steveoutlaw June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Sounds to me like they are doing everthing they can to keep the fish healthy.
smallreef June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 sounds like holding a fish for 2 weeks to a couple of months should weed out the potential for getting a fish with most common diseases and ailments... SHOULD being the operative word.. it all depends on the staff...
davelin315 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 This is how they treat the fish in their Rhinelander facility but is not the same as their California facility, the old Flying Fish Express. That's why Diver's Den is more expensive.
Ryan S June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 This is how they treat the fish in their Rhinelander facility but is not the same as their California facility, the old Flying Fish Express. That's why Diver's Den is more expensive. *this
icecool2 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 This is how they treat the fish in their Rhinelander facility but is not the same as their California facility, the old Flying Fish Express. That's why Diver's Den is more expensive. Exactly. Ordering from LiveAquaria straight does not get you a fish that has been QT'd. You need to order from Diver's Den.
Ryan S June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Exactly. Ordering from LiveAquaria straight does not get you a fish that has been QT'd. You need to order from Diver's Den. Although, to LA's credit, QT needs aside, they have a no questions asked 14 day money back guarantee, which isn't something (unfortunately) any of our LFS's offer.
icecool2 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Very true. Now you just need to be sure that the fish you are buying is more than the cost of shipping or you could just buy a second one if the first dies from the LFS.
trockafella June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 No matter where you purchase something from its still YOUR responsibility in how you add new fish. If I had a QT system I would still put it in there regardless of protocols that vendors go through. I do not have a QT which is why I shop for fish at a very few select places. I have seen lots of unhealthy fish bagged up and sold from LFS including some that are our own local vendor members. Its not my business how they choose to do things, but its my choice to not make a purchase I dont trust. Personally Ive never had a bad experience from LA, ive found there fish to look great the few times ive ordered from them.
Jan June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 (edited) Exactly right! "Allegedly" these are the Qt and Tx protocols for their Wisconsin location ONLY. Livestock from California doesn't get the special Tx. I wonder if it's because the California location is a vendor (oops did I say that?). Their main office with alll the big wigs are in Wisconsin. Of more interest to me is that if you ask customer service about their QT and Tx protocols they will tell you that none of their fish are treated prophylactically in either facility. "Only if within the two week observation QT period a"specialist" sees a problem with a fish will that fish be treated" Don't expect to get anything super clean and special because it's coming from Drs. Foster and Smith. If you're looking for a hard to find expensive fish that your LFS can't get for you may be able to find it in their Divers Den. I'd be concerned about ordering from LA. Free shipping on anything over $225.00 plus a 14 day warranty can't be beat. For the rare and difficult to find fish it's worth going for the warranty and spending a little extra at DD. Believe nothing of what you hear from their customer service dept. QT everything!!! http://www.liveaquar...d=282#answer_11 This is how they treat the fish in their Rhinelander facility but is not the same as their California facility, the old Flying Fish Express. That's why Diver's Den is more expensive. Edited June 21, 2012 by Jan
Coral Hind June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 I agree, we as the end buyer need to QT as if the fish was never QT'ed before because we really have no proof that it was done correctly or at all before we obtain the fish. I will say that QT'ing is not easy or fun and diagnosis is very hard. Dealing with Oodinium or Brooklynella is the worst and most people QT'ing only treat for internal parasites using Prazi or ich by using copper. The Ooodinium or Brooklynella look very similar but what works for one doesn't work 100% for the other.
Sharkey18 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Jan is right: Buyer beware! But what about the fact that we are dealing with complex live animals? Nothing is guaranteed. A fish can look healthy but still have a problem. 2 weeks is a good amount of time for QT, but by no means an absolute. Not to mention shipping. Shipping conditions are brutal. Too hot, too cold, internal injuries, hypoxia, stress, etc. A "perfectly healthy" fish that was QT'd perfectly can be packed up and easily arrive sick and /or injured. It just sucks.
dbartco June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 I would garantee Kevin would say "QT everything wet", even if from WI.
Jan June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 (edited) ....and that's exactly what customer service says. QT everything! but then there's this write up... My point is that the first post of what they claim to do in Wisconsin is very misleading, especially to the inexperienced. That's why I asked how the article was interpreted. Many people believe that because Drs. Foster and Smith says they do all of this for their DD livestock on their website that what they're getting doesn't have to be QT'd. It does!!! I would garantee Kevin would say "QT everything wet", even if from WI. Edited June 21, 2012 by Jan
Jan June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 I really wanted to see how the newer aquarists read this. I know how you dinosaurs think.
Muddy357 June 21, 2012 June 21, 2012 Honestly as a new person in the hobby I read this and I take it as there would be no need to QT if bought from Divers Den. But now after more research and talking to many people about it on here I will be starting to QT everything.
Jan June 21, 2012 Author June 21, 2012 +1. This was my reason for posting. Honestly as a new person in the hobby I read this and I take it as there would be no need to QT if bought from Divers Den. But now after more research and talking to many people about it on here I will be starting to QT everything.
Incredible Corals June 22, 2012 June 22, 2012 Honestly as a new person in the hobby I read this and I take it as there would be no need to QT if bought from Divers Den. But now after more research and talking to many people about it on here I will be starting to QT everything. +2. Quarantine everything
johnnybv June 22, 2012 June 22, 2012 As a a long time vendor and supporter of the club, and with the support of the club I believe we have become one of the "better LFS' to buy fish from. But, if anyone ever asks should I quarintine the answer is always yes, if you have the facility to do it, then do it!~! We as an LFS do what we can to only sell healthy fish, but sometimes the simple stress of catching and bagging the fish and putting it into a new enviornment is enough to allow it to get something, and even QT cant save it, but it can save the rest of your tank. If you absolutly cant quarintine, then you had better buy your fish from a reputable dealer that at least understands what quarintine is, and you should never see dead fish in a tank, there is no excuse for that....(unless it is being fed to an anemone...lol) Just my 2 cents. john
Coral Hind June 22, 2012 June 22, 2012 I fully agree with you John, your 2 cents are worth a lot. Is it me or does it seem like the fish that have been coming in over the last couple of years have been more proned to carrying something. I don't remember in the past there being so many issues and a need to QT as there has been lately. Maybe the collectors and tran-shippers need to clean up their systems or something.
davelin315 June 22, 2012 June 22, 2012 I fully agree with you John, your 2 cents are worth a lot. Is it me or does it seem like the fish that have been coming in over the last couple of years have been more proned to carrying something. I don't remember in the past there being so many issues and a need to QT as there has been lately. Maybe the collectors and tran-shippers need to clean up their systems or something. This all boils down to the true nature of quarantine versus hospital tanks. I think that QT is designed to recognize whether treatment is needed, although many do not follow that approach and go straight to hospital/treatment tanks. I do wonder if the fact that fish coming from overseas may be handled a little bit better and so now don't seem to be as bad as they used to when they exited shipping and so seem to be healthier, although they are still exhibiting the same symptoms. John, have you noticed any improvements in the overall appearance of fish or mortality rates after shipping in the past couple of years?
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now