How long will your LFS hold a fish?

[philter4]

I've posted many times on the subject of jawfish collection in the past, (I have been in all aspects of the hobby from collecting wild caught fish to importing for Dolphin Int, to owning my own fish store so I have some experiences in all aspects of the hobby) The way most commercial jaws are collected is with chemicals, usually vinigar, but I've seen one collector of bluespots use a diluted bleach solution. What they do is use a 2 inch PVC coupler and rubberband a mesh or plastic bag over one end of the pipe. They then squirt the chemical they are using down the hole and put the open end of the PVC over the hole. They do this to several holes at a time and within a minute or 2 the jawfish has come out and is in the bag. It works every time, but the end result is possibly a damaged fish at the store. The only other way to get a jaw is to dig them out and you don't even get 10% that way, all the jawfish I've ever collected were dug out and you have to dig a lot of holes to get a couple of jawfish, for yourself that is fine but for money you can't do it. This is probably one reason for the high mortality rate when they first come in, the ones that were dosed with too much don't survuve, the others survive and are very hardy. Unless you buy from the collector himself you can't be sure, most wholesalers buy from several sources so even if one of his collectors uses no chemicals they are mixed with others by the time a store buys them who knows which is which.

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686426#post12686426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by philter4
I've posted many times on the subject of jawfish collection in the past, (I have been in all aspects of the hobby from collecting wild caught fish to importing for Dolphin Int, to owning my own fish store so I have some experiences in all aspects of the hobby) The way most commercial jaws are collected is with chemicals, usually vinigar, but I've seen one collector of bluespots use a diluted bleach solution. What they do is use a 2 inch PVC coupler and rubberband a mesh or plastic bag over one end of the pipe. They then squirt the chemical they are using down the hole and put the open end of the PVC over the hole. They do this to several holes at a time and within a minute or 2 the jawfish has come out and is in the bag. It works every time, but the end result is possibly a damaged fish at the store. The only other way to get a jaw is to dig them out and you don't even get 10% that way, all the jawfish I've ever collected were dug out and you have to dig a lot of holes to get a couple of jawfish, for yourself that is fine but for money you can't do it. This is probably one reason for the high mortality rate when they first come in, the ones that were dosed with too much don't survuve, the others survive and are very hardy. Unless you buy from the collector himself you can't be sure, most wholesalers buy from several sources so even if one of his collectors uses no chemicals they are mixed with others by the time a store buys them who knows which is which.

Oh wow. That's awful. Thanks for posting about this... I had no idea.

Do you know of anywhere where I can get a captive bred jawfish, or are they just not available?

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686347#post12686347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
it's not uncommon for jawfish to suffer from high mortality when they first come in. surely your LFS knows this. I'd wait until one was in the store and eating at least a week until I bought it. I doubt you starved it in 4 days.

my LFS has always worked with me. they have held fish several weeks for me, on my word that I would buy it. I have been going there at least four or five years.

I suppose it's possible that he didn't want to hold them because he knew about the high mortality rate. I like to think they wouldn't do that, but I don't know. Anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[LisaD]

that's what I was thinking, to be honest. you could tell them upfront that you won't buy certain fish (like jawfish) unless they are healthy and eating for a week after arriving at the LFS. you can always order from liveaquaria. their livestock is first class and carries a 14-day guarantee. I've had nothing but good service and value from them. I also like reefhotspot. either vendor will stand by their guarantee and ships quality stock.

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686825#post12686825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
that's what I was thinking, to be honest. you could tell them upfront that you won't buy certain fish (like jawfish) unless they are healthy and eating for a week after arriving at the LFS. you can always order from liveaquaria. their livestock is first class and carries a 14-day guarantee. I've had nothing but good service and value from them. I also like reefhotspot. either vendor will stand by their guarantee and ships quality stock.

Awesome. I might try that! I'm also planning to order some captive bred animals from Inland Aquatics, but they don't breed jawfish as far as I can tell.

 

[mile sq. reefer]

If need be, my LFS, holds a fish for me 7-10 days without any deposit. I been dealing with them for close to 10 years and purchase what I put on hold. They have the best customer service in my book.

 

[pledosophy]

My LFS has held fish for months for good customers. They are happy to offer to hold fish for me. I've been going there for a couple years now exclusively, they know me. I actually have a fish holding for me right now that I'll pick up Tuesday.

IME with LFS's the more you go to the same one, the more they know you, the more they are willing to help you out.

For a fairly new customer, you might be asking to much from them.

 

[ssavader]

Inland Aquatics has absolutely top notch livestock. They are about an hour and 1/2 away from me and I make the trip because everything they have, especially clowns, are simply, the best.

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12693236#post12693236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ssavader
Inland Aquatics has absolutely top notch livestock. They are about an hour and 1/2 away from me and I make the trip because everything they have, especially clowns, are simply, the best.

Oh, that's great to know! They have two sections of fish, "Tank Raised" and "Captive Bred" but I couldn't determine exactly what the difference is. Do you know if all the animals they sell are born in captivity?