Fish Acclimation Box

M

MikeandNicole

New member
Well I have seen the light. After watching you guys use it so easily and now that I have a tank big enough for one, I went out and got a good fish acclimation box. I acclimated a pair of new wrasses with it and it went really well. No aggression from my other wrasses and the new pair is doing really well. I know from now on I will always use it when bringing in new fish.

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The pair that I acclimated in because I figure you guys would like them as well:
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Is there a difference if using a $10 critter carrier with a vented lid in lieu of an acclimation box?
 
Kevin Kohen has suggested using a soldering iron to melt holes rather than drill holes; won't leave any sharp edges.
 
Hal said:
Where's the thread discussing usage of the acclimation box?
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Not sure if there is a true thread about it (( of course I could be wrong )), but I know that I have mentioned using them several times -- I have mainly used it for added an additional dwarf angel to tanks that already have one or more.
 
I assume that after your fish comes out of your QT, you put it in the acclimation box in the DT and let the other fish in the DT see the new fish. Then you leave the new fish in the acclimation box for a day or two, and the other fish in your tank get used to it so that when you add the new fish to the DT, everybody ignores it. Do I have that right?

How long do you leave the fish in the acclimation box?
 
I have left a dwarf angel in there for 5 or 6 days -- no issues. Wanted to make sure it was still feeding well with the other dwarfs coming up to the box.

When it is time to release, I just push the box down a bit, but still leave it in the tank. That way the fish can leave when it wants, and I have even watched one go back into the box when being chased, and at night. In this case I left the box in the tank for another 3 or 4 days.
 
Hal said:
I assume that after your fish comes out of your QT, you put it in the acclimation box in the DT and let the other fish in the DT see the new fish. Then you leave the new fish in the acclimation box for a day or two, and the other fish in your tank get used to it so that when you add the new fish to the DT, everybody ignores it. Do I have that right?

How long do you leave the fish in the acclimation box?
Click to expand...

I have also seen mixed opinions on this but I have not wanted to keep the new addition in the box for too long when they are already likely stressed with the new surroundings. I typically have kept him in for a few hours and then released. I have then seen some signs of other fish trying to assert dominance which has been short lived and no major issues.
 
evolved said:
Kevin Kohen has suggested using a soldering iron to melt holes rather than drill holes; won't leave any sharp edges.
Click to expand...

I used a heat gun and a wooden dowel. I took a couple seconds and looked nice.... you know, except the place where i shattered the acrylic going too fast lol.
 
When I've used one, it's been for many days, not hours. LFS/wholesalers keep fish in small individual clear cubes all the time. I think it's no different in my tank, and I certainly think being chased and possibly being physically harmed by another fish is much more stressful than the clear box :)
 
I had my guys in there for about 2 days. I wanted to make sure they were good to go and as you can see I put some PVC in there to give them a hiding space. I think it depends on the aggression you see coming at the fish from your other tank mates. If there is no aggression, I am sure you can let them out in less time.
 
SDguy said:
When I've used one, it's been for many days, not hours. LFS/wholesalers keep fish in small individual clear cubes all the time. I think it's no different in my tank, and I certainly think being chased and possibly being physically harmed by another fish is much more stressful than the clear box :)
Click to expand...
Agree. I'll go 2-4 days depending on how interactions are going via observation.
 
I also heard Kevin suggest that at Macna. What size critter keeper is best to use? I was at Petco and saw 3 sizes. Curious how it is secured to the tank. I'm thinking a magfloat would keep it in place. Any other suggestions? Don't really trust suction cups.
 
Baldguy said:
I also heard Kevin suggest that at Macna. What size critter keeper is best to use? I was at Petco and saw 3 sizes. Curious how it is secured to the tank. I'm thinking a magfloat would keep it in place. Any other suggestions? Don't really trust suction cups.
Click to expand...

I have used the medium size critter carrier and i do use the magfloats to keep it in place.
 
So I got the medium size critter carrier and used a soldering iron to melt a bunch of holes in it. Worked great. Still waiting on DD.
 
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