Guest ScubaTodd April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 Does anybody else think the average guy shopping around Roozens has no business with a fish tank? This was my favorite, I heard it last week: "Yo, you got any of the cleaner wrasses" "Yes" "Last night I heard a spash and my goby jumped outa my tank, and I was just like you're gona have to die, because I wasn't getting my ass outa bed to put him back in the tank" "Thats what happens" "So where are the cleaner wrasses?" or "I think I'm gona get one of those barracuda" "dude your tanks too small" "It'll be fine for a while" Next time I was there I didn't see the barracuda. I just feel like every time I go there I want to say "What the H-E-double hocky sticks are you thinking" to at least 10 people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest clownfish4 April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 How about, "is a 29g tank big enough for that?" as he points the the seven foot moray eel in the pond. Or, "can I put that in my community reef?" pointing at the gigantic clown trigger in the plywood tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikS April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 Bad place & apparently bad customers - self fufilling cycle? How about the "shark lagoon" - anyone think that's big enough for those fish? How about the angel in the plywood tank w/ trigger? It's bitten to pieces. Tanks full of feather stars? (which according to Roozens can be kept) How about the nice sps tank (built by NAGA I've heard) that's just sitting there w/o any lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ScubaTodd April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 Yeah I watched a guy buy about 10 of those feather stars at I think something like 40$ a pop, making sure to get one of every possible color variant... he also bought some of the blue pom pom, I didnt know what to think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerseller April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 Come on you guys, You can hear those comments at any store in town. Remember the Wally's thread and nemo? Roozens is the largest importer in the area, doesn't mean I agree with all their practices but who agrees with all practices at anyl shop in town anyway? Most you haven't seen the importers row in CA which is the main trans-ship facility to the US. You'd be shocked at what you see. If it's not from Roozens in the first place, that's the other place where they all get their stuff from. All shops sell fish that could have been caught with cyanide, the only one that really knows is the fish and they aint speaking. We all buy fish around town and thay mysteriously die. Liveaquaria and lot's of the other onliners feed directly from the CA facility which is also a big supplier to Roozens. What business isn't self fufilling? Bottom line... buyer beware, anywhere! I'm not sticking up for, or discrediting any shop by stating this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ScubaTodd April 26, 2005 Share April 26, 2005 I wasn't trying to start a debate about the ethics of fish stores, I was just saying that Roozens has the most misinformed clientele I've ever come across. I've been to many many lfs and I was just making an observation/comment. I still shop there, my feeling is that if you know what a healthy specimen looks like you can get some good deals there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikS April 27, 2005 Share April 27, 2005 Well, while I can't argue with Flowerseller I do believe this topic will re-occur as it's just part of the game. It's frustrating, we've all experienced the frustrations. My fist SW tank was started in 1983(ish) - I have ZERO expectations that things will change. It would be simple to put an end to cyanide caught fish, but they just don't because it's cheaper AND we SUPPORT it with our dollars. Check the "healthy fish" thread, read "....but it's not worth 2x the price" = give me the cheapest fish you can = cyanide is just fine. It's a lot like the lack of service at local stores, i.e. Walmart - WE created this situation by voting with our wallets for the cheapest prices. Pay more & get customer service, pay less & get self service - we made the call. Does Roozens have a corner on dumb *ss customers? No way. Back in the 80's I worked part time @ a LFS for the discount to support my "addiction". I can't even begin to list some of the stupid questions I got, ignoring of advice, and other issues. It's a vicious cycle - who's going to break the chain? We demand livestock @ the lowest prices & the stores supply said the best way they can. I don't see any change forthcoming (20 some years tells me it ain't happening). But, that doesn't mean we can't vent, right? I still shop there, my feeling is that if you know what a healthy specimen looks like you can get some good deals there. Still a crap shoot - I've seen probably several thousand fish in my time, enough that I can pretty much identify good specimens in a tank. The truly evil part of chemical collection is that you may not see ANY outward sign of problems, the fish may look & act fine - right up until it dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ScubaTodd April 27, 2005 Share April 27, 2005 Still a crap shoot - I've seen probably several thousand fish in my time, enough that I can pretty much identify good specimens in a tank. The truly evil part of chemical collection is that you may not see ANY outward sign of problems, the fish may look & act fine - right up until it dies. 30315[/snapback] Yeah, fish I'll pay the extra buck for and go elsewhere, I've only ever bought corals and cleaner shrimp from them. And months later I'm still very happy with the corals/shrimp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OUsnakebyte April 27, 2005 Share April 27, 2005 There is a difference between importing in stuff that cannot be kept in captivity and not taking responsible care of what you do receive. I understand that stores are often at the mercy of what collecters and importers send them - when I was working at my LFS in college, often there were items sent to us that we did not order. It was more of a "here, try this..." However, the conditions the livestock are kept in is what is appauling. Tangs and angels in tiny boxes, not enough light on the coral tanks, etc. These animals are pulled from the wild, and it is everyone's duty, IMO, to ensure they receive the best possible care. I realize opinions differ on "optimal care," but I think we all agree that sick fish need to be quarantined and have slightly more TLC, 3"x3" boxes are not big enough for any fish, and zooxanthallate animals are hoping for photosynthesis to occur within their tissues - they need appropriate light... Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way and don't care how much they kill. After all, "it's just some dumb, slimy invertebrate or fish anyway..." The industry needs a re-vamping from the top (collector) to the bottow (LFS) if this wild-collection of animals is to remain sustainable. I do hope that MAC certifications help with this... Cheers Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Jake April 27, 2005 Share April 27, 2005 offer by demand. as long as we the hobbiests require demand the offer will be there, but withuot the offer we hobbiests can not keep our addiction. look at this and reflect: most fish in the ocean are exposed to natural predators and chemical dumps from companies than don't give a 0.01$, now we hobbiests keep corals and fish for periods of 1 to 10 years, are we expanding the chances of survival for that species? probably. is the demand necessary in order to keep the offer, probably, but after all is said and done, you/we the hobbiest are helping on the long run to breed and keep alive specimens that in real life will die due to nature events. don't you think? just my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex wlazlak May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 i went there the one day looking to buy a baby hippo tang (dorie), and i live in p.a. and i was with my mom for the weekend, and the next day i was going home and wanted to buy one of the baby hippos and they were all gone!4 hippos gone in a day.....anyone know where you can get cheap hippos(around $20) e-mail is www.amwlazlak@yahoo.com send me an email if ya know of any cheap ones.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 They seem to be running online for about $38-40 wiht LFS going $40-65 or MORE! You find $20 Hippo's in good health around 1 1/2" - 2" size, I'll take 2! Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMsAquarium May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 They seem to be running online for about $38-40 wiht LFS going $40-65 or MORE!You find $20 Hippo's in good health around 1 1/2" - 2" size, I'll take 2! Howard 31222[/snapback] Try Roozens They sell them for about that price at that size. Bought mine from them. You've seen it Got 2 fishes and a shrimp from Roozens, all are doing fine a year and a half later. On the original topic, yeah there are some dumb customers, and there will be more of them. That ain't gonna change. As for LFS ethics, IMO Roozens isn't the only one, there's most definitely another one that I consider worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 I was at Roozen's the other day and they at least gave some advice on some of the stuff. Not all of it was correct, but at least it was advice and the guy was trying. There are a lot of people who ask "dumb" questions, but if the "dumb" one never gets asked, then the smarter ones never do either. As a teacher and a former prosecutor, I believe that there's something to be learned from everyone and everything, it's up to you to learn it, though. Again, that said, I don't approve of the holding facilities, but then again, I don't think I've ever seen a holding facility that really is good for the inhabitants. Look at quarantine tanks for retailers and wholesalers in general. Normally, there is no substrate, no rock, and basically nothing in the tank except for a stray PVC pipe or fitting for the fish to hide in. This does nothing to help the fish acclimate and get used to being there, nor does it reduce the stress level. Also, for the most part, I have yet to see a retail system that keeps the fish in a tank with an abundance of live rock or other "natural" surroundings as it only makes the fish harder to catch. Realistically, you can't really run a business and put the live stock in an "ideal" situation. Again, they have their share of dead fish floating in tanks and cyano going nuts in their tanks, but then again, name a retailer that doesn't (most of them will remove the fish before you get to see them, I can't imagine one that doesn't have any die off). Anyway, just my two cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMsAquarium May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 Absolutely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 Roozens, Blue Hippo Tang $38 on up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMsAquarium May 11, 2005 Share May 11, 2005 Roozens, Blue Hippo Tang $38 on up 31243[/snapback] Prices are going up :( ouch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ne0eN May 12, 2005 Share May 12, 2005 I was at Roozens last week - purchased 3 Cleaner Shrimps, and 2 Tomato Clowns. All are doing very well in my gf's 300 gal tank. As much as I didn't like the cramped condition that the fish are in, the selection is quite good, prices are reasonable, and the staff seemed pretty friendly. It's definitely a hike from Northern VA, but i think worth at least checking it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex wlazlak June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 was the hippo for $38 a baby, or was it like a bigger one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardofNOVA June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 Bigger ones about 3-4" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maestro774 June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 I bought a baby hippo (about the size of a quarter) for $24 a couple weeks ago. He's done well so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex wlazlak June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 yeah, they are really cool looking...if i have a yellow tang, probly around 4 inches long, would a new baby hippo be a problem with him?they said that they would kill one another.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ScubaTodd June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 yeah, they are really cool looking...if i have a yellow tang, probly around 4 inches long, would a new baby hippo be a problem with him?they said that they would kill one another.. 32937[/snapback] focus on getting you tank in very good order before you worry about more fish. you have at least a few months before that should be a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folta June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 Also, two tangs would definitely be too much for a 55.. most people say that one is questionable (I have a 55 with a yellow tang myself though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emissary June 8, 2005 Share June 8, 2005 Also, two tangs would definitely be too much for a 55.. most people say that one is questionable (I have a 55 with a yellow tang myself though). I think it depends on the tang. I *believe* a yellow tang with 4 feet horizontal space is *ok* A unicorn tang though... not enough (for instance). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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