Anchovy survival II: Drugs to use?

[natan]

OK, so I am going to collect some anchovies (S. grasilis) for display in a reef tank. The fish are notoriously delicate, with number 1 concern being damage during capture and transportation, and consequent infection. It was suggested to me by the LFS to use Melafix to deal with the problem. The stuff claims to be totally safe, but 2 questions are:
Is it actually safe to use in SW?
Is it effective to stop opportunistic infection on the damaged fish? Is there a more effective drug to do it? Maracin may be?

 

[Gwynhidwy]

I am of the opinion that you need to decide what you are treating before choosing a treatment. What type of infection are these fish prone to after/during transport?

I don't have any experience with them, but have you considered contacting someone who has done research with this type of fish? Maybe someone at a public aquarium? The Monterey Bay Aquarium used to have a non-tropical species tank of some sort of anchovies. They might be able to give you specifics regarding the particular problems this species, or at least similar ones, are prone to.

 

[natan]

>I am of the opinion that you need to decide what you are treating before choosing a treatment.

Agree 100%

>What type of infection are these fish prone to after/during transport?

That's the trouble, the answer known to me right now is "GOD KNOWS". Therefore I am trying to look for as general a "cure" as possible for opportunistic infection, something like broad spectrum antibiotics. Trouble with that is damage to the biofiltration, which is were the melafix comes in. I just wonder how effective is it when dealing with opportunistic infections.

>I don't have any experience with them, but have you considered contacting someone who has done research with this type of fish? Maybe someone at a public aquarium?

Yes. I know most of the commercial fish people locally, and the unanimous reply was "U are just looking for trouble with thaws sardines. Get some species for which husbandry requirements are known instead of going in to the uncharted territory". In fact being so common yet so understudied is a part of an attraction for me to try and go for it. Public aquarium in Eilat doesn't keep the species (one of the few occurring locally which they don't keep) for that same reason: "it's too delicate, we don't have enough info on it". But, given the way their formerly handsome coral tanks look lately, that is not something to discourage me from trying.

>The Monterey Bay Aquarium used to have a non-tropical species tank of some sort of anchovies. They might be able to give you specifics regarding the particular problems this species, or at least similar ones, are prone to.

Yes, they do (and it's a beauty), seen that one on TV. I am yet to reach out that far, but may be I should. Thank u for that one, might be the best thing to do.

 

[billsreef]

I've worked with bay anchovies and other Clupeid's on the east coast. The whole family is tricky to catch and transport. It comes down preparation and coordination. Biggest problem tends to be O2 and temperature control. Get some coolers and set them up with strong aeration and no more than 1/3 full of SW from the collection site. Have someone on the beach to ensure that they are the same spot as you pull the net up when you bring your seine net in from the pull. Get them into the cooler fast. As soon you've caught enough, pack up and drive fast as you legally can, straight back to your facility and get them in your QT set up. The tank set up needs to have plenty of well aerated clean water. Don't bother with any drugs till you have some idea of a specific problem to treat for. As for feeding, if they are anything like my local anchovies, it won't take long to get them eating high quality pellet diets and frozen brine and mysis shrimp.

 

[natan]

Thank u Bill, it helps alot!