Fish in QT dying

[MitchM]

I haven't purchased a fish for quite a few years, but when I do, I have a few rules:

-get to know your LFS
-plan out which fish you want to purchase
-do not buy a fish as soon as it arrives at the LFS
-find out how the LFS maintains its' tanks (UV filtration or other)
-if you see a fish that you want, find out how long it has been at the LFS
-see if the LFS will take a deposit and hold the fish for you until the fish has survived there and is eating for about 3 weeks

-Then purchase the fish and take it home

The LFS cannot control what condition the fish arrives in, but they obviously have a vested interest in getting you to purchase it.

This has always worked for me, and other than a "big box store", I have always been able to work with an LFS to acquire a healthy fish.
I have never quarantined, but as my systems grow larger and more complex,
for the next fish I purchase, I will be.

[BlueWorldAquatic]

copper bad.... I personally don't even carry copper in our store

There are too many fish that can't handle it, especially angels.


Depending on where your LFS gets their stock, depends on how well the fish acclimate to captivity.

That is why we try to purchase as much captive bred or tank raised or MAC certified fish. Regardless of our dilligence, we still have to purchased caught livestock for re-sale.

There are many arguments on either side for the QT tank. The only thing I can suggest, that agrees with many others, is know where the fish you are getting come from.

Wild caught fish have problems with disease, and stress much more than captive bred.

I have 2 facilities that I purchase from that acclimate their fish for approx 10 days before the sell them to us, getting the fish from filtered ocean water to production (manmade) saltwater. I have seen fish from these facilities start eating withing an hour from being released from their transport bags.

Ken - BWA