spongebob69
Aquarium Advice Activist
Do your fish have a better chance of surviving stress if you ask when fish stores get shipments in and get fish soon after..or if you wait til the store has had them for a period of time?
Buying fish
- Thread starter spongebob69
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
savga
Aquarium Advice Freak
I think it is better to wait for them to recover from the shipping stress. Many fish die during or soon after shipping. Also if they carry disease, it is better to let the store find out. Be patient and wait a week. If you are afraid they will run out, have them hold some fish for you.
Menagerie
Aquarium Advice Addict
Lately, I have taken to watching the stock at the store before buying. I go in once (or twice) a week if there is something I really want before buying--at least I try. Recently I picked up 6 striped Khuli loaches, becuase I hadn't seen them in the longest time. They are in my QT tank doing quite well 
Also, know what the "stay alive" policy is at the LFS. My fav LFS just requires the bodies to be brought in within a month. Another LFS requires the bodies, separate water sample, and receipt within 15 days for full credit, until 30 days for half credit.
Also, know what the "stay alive" policy is at the LFS. My fav LFS just requires the bodies to be brought in within a month. Another LFS requires the bodies, separate water sample, and receipt within 15 days for full credit, until 30 days for half credit.
grimlock3000
Aquarium Advice Addict
How do you think fish get to the pet stores? They swim in plastic bags, inside boxes that ride on trucks to get to the shops
How do you think fish get to the pet stores? They swim in plastic bags, inside boxes that ride on trucks to get to the shops [/quote]
BUT I've always heard that they last about an hour in those little bags you get at the LFS :?
[/quote]BUT I've always heard that they last about an hour in those little bags you get at the LFS :?
Andydg
Aquarium Advice Activist
Depends on the bags, and the kind of fish. I'm not a sure on ammonia but I do know that some bags are "breathable" letting in fresh oxygen and letting out C02. Our fish at work only travel about 30 mins to us, but I don't know how long they're in the bags.
TankGirl
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have had success receiving fish shipped in the mail. I don't know how they live that long like that, but I have had successful shipments from retail shippers as well as from the home hobbyist, and the only problem I had was when the hobbyist shipped them to me with too many tiny fish in one bag. She shipped replacements and separated them, and there were no losses.
As for the original question, I also like to watch fish at the LFS for a littel bit before I buy them. I definitely think there is something to be gained by letting the shop hold onto them so any problems will become evident before I buy them. This is even more of a recommendation when it comes to otocinclus, because there will often be a rather dramatic die-off at the LFS in the first 5 days after they receive them, so I wait and get the ones that have survived the initial week or so. Great question!
As for the original question, I also like to watch fish at the LFS for a littel bit before I buy them. I definitely think there is something to be gained by letting the shop hold onto them so any problems will become evident before I buy them. This is even more of a recommendation when it comes to otocinclus, because there will often be a rather dramatic die-off at the LFS in the first 5 days after they receive them, so I wait and get the ones that have survived the initial week or so. Great question!
