concern about my LFS

[Lynnmw1208]

so today I went into my LFS to give my last 2 freshwater fish up (koi angel and clown pleco). I decided to take a look around at the fish while I was there even tho I don't have my tank set up yet.

well I was looking around and almost all the fish looked awful! The employee said yeah we just got a shipment in and they sedate the fish to help with stress. what does this mean?!?! does that mean they are asleep from the cyanide? If so I will NOT buy anything alive from them.

what are your thoughts on this?

[abwcandy]

I don't know if fish "sedation" is standard practice but it doesn't sound quite right. I've heard terrible things about the survival rate of fist caught with the aid of cyanide.

[Palting]

Don't really know if the guy knew what he was talking about. Doubt that sedation works in the overal picture, what with increased costs and dangers. But, yeah, fish don't look so hot if they had just arrived and just been introduced into the tank. So, I'm not surprised they looked so bad when you saw them, If you are curious, check back with the store in 2-3 days, and, if they are doing it right, the fish should be looking pretty good by then.

[Lynnmw1208]

I just thought it was weird that they would say that to a customer. I realize when fish first come in they look very stressed, but to tell me they were sedated! the other tanks with coral and inverts looked bad as well. anemones were deflated and there were tons of flatworms in the coral tanks. This just makes me want to order my fish from liveaquaria rather than support my lfs which is kinda sad.

[julie180]

Its a shame that stores hire employees that don't have a clue. Even worse they don't care for their livestock.

I agree with your not wanting to support them. Any others in the area? Some times its worth a little drive.

[Lynnmw1208]

Originally Posted by julie180

Its a shame that stores hire employees that don't have a clue. Even worse they don't care for their livestock.

I agree with your not wanting to support them. Any others in the area? Some times its worth a little drive.

Nothing good that I've seen. The other store is clutter city! I can't find any products I want in there. Their fish selection is so-so. the people who work there are pretty snobbish too and don't even ask if you need help or that they even want to help you.

Other than that, Petco is around but I won't buy from them either as I've worked there and see the quality of fish they get sometimes... plus they feed wardley's food...

There is another 50 minutes away and their fish prices are outrageous! it's actually cheaper for me to order online and pay $35 in shipping lol. I wish we had better stores in the Cleveland Ohio area

[Parrotfish100]

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

There is another 50 minutes away and their fish prices are outrageous! it's actually cheaper for me to order online and pay $35 in shipping lol. I wish we had better stores in the Cleveland Ohio area

I would do that. It might be worth going back in a few days to check out the condition of the fish improves like Palting said but if everything is in disrepair with worms everywhere and such I wouldn't trust them.

[Pheeshes]

i've heard good thing about the salty critter in vermillion, OH if that's not too far from you. if you ever get down to the columbus area for fish phishy business is second to none.

[vapourmike]

Id be a bit cautious myself, maybe go back in a few days to see if the fish have recovered, it may just be the stress from the journey coupled with an assistant trying to think of an excuse as to why the fish look bad ...

[jeff@zina.com]

Many fish are shipped in chemicals that tend to "sedate" them and lower stress levels, such as Acriflavin. When first dumped into the LFS tanks, they may seem lethargic, but with good water they usually come around in a few hours. Or they don't. The sad truth is that a number of the fish will die in transit or within a day or two after hitting the LFS. That's why you should always look at the fish when they come in, but wait a few days to a week before you buy them. Most LFS will hold a fish/coral you pay for until it is acclimated, few will hold fish for days or weeks before offering them for sale.

If you don't see a fish eat in the store, don't buy it. If it looks sick, don't buy it. If half the tank is floating, don't buy anything else. A lot of the responsibility for what you buy is on you, the buyer.

Jeff

[marinelife]

Not sure what this LFS is talking about really but if you do get to columbus I recommend Reef Systems Coral Farm and Phishy Business, both are within 10 minutes of each other.

[Lynnmw1208]

Originally Posted by marinelife

Not sure what this LFS is talking about really but if you do get to columbus I recommend Reef Systems Coral Farm and Phishy Business, both are within 10 minutes of each other.

I wish they had a bus go down there! we went down to the newport aquarium a month ago and the drive was terrible! i would love to see the columbus zoo too. thanks for the info tho! there is a store in akron that I have to check out as well.

[zma21]

I've recently given up on my LFS.

They never get anything new in, and have ask me all the time if I want them to order something for me.

In the past year, I have placed 4 orders from them, and none have been placed. It's like they forgot I ever mentioned it. I'm probably one of the most regular customer's too.

It's too bad.