My new king of my tank!

[flooddc]

I just picked up a Sailfin Tang (at least 6 inch across). Okay, I take an extremely risk on it! No QT (don't have one) nor acclimation! . Well, picked him up along with a mid size lyretail anthias and small clown. Both the anthias and clown did not make it. I was also in a hurry to get back to my wife and kids whom I left a the mall (# 1 priority). So, with that dilemma, I had no choice but to drop the fish into the tank and hope for the best! (he seem extremely healthy).

Just came back home. Now it's about 3-4 hours into, he already make himself at home and took over the whole tank.

 

Not sure if I made a good choice with a sailfin tang as a replacement for the yellow tang I loss not to long ago. hmmm!!

 

Anyway, here is the pic of the new fish!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10002234@N07/7811733714/in/photostream

[Coral Hind]

Why did the clown and anthias not make it? That bites to lose two fish like that.

[treesprite]

Sorry to hear you lost two of the fish.

 

I don't know how a sailfin can replace the ball of saltwater sunshine that a yellow tang is!

 

I hope putting him in w/out qt works out ok. I put fish in my tank w/out qt sometimes, but I don't think I would ever do it with a tang.

[trockafella]

You should invest in a 5gal bucket and a drip acclimation tube ( cost for both together less than $10) and let them acclimate properly while you run your errands. Personally I drip acclimate for about 2 hours. In my opinion I think just throwing them in and having them die is not very responsible as a pet owner. Those 2 most likely died bc they weren't acclimated. Do you know what the salinity was of the water they were in compared to your tank? Did you even give it time to temperature acclimate?

[zygote2k]

sounds like someone was in a rush and dumped them all in, then left to pick up wife and kids, then returned to find out only one of the three made it.

this is not good animal husbandry and should be avoided at all costs. If these were dogs or cats, you might face animal cruelty charges, but since they are only fish, it isn't such a big deal.

when stories like these get out, it gives reef hobbyists a bad name for killing fish.

[smallreef]

Its fairly easy to acclimate? I mean 2 buckets and even doing the cheap pouring of water every few minutes into the bucket to get the paramaters close? you could have easily left them in the bucket and started before you had to get back and grab the family??

 

I do think the tang is GORGEOUS... but its sad to lose the other 2 due to your 'hurry'....

[flooddc]

FYI, I have the drip acclimation setup. My major problem with it was my boss (5 months preg. and a 3 and a 7). Well, make a story short. She wanted to go with me during my pickup (total 5 stops). I lived in Germantown, head to 1) fallschurch for groceries, 2) to manassas for some frags, 3) then another stop in manassas (some more frags, David (zoltarblue)), 4) then back over to fairfax for the fish and 5) drop the family at the mall and head home. The whole trip took at least 5 hours (I had anticipated to be only 2.5 hours MAX). For some reason (possible back to school and new traffic patterns on I66) traffic was extremely terrible. In and about the 3rd stop, my boss is getting impatience and irritated. FOR those who experience being pregnant as well those in my situation and on top of that 2 little small ones (OMG), you know what going to happen!!! Anyway, the 2 other fish died before I made it home (NOT SURE WHY!!!). Since all the coral/fish are from reefers (not vendor), all told me that salinity are fairly the same as mine. I originally was going to do the drip acclimation, but facing with the fact that I don't know exactly what time I'll be back. So there no point in running it and flood the home!

 

All in all! everything else are going great (coral and fish seem very happy)! Especially the boss!!! since I made it back to take them all to dinner and strolled down the park, otherwise, who know!!! (Thank goodness)!

 

Remember folks Family is the # 1 priority!

[flooddc]

Why did the clown and anthias not make it? That bites to lose two fish like that.

 

It's bites .

Come to think of it. The water in the fish bag was quite warm, a but bit cooler than mine tank temp. AC was ON high in the car. All the other bags are feel pretty cool. So, I guessed lack of oxygen would be the cause for the other two.

 

Sorry to hear you lost two of the fish.

 

I don't know how a sailfin can replace the ball of saltwater sunshine that a yellow tang is!

 

I hope putting him in w/out qt works out ok. I put fish in my tank w/out qt sometimes, but I don't think I would ever do it with a tang.

 

Thanks, it's doing very well. I know tangs are prune to disease, but its look extremely healthy + . Not shy at all, even follow my hand for food. Also, it seem much peacefully today. I guessed he just want to establish territory and to show everyone else in there not to messed with him.

[ErikS]

Remember folks Family is the # 1 priority!

I'll not argue with you there.........but would seem this should be a lesson.

 

You way....way...over extended yourself on this one & it killed fish. One rule you might consider is never, ever pickup fish on a round of errands - there's not point in it, none. If they're shipped they're packaged for such a trip....locally? Not going to happen, not going to make it all that long. In the summer they'll over heat, winter they'll freeze...........and they'll easily run out of oxygen.

 

Coral can be quite a bit more tolerant, though less so of cold (in general). I might make a few stops....but the list you give? Never, just asking for trouble. Fish? That's a straight there & straight back.....even then I'll make arrangement for summer or winter (heat packs & a cooler).

 

If I can't do that the solution is simple - don't go, period.

 

All in all! everything else are going great (coral and fish seem very happy)! Especially the boss!!! since I made it back to take them all to dinner and strolled down the park, otherwise, who know!!! (Thank goodness)!

Can't even begin to say that.........way to early to tell, especially with coral.

 

I agree with your priorities - however with all you have on your plate I'd seriously re-think a reef tank. Given all that's on your plate you're pretty much the show "tanked".