catmel
Aquarium Advice FINatic
So I just wanted to do a bit of ranting and perhaps anyone new who might not know, to help them make the right choices.
I'll start out with my story first - I decided to go back to a LFS in the area. I had been there once before. I was impressed by their selection of items and fish. Most fish seemed healthy, no major problems, though a lot of large breed angels ( emperor, queen, korean etc) all in small tanks on the wall ( like you typically see in stores). Anyhow, today I went back in just for the heck of it to see what was new. I was horrified! The decent looking store had a 10% off saltwater fish sale ( I wonder why..) , I found two fish dead ( a cute little blenny I saw there last time stuck to the filter) a half eaten damsel in the back of a tank, and a dying ( gasping for breath laying on the bottom) harlequin tusk. If that wasnt bad enough, I found to my amazement, a wonderful little black tang ( $400, mind you) about 2", and guess what, covered with white spots! (ich). I told the one aquarium guy, who I didnt see in there last time about the problems, epecially ich ( since I found out they were centrally plumbed) on an expensive fish.. and he simply stated that all fish have ich, it just 'comes out' sometimes.
Anyway, moral of my story is, newbies ( and everyone of course), PLEASE research your fish Find out what species belong together, what will fit in your tank ( no they will NOT stop growing..) etc. as well as research your LFS ( go in, see a fish you like, go home, do research, come back and look at it again, inspect tanks - no sick fish, healthy etc). If I had bought my fish at the LFS without coming back and 'scoping it out' later, I would have been in a lot of trouble. Can you imagine buying that black tang for $400 with no return? ('due to our low costs we offer no guarantee on saltwater fish to keep our prices low' the sign stated) Also please QT all fish.
I found out the hard way when started back in may, bought a clown, had ich and died shortly after and had to leave my main tank without fish for 8 weeks.
Sorry, just my rant. I was unhappy to see all those beautiful fish sick. Hope it helps some new people
I'll start out with my story first - I decided to go back to a LFS in the area. I had been there once before. I was impressed by their selection of items and fish. Most fish seemed healthy, no major problems, though a lot of large breed angels ( emperor, queen, korean etc) all in small tanks on the wall ( like you typically see in stores). Anyhow, today I went back in just for the heck of it to see what was new. I was horrified! The decent looking store had a 10% off saltwater fish sale ( I wonder why..) , I found two fish dead ( a cute little blenny I saw there last time stuck to the filter) a half eaten damsel in the back of a tank, and a dying ( gasping for breath laying on the bottom) harlequin tusk. If that wasnt bad enough, I found to my amazement, a wonderful little black tang ( $400, mind you) about 2", and guess what, covered with white spots! (ich). I told the one aquarium guy, who I didnt see in there last time about the problems, epecially ich ( since I found out they were centrally plumbed) on an expensive fish.. and he simply stated that all fish have ich, it just 'comes out' sometimes.
Anyway, moral of my story is, newbies ( and everyone of course), PLEASE research your fish Find out what species belong together, what will fit in your tank ( no they will NOT stop growing..) etc. as well as research your LFS ( go in, see a fish you like, go home, do research, come back and look at it again, inspect tanks - no sick fish, healthy etc). If I had bought my fish at the LFS without coming back and 'scoping it out' later, I would have been in a lot of trouble. Can you imagine buying that black tang for $400 with no return? ('due to our low costs we offer no guarantee on saltwater fish to keep our prices low' the sign stated) Also please QT all fish.
I found out the hard way when started back in may, bought a clown, had ich and died shortly after and had to leave my main tank without fish for 8 weeks.
Sorry, just my rant. I was unhappy to see all those beautiful fish sick. Hope it helps some new people