Coral Beauty... destined to die

I have to admit in the past I've resuced. I was given both when I asked for them. I told the LFS you know as well as I do that these are going to die. Let me have them and see if I can save them. Yes, I spent a lot of time and money on trying to help them but I feel that we have a responsibility to these amazing organisms.

I don't think that you should pay for them because chances are they won't make it. Aside from whatever the animal has they are also suffering from the effects of stress. I also feel that if I were to pay for the animal it doesn't teach the LFS anything about caring for their future stock better, they still made money on the animal.

The two animals that I've rescued came from the same LFS that I don't usually buy my pets from (I go there to buy adult brine shrimp but that's about it unless I need something and need it before I can get to my favorite LFS which is further away), one I was able to save the other didn't make it.

Good luck to you and that CB.
 
+1 Ann Marie

I agree that you shouldn't pay for the CB, but it's an act of humane charity to try to rescue the poor creature and nurse it back to health. I can't believe these clowns are actually still trying to sell this poor fish...it would be like putting a time bomb in your DT. I guess they're counting on ignorance and inexperience.

If you feel like getting into it, I would complain to the store manager (or even contact their corporate headquarters and complain). Aside from the cruelty factor in not isolating and treating a sick, suffering animal, offering an obviously diseased animal for sale is a really bad business practice, though I've seen plenty of places do it. And, depending on the diseases/parasites/etc in question, if their SW tanks are all on the same filtration system (as is the case in a lot of chain stores), this practice could really wreak havoc on the store's livestock and consequently their customers' tanks.
 
Thanks again all. I am going to call them soon and see, I don't expect to get anywhere over the phone, probably just going to ask if it is still there.

The girl that I was talking to knew it was going to die as well, and they have other fish in the tank with it. That is one reason why I hate going into chain stores, they, 90% of the time, don't care about what is in there and/or have no clue what they are doing. It wouldn't surprise me if they had no clue what SG or salinity even meant.

The medication I have that has malachite green in it is called Quick Cure (ha) and also has formalin in it. I know it worked for a fungus that I had in my FW tank on my angels, but I'm not so sure about its validity in SW.
 
If you are serious about fish, it would be best to get a refractometer. You don't know their SG or even yours!
 
Matt, they ask everyone else after me when I purchased something if they were military and gave them discounts accordingly, entitlement? No...
 
They probaly wont agree that they owe you,they cannot ask every customer if they are military its up to you to ask for the discount good luck.
 
There are several reasons why I posted that I don't think this is a good idea.

One, you only list one tank (a 20 gallon) in your profie. I don't know if this 75 you mention is set up or you are wanting to set it up, but a dwarf angel needs a mature tank with mature liverock to thrive.

Two, I don't know of many stores that will give something away because a customer tells them it is ill. Unless the LFS is more motivated by care for the specimen than the $$ they have invested, it is more likely they will take their chances on the fish recovering than to give it away.

Three, unless you have a firm grasp of fish illness/parasites/disease, you may be throwing darts in the dark hoping to hit something. I don't think there is any reason to subject the fish to that.

Finally, you don't have a refractometer. That is such a basic tool that I would be concerned as to the amount of time/expense you really are willing to invest in this endeavor.
 
I tend to agree with BrianD's points. In any case, you need a calibrated refractometer if you plan to be a serious conscientious hobbyist.
 
snorvich said:
I tend to agree with BrianD's points. In any case, you need a calibrated refractometer if you plan to be a serious conscientious hobbyist.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not.... but a refractometer was the first thing I bought! Even before I purchased my tank, LOL!!
 
You would be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't) at how many people completely depend on their LFS to test their salinity and don't have anything to test it with at home. In performing water changes, they just follow the "add XX salt to YY water" on the salt mix.
 
I don't have a refractometer but I do have a hydrometer... did people think I had no way of testing my salinity?

I know they aren't 100% accurate but I always thought that a refractometer (when I first read of one) was something that costs hundreds of dollars, but I plan on getting one this week.

And Brian, are there really people that do what you said about their salinity?

Also, as much as I would like to try, I don't think I will be able to get to the place to get the fish as I wont be able to make it there before they get new shipment, which by then I'm sure the CB wont be there.

The 75 is in the process of being set up, but it's not going to be anything fancy, fowlr only, because it is really skinny and I hate it, but it's so I can have a better place for space loving fish and to grow things out more. My goal is to have a 300g by the end of this year or sometime early next.

But... back to one of my original questions: does anyone know where this color variation comes from? (Mostly electric/metallic blue body with sunset orange/yellow on pectoral fins and back 3/4 of body).
 
GhostCon1 said:
The 75 is in the process of being set up).
Click to expand...

A 75 is a wonderful tank size for a dwarf angel. My only concern is that I believe dwarf angels have the best chance of survival (in the best of circumstances) in a mature tank with ample live rock.
 
I've rescued coral before. But I tend to avoid fish I know are going to die. After losing two Coral Beauty's in my first year, which looked perfect & ate the minute they were in the tank, I fear my fish healing powers are limited.

Matthew
but if they give it to you, give it a try..
 
Have you heard the phrase "dead man walking"? Well, there are times when you can see a fish that is a "dead fish swimming". It is hard to describe, but after a while you know it when you see it.
 
Well, I can tell usually when a fish is going to die and there is no hope at all. But this CB was swimming really well, they said he developed the thing on his tail the day after they got him, which would be six days ago today.

Other than that spot on his tail and the small ich spots, eh swims extremely well, is active in the small tank they have him in, his gills are not enlarged and his breathing seemed fine as well.
 
snorvich said:
If you are serious about fish, it would be best to get a refractometer. You don't know their SG or even yours!
Click to expand...

Best point I have heard on this thread. How can someone operate a saltwater aquarium without being able to measure salinity. Don't necessarily need a refractometer... there are other tools. Cheapest is a hydrometer. A simple plastic apparatus that once calibrated is a fast easy method as well.
 
And I should have said... if you have the means and desire to help this fish... go for it! Of course we are are rooting you on. As others said, take it off their hands for free and offer it back to them no charge either way if it survives. Good will all around and maybe next time they reward you for it!
 
I tend to agree with the majority of posters here... If they give it to you for free.

I read too often of people "rescuing" fish from big box pet stores by purchasing the afflicted animals. That does not teach these stores that they need to be able to care for these animals while they are in their custody. The stores see it as a normal sale, and continue their ways. As sad as it is to say, these stores need to learn their lesson and lose money (the only thing they truly value). When we buy more, they buy more, and then there are more fish to be "rescued".
 
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