Lookin for a Black Tang...
- Thread starter mrp2g
- Start date
chrisaggie
Premium Member
I have seen black tangs at reef life, bigs als, and aquarium world for sale.
astrogazer
Premium Member
Everytime I've been to Big Al's the livestock didn't appear entirely healthy. Be careful!
chrisaggie
Premium Member
Just to give a flip side opinion, I think their livestock in general is in great health. I often see "Not for Sale" signs on tanks with sick fish also.
julioperez01
Premium Member
I know for a fact that a local wholesaler currently has them in stock. A local LFS I go to called me and asked if I would want one but because of my other tank members i am afraid to put him in.
chrisaggie
Premium Member
fair price, I have seen them locally for $200.
jeffbrig
Premium Member
I have mixed feelings on Big Al's. I'm sure plenty of their fish are fine, but I've seen quite a few that didn't look great. I once saw clowns with obvious signs of brooklenella, and they were still netting fish out of that tank for a customer. Christy tried to point this out to one of their employees, but they were unconcerned.
If they are now recognizing and labeling sick fish, that's a great improvement. They have always had a good policy of labeling and holding new arrivals.
My bigger reservation to buying fish from Big Al's is just general appearance. There are a few fish I consider to be a canary in a coal mine. The few achilles tangs I've seen there were more brown/tan than black. That's a sure sign of stress and/or poor water quality - trust me, I have some experience with keeping an achilles (lol). Another time when I was looking around, every purple tang they had was drab colored and had HLLE. For these reasons, I've always hesitated to purchase from them.
Back to the original question, you'll be hard pressed to find a LFS that will give an extended guarantee on fish. 10-14 days gives someone ample opportunity to kill a fish, regardless of its initial health. Acclimation procedures, water quality, stress levels, aggression from other fish, getting the new fish to eat, etc. all come into play. Online shops offer arrive alive and guarantees because they have to - it's to make you comfortable shopping with them.
In my mind, it's no different than selling a Hyundai with a 10-year warranty. It doesn't mean the Hyundai is more reliable than a Toyota with just a 4-year warranty. It's just a tool to promote sales.
I would look for one of the LFSs that gets fish trans-shipped directly (not through a local wholesaler), and ask them if they can order one through their suppliers. You may not get it this week, or even this month, but that's your best chance to end up with a healthy specimen. IMO, a fish from a local wholesaler goes through too many systems - too much handling/rebagging, before it gets to you. A fish with minimal handling and direct shipping has the best chance for survival.
Another thing, I can't understate the benefits of QTing, especially with a tang. Losing a $200 fish sucks, but losing a $200 fish and getting your other fish sick is even worse.
If they are now recognizing and labeling sick fish, that's a great improvement. They have always had a good policy of labeling and holding new arrivals.
My bigger reservation to buying fish from Big Al's is just general appearance. There are a few fish I consider to be a canary in a coal mine. The few achilles tangs I've seen there were more brown/tan than black. That's a sure sign of stress and/or poor water quality - trust me, I have some experience with keeping an achilles (lol). Another time when I was looking around, every purple tang they had was drab colored and had HLLE. For these reasons, I've always hesitated to purchase from them.
Back to the original question, you'll be hard pressed to find a LFS that will give an extended guarantee on fish. 10-14 days gives someone ample opportunity to kill a fish, regardless of its initial health. Acclimation procedures, water quality, stress levels, aggression from other fish, getting the new fish to eat, etc. all come into play. Online shops offer arrive alive and guarantees because they have to - it's to make you comfortable shopping with them.
In my mind, it's no different than selling a Hyundai with a 10-year warranty. It doesn't mean the Hyundai is more reliable than a Toyota with just a 4-year warranty. It's just a tool to promote sales.
I would look for one of the LFSs that gets fish trans-shipped directly (not through a local wholesaler), and ask them if they can order one through their suppliers. You may not get it this week, or even this month, but that's your best chance to end up with a healthy specimen. IMO, a fish from a local wholesaler goes through too many systems - too much handling/rebagging, before it gets to you. A fish with minimal handling and direct shipping has the best chance for survival.
Another thing, I can't understate the benefits of QTing, especially with a tang. Losing a $200 fish sucks, but losing a $200 fish and getting your other fish sick is even worse.
Kewlworm
New member
The fishes at Big Als used to be very good about 6-8 ago. The tanks were clean and no signs of illness. I think it changed about 2 months ago. The tanks were covered in algae and the some fishes clearly were sick everytime I go there. I hope they fix this problem soon.
I've heard some store run "coppered" (small amount) water in their fish tanks to treat and prevent any diseases. Is that a good method every fish store should follow?
I've heard some store run "coppered" (small amount) water in their fish tanks to treat and prevent any diseases. Is that a good method every fish store should follow?
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
The last time I was at Big Al's, there where these weird thick green algae spots in almost every tank. And the tank they had their zoas in was infested with flatworms.
chrisaggie
Premium Member
I think we all understand you don't like Big Als. Do we always have to turn things negative?
chrisaggie
Premium Member
Running copper is a personal preference. Personally I like to see stores run copper, but I like to see them tell their customers this so the water does not end up in a reef tank. I think in the long run copper helps prevent fish death. Others like a more natural approach.
Kogo
In Memoriam
of course when retailers (who stock trans shipped fish) bring fish in directly from the collectors and the colors are pale from being shipped acrossed the world... we just complain about that. LOL
i think everyone on this board should try to support themselves working within the animal trade.
ive done it both with wholesale reptiles and retail fish... from mom and pop stores to megga mart retailers. the bottom line.... selling retail sucks because every customer is an expert and no-customer ever does anything wrong to cause sickness or stress to thier fish. its always the fault of the salesman who should have used his psychokinetic powers to know and understand not only the exact conditions of your system, but also to be able to ensure the compatability of your fish and the certainty of each fish's survival for four years inspite of the fact that most of us will be in and out of the hobby within five.
sorry, just a lightharted rant.
p.s.
perfect fish are not as readaly available as we think... regardless of how much we can spend.
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
This has nothing to do with liking or disliking, I merely stated a fact.
chrisaggie
Premium Member
OK, but all this LFS $%^@ on the FMAS forum lately is ridiculous, not that's it's only you.
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
I whole heartedly agree with you there, Chris.
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