snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Snake’s Method for Buying Livestock
Buying, keeping and observing livestock is perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of our hobby. But, there is a systematic approach to buying livestock that you should take into consideration before you make your initial purchases.
First thing is first. After your tank has completed its initial cycle, it’s time to add a clean-up crew. Algae will be growing and most likely the new hobbyist will also overfeed their aquarium, therefore it is essential to get a clean-up crew for the leftover tid-bits and algae.
When buying a clean-up crews here are a few things that you need decide and look for:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
How big your tank is determines the size of your cleanup crew. Larger tanks obviously need larger clean-up crews than smaller tanks.
[*]
Research the different types of cleanup crew members. Each different species of snail, hermit, brittle star and shrimp concentrates on a different type of food. Most of the time, you will never have to worry about actually feeding a clean-up crew. However, you should know more about your crew than “I need one…”
[*]
If buying from an online retailer, look for a diverse all-in-one package. Also, consider the online retailers reputation and ask around before making your final purchase decision.
[*]
If buying from a live fish store, observe your new tank mates. Snails that have flipped over on their backs and not moving at all should never be sold to customers. Hand pick your clean up crew yourself, if possible.
[*]
Be aware that Margarita Snails are a cold-water species of snail that die in our tropical tanks.
[*]
Be aware that Nassarius snails require a sand bed and they eat leftover meat and detritus.
[/list type=decimal]
When buying a fish, there are a few things that you need to decide and look for:
[*]
If buying from an online retailer, ask around for a reputation first. Then, after you have honed in on a few online retailers, look at their return policy and shipping rates. Some cost more in shipping but have better return policies and customer service. Sometimes it’s vice versa.
When buying online, your online retailer has no idea how old your tank is, what your water parameters are, if the fish in your tank is compatible with the fish you are purchasing. Therefore, it is entirely up to the hobbyist to make the right livestock decisions for their tank. Research is absolutely necessary.
If you have a fish store, look around and browse what they have first. Something may catch your eye. Ask about the fish and get to know a little about it. Before jumping in and purchase the fish on the LFS owners solemn word that it is good for your tank, do some brief research on a forum or online for other opinions.
If you have decided to buy the fish, here are a few things to look at:
Look at how fat or thin the fish is. If the fish is thin, the stomach area will be shrunken in. This means the fish is not eating or is mal-nourished.
Look for white spots. This could be marine Ich or any other host of diseases that your prospective fish could be harboring.
Look for lateral line erosion
Look for any discoloration that is abnormal or unhealthy looking.
Look for fin-rot or any signs of aggressive behaviors.
[*]
Look for parasites in the fish’s mouth or gills. Isopods are not normal in fish, but they do occur.
[*]
If the fish has met these requirements so far and have passed the health test and the tank compatibility test, then it’s time to ask the worker if you can see the fish eat. If the fish eats at all and doesn’t turn food away then it should be a good fish to purchase.
Here’s a few tips and tricks when buying corals:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Tank compatibility – is the coral compatible with your fish and your other corals? You need to do your research before you purchase any corals for your aquarium. Understand that corals are living creatures and not just pretty ornaments to look at. It is up to you, the aquarist, to give the absolute best care possible and that means water quality, food, flow, and lighting.
[*]
Make absolutely sure that you can meet the requirements for it’s care. Remember, it’s a living creature – a pet – that you are purchasing.
[*]
When purchasing a coral, there are a few things that you need to look for and be aware of.
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Inspect the coral for “bad” crabs. Crabs that have pointy claws instead of rounded claws are generally thought of and treated as bad.
Inspect the coral for tissue necrosis or tissue recession off of the bone or into the coral. Sometimes it’s really obvious that a coral has tissue damage. Avoid these types of corals for purchase until it gets better in the live fish stores tank.
Inspect the coral for flatworms and redbugs. This one is not so obvious, however, sometimes it’s necessary to look at the coral for any kinds of pests that may be attacking it. Redbugs are not easy to test for at all and will probably never be done at a live fish store. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to quarantine all fish and corals before entering your display tank.
Inspect the coral for bleaching. Bleaching is when any part of the tissue of a coral turns white but does not rot away. This is not necessarily a disease, but a symptom of a bad or poor environment that is provided. Tons of information on bleaching can be found with a simple search.
[/list type=decimal]
If you are buying from an online retailer, again, look for their reputation, shipping rates and return policy before making a purchase decision. If ordering online, you will not be able to hand select the corals you want. Therefore, you have to trust your online retailer to give you quality pieces.
[/list type=decimal]
These tips and tricks are just a few things to look for while you are making livestock purchase decisions for your aquarium. Please keep in mind that each different living creature has it’s very own set of rules, parameters, and abilities. Livestock isn’t just something that is pretty to look at and watch, but they are also living creatures that count on you, the aquarist, to provide the absolute best environment possible for them to grow and thrive.
Buying, keeping and observing livestock is perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of our hobby. But, there is a systematic approach to buying livestock that you should take into consideration before you make your initial purchases.
First thing is first. After your tank has completed its initial cycle, it’s time to add a clean-up crew. Algae will be growing and most likely the new hobbyist will also overfeed their aquarium, therefore it is essential to get a clean-up crew for the leftover tid-bits and algae.
When buying a clean-up crews here are a few things that you need decide and look for:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
How big your tank is determines the size of your cleanup crew. Larger tanks obviously need larger clean-up crews than smaller tanks.
[*]
Research the different types of cleanup crew members. Each different species of snail, hermit, brittle star and shrimp concentrates on a different type of food. Most of the time, you will never have to worry about actually feeding a clean-up crew. However, you should know more about your crew than “I need one…”
[*]
If buying from an online retailer, look for a diverse all-in-one package. Also, consider the online retailers reputation and ask around before making your final purchase decision.
[*]
If buying from a live fish store, observe your new tank mates. Snails that have flipped over on their backs and not moving at all should never be sold to customers. Hand pick your clean up crew yourself, if possible.
[*]
Be aware that Margarita Snails are a cold-water species of snail that die in our tropical tanks.
[*]
Be aware that Nassarius snails require a sand bed and they eat leftover meat and detritus.
[/list type=decimal]
When buying a fish, there are a few things that you need to decide and look for:
[*]
If buying from an online retailer, ask around for a reputation first. Then, after you have honed in on a few online retailers, look at their return policy and shipping rates. Some cost more in shipping but have better return policies and customer service. Sometimes it’s vice versa.
When buying online, your online retailer has no idea how old your tank is, what your water parameters are, if the fish in your tank is compatible with the fish you are purchasing. Therefore, it is entirely up to the hobbyist to make the right livestock decisions for their tank. Research is absolutely necessary.
If you have a fish store, look around and browse what they have first. Something may catch your eye. Ask about the fish and get to know a little about it. Before jumping in and purchase the fish on the LFS owners solemn word that it is good for your tank, do some brief research on a forum or online for other opinions.
If you have decided to buy the fish, here are a few things to look at:
Look at how fat or thin the fish is. If the fish is thin, the stomach area will be shrunken in. This means the fish is not eating or is mal-nourished.
Look for white spots. This could be marine Ich or any other host of diseases that your prospective fish could be harboring.
Look for lateral line erosion
Look for any discoloration that is abnormal or unhealthy looking.
Look for fin-rot or any signs of aggressive behaviors.
[*]
Look for parasites in the fish’s mouth or gills. Isopods are not normal in fish, but they do occur.
[*]
If the fish has met these requirements so far and have passed the health test and the tank compatibility test, then it’s time to ask the worker if you can see the fish eat. If the fish eats at all and doesn’t turn food away then it should be a good fish to purchase.
Here’s a few tips and tricks when buying corals:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Tank compatibility – is the coral compatible with your fish and your other corals? You need to do your research before you purchase any corals for your aquarium. Understand that corals are living creatures and not just pretty ornaments to look at. It is up to you, the aquarist, to give the absolute best care possible and that means water quality, food, flow, and lighting.
[*]
Make absolutely sure that you can meet the requirements for it’s care. Remember, it’s a living creature – a pet – that you are purchasing.
[*]
When purchasing a coral, there are a few things that you need to look for and be aware of.
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Inspect the coral for “bad” crabs. Crabs that have pointy claws instead of rounded claws are generally thought of and treated as bad.
Inspect the coral for tissue necrosis or tissue recession off of the bone or into the coral. Sometimes it’s really obvious that a coral has tissue damage. Avoid these types of corals for purchase until it gets better in the live fish stores tank.
Inspect the coral for flatworms and redbugs. This one is not so obvious, however, sometimes it’s necessary to look at the coral for any kinds of pests that may be attacking it. Redbugs are not easy to test for at all and will probably never be done at a live fish store. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to quarantine all fish and corals before entering your display tank.
Inspect the coral for bleaching. Bleaching is when any part of the tissue of a coral turns white but does not rot away. This is not necessarily a disease, but a symptom of a bad or poor environment that is provided. Tons of information on bleaching can be found with a simple search.
[/list type=decimal]
If you are buying from an online retailer, again, look for their reputation, shipping rates and return policy before making a purchase decision. If ordering online, you will not be able to hand select the corals you want. Therefore, you have to trust your online retailer to give you quality pieces.
[/list type=decimal]
These tips and tricks are just a few things to look for while you are making livestock purchase decisions for your aquarium. Please keep in mind that each different living creature has it’s very own set of rules, parameters, and abilities. Livestock isn’t just something that is pretty to look at and watch, but they are also living creatures that count on you, the aquarist, to provide the absolute best environment possible for them to grow and thrive.
