably buy it. But we still need our heads examined. That is not an accusation, but merely an observation.

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by Bob_I

Absolutely true. You are indeed a bonehead, but no more so than I am a bonehead. I am one today, and have been in the past. Too often we go to a LFS, and see a fish, and can't resist it. In my case if it is small I will probably buy it. But we still need our heads examined. That is not an accusation, but merely an observation.

I love how Bob has such a polite and arbritrary way of letting us all know how silly we are for being in this hobby. haha

[Quinn]

So now that we've all lamented our shameful weaknesses, sackcloth and ashes et al., let's make sure we don't show ourselves to be hypocrites in the future.

[AJ_77]

Yeah, lets... can we still be morose? I just might delete this thread.

[danny zubot]

Speaking of eating Alan, Did this copperband ever pick at your corals when you had him? I've seen him doing this but I'm sure it is only because my feeding regiment is different from yours. how oftern did you feed him?

[AJ_77]

Danny, the CBB did pick at a couple of Green/blue Candycane corals - but that's about it. Didn't even bother the Brain, which the Lemonpeel will take an occasional nip at.

What is he bothering there?

One last note about the Regal Angel - I don't want to give the impression the LFS in any way mislead me or that the fish was in poor health. It seemed fine, I bought it, it didn't make it. I told them I had the ideal home for it, and got a great deal too, so the reponsibility is mine.

I will shop there again, as they gave great information and support during and after this misadventure.

[danny zubot]

He has been noticed nipping at this elkhorn coral I have, which hasn't been doing well since I moved. It has the same fleshy type exterior as my candy corals, and its not that big of a deal as long as he leaves my acro and monti caps alone.

[TANGOMAN]

Alan. Firstly, sorry to hear the fish didn't pull through for ya'.
I admire and respect your determination in attempting to get the fish to ingest food.
Secondly. Bob, for you to say "force feeding directly killed the fish..." is an unfair accusation to make. If ya' wanna' get right down to it, organ failure was probably the direct cause of death. Once a fish begins showing signs of starvation/malnutrition, you can be assured internal organs are "shutting down" as they are serving no purpose. This is a difficult, if not impossible, process to reverse. You're knowledgable enough to know that! I do however respect you for admitting that you too are a bonehead. That's not quite what I was thinking when I initially read your response, but it'll do...
The attempt to get food into the "gut" is a last chance resort to avoid the innevitable. It's not like "plumping up a cow" in a feed lot prior to slaughter.
We all make regrettable decisions in life, not just in this hobby either. I too have brought home specimens who were sufferring in LFS tanks with the belief that the fish's only chance of survival was getting into the hands of someone who has the ability, and more importantly, the determination to provide what is needed for long term success. Perhaps I should just walk away and let the retailer take the loss. But I sometimes question the ethics in that as well... . What ever, the wife calls me a "fish hugger", and maybe that's why.
The topic of ethics is too varied to even get into and this is not what the discussion is regarding anyway. Alan discussed this experience with the retailer, and us, in a respectable manner. That's what counts in my eye's. That, and the fact that that he did every thing one could possible do.

So when I look up to the score board it reads: AJ77; 2, Bob_I; 0

On a side note,
Quinn. What are they puttin' in the corn down there ? I can no longer understand a single word you say... . (Not that that's a bad thing... )