Feeding fish at store before the drive home

[nereefpat]

I got, what seemed to me, a strange comment from a LFS employee today.

I purchased a H. chrysus wrasse at a store today. The fish seemed to be in great health. I still like to have a fish eat at the store before taking it home. The obvious reason is so I know that it will eat for me. More importantly, I like to give the fish a good meal before transport and the stress of a new tank.

So I asked the employee if she could feed the wrasse before I take it home. Here is the strange comment I received. "If you're OK with it puking up the food in the bag and causing ammonia problems before you get home."

I think that I disagree with this statement on several levels . I'm not sure the wrasse would regurgitate the mysis. If it did, I'm not sure the shrimp would decay enough to cause unsafe ammonia levels in that short of time. Certainty less ammonia than what the fish would excrete. I do have a two hour drive home from the store.

I don't want this to turn in to a LFS bashing thread. I hate to see those. I think LFS are vital to keep our hobby alive, and I would kill to have a "local" fish store closer than Lincoln, Omaha, or Denver. The employee seemed otherwise helpful and knowledgeable.

Thoughts?

 

[neiltus]

I would just say, "I clean up puke in the car all the time!"

 

[Dealseer]

I agree that is a very strange comment. I also believe it is incorrect.

 

[richieii]

Ive had multiple fish stores suggest showing me that thier fish eats before I buy it. Maybe she does not know that is a good practice.

 

[heathlindner25]

Sounds like a nice line to tell a costumer when a fish is not eating,but still want to sell. Gotta give it to the guy he tried....but I like to see my fish eating.

 

[nereefpat]

I would just say, "I clean up puke in the car all the time!"

Well, quit booze cruising.

 

[reef thief]

I would post on yelp/google reviews that the LFS is involved in ivory trade. Then kick back and celebrate the trolling experience.

 

[nereefpat]

Sounds like a nice line to tell a costumer when a fish is not eating,but still want to sell. Gotta give it to the guy he tried....but I like to see my fish eating.

Yes, potentially. This fish had definitely ate in the store before, I believe, based on how quickly it went after the shrimp. Maybe it is part of their plan to sell merch.

And I agree, I would be very hesitant to buy a fish in a store that wasn't eating.

Edit:. Eaten

 

[Zalick]

Never heard of this ever. I'd be very skeptical. I always watch fish eat before purchase and preferably know the fish has been at the LFS for at least a week.

 

[ali1]

I would get a refund. Someone that pulls this doesnt deserve my business. Im looking for loyalty, not jargon

 

[nereefpat]

Never heard of this ever. I'd be very skeptical. I always watch fish eat before purchase and preferably know the fish has been at the LFS for at least a week.

Yes. Good advice, and should be SOP.

 

[nereefpat]

I would get a refund. Someone that pulls this doesnt deserve my business. Im looking for loyalty, not jargon

No reason for a refund. The fish is fine. Eating and acclimating as we speak, err type.

 

[tqpolo]

I know distributors would not feed the fish the day before shipment to limited poops in the transport bag. I think LFS is confused.

 

[ali1]

No reason for a refund. The fish is fine. Eating and acclimating as we speak, err type.

All Im saying if the lfs told me some of his tanks had ich, but they cured it in one day.... im not going back there. I have to trust lfs owners.... not going in any store, this copperband looks cute, im buying it

 

[nereefpat]

All Im saying if the lfs told me some of his tanks had ich, but they cured it in one day.... im not going back there. I have to trust lfs owners.... not going in any store, this copperband looks cute, im buying it

Ah. I missed your point. You're not spending money somewhere that gives misinformation. That is understandable.

I don't have other choices for brick and mortar stores. I am comfortable operating under the system where I need to have my own knowledge, and not necessarily getting all info from the store.

 

[d-man]

Lol that would be fairly fast breakdown of the food

 

[Ou8me2]

I got, what seemed to me, a strange comment from a LFS employee today.

I purchased a H. chrysus wrasse at a store today. The fish seemed to be in great health. I still like to have a fish eat at the store before taking it home. The obvious reason is so I know that it will eat for me. More importantly, I like to give the fish a good meal before transport and the stress of a new tank.

So I asked the employee if she could feed the wrasse before I take it home. Here is the strange comment I received. "If you're OK with it puking up the food in the bag and causing ammonia problems before you get home."

I think that I disagree with this statement on several levels . I'm not sure the wrasse would regurgitate the mysis. If it did, I'm not sure the shrimp would decay enough to cause unsafe ammonia levels in that short of time. Certainty less ammonia than what the fish would excrete. I do have a two hour drive home from the store.

I don't want this to turn in to a LFS bashing thread. I hate to see those. I think LFS are vital to keep our hobby alive, and I would kill to have a "local" fish store closer than Lincoln, Omaha, or Denver. The employee seemed otherwise helpful and knowledgeable.

Thoughts?

If it was a short trip home then no it wouldn't really affect the process much, but several hours could make a difference because Ammonia can build up fairly quickly in a bag with a fish. Imagine yourself in a cup of water pooping in that cup of water.

This is pretty common practice most fish distributors as either sparingly feed or cut off feeding all together before shipping fish. I was watching a video on ORA and this is what they do.

It wouldn't take long after several hours because when fish are stressed they are adding ammonia to the water also, which creates displacement of oxygen in the water by the ammonia. The more ammonia that is in the water, the less oxygen is available to your fish. Ammonia is excreted directly from the fish gill into the water.

So no feeding a fish that has little transit time will not affect it that much to worry.

 

[ThRoewer]

As said by some before, not feeding is a good idea if the fish is shipped and in the bag for a day or two.
But in the few minutes to possibly hours it takes to drive home it shouldn't matter.
Ammonia doesn't come primarily from poo but rather from the fish's urine. And fish urinate all the time, regardless if they were fed or not.

 

[nereefpat]

I know distributors would not feed the fish the day before shipment to limited poops in the transport bag. I think LFS is confused.

That's interesting. I didn't know that before this thread.

 

[nereefpat]

Lol that would be fairly fast breakdown of the food

That was my thought.