Petco (Poplar and Highland)

[jabo]

Man I saw a great deal last weekend on a visit to Memphis. A nice size Flame Angel and it was only $29.99. WOW, what a bargain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well last night I noticed what a disaster this bargain is costing me. Oh you knew better you fricking IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

ICH ICH ICH ICH ICH.... I have only been reefing 2 years and have never had a disease and normally dont buy fish anywhere but Memfish (nothing against Kermit's, it is just out of the way for me) Well lesson learned, I will only go back to my favorite LFS from now on.

Today I lost a 2 year old Blue Hippo Tang, a blue damsel (kinda glad, I know PETA members, but it was mean). The rest of my crew is not looking good and are moving in slow motion. They are eating but not like normal. Chris is mailing me medicine, wish us luck!!!

If someone thinks this is something besides ICH please let me know.

Thanks in advance!


Last week

Today

 

[PensFan05]

Package is on the way. You may want to open it up as soon as it gets there!

 

[tran901]

Sad day! I had a blue hippo about 4 years old die on me too. I couldn't figure out what was wrong exp I could tell he didn't want to eat. I'm sorry for your loss

 

[bshumake]

try soaking their food in garlic. it will help them fight it off. unfortunately the best fixes I know of for Ick are not safe for corals. increasing water temperature forces the parasite's life cycle to speed up, and decreasing the SG makes it harder for them to maintain osmotic pressure and they wind up bursting. but your corals will limit what kind of changes you can do. IF you can catch your fish you can give them a FW dip. I've done that pleanty of times before. Adjust the FW's pH and temp to that of your tank and hold the fish in the bucket for 3-5 minutes. you have to watch them for signs of stress because some species handle the dip better than others.
I too fell victim to the "poor buggers" at such places as "Pet Stupid" and "PetKILL" and never go to them for anything anymore. Period.
Some things to do in the future after this crisis resolves:
1. NEVER BUY FROM THOSE PLACES!
2. Add garlic to your fish food. It really does help the little buggers stay healthy.
3. Quarentine anything you put in your tank. If you don't, be prepared to loose it all.
4. Dip corals, fish, inverts, etc. in either a FW, Lugol's or something similiar to drive off any freeroaming bugs. If you don't/can't quarentine, at the very least dip.

And FYI. If you treat a system with coppersafe you will NOT contaminate it with copper for life. Everything can still be used in other tanks after cleaning and soaking, even rock.

 

[mim37204]

I was in there over a week ago and noticed one of their salt fish covered in the little white spots of death.

That's when I decided I'd just leave my visits there for puppy supplies.

 

[jabo]

Barrett, what kind of garlic are you referring to?

Fresh chopped? Powder?

What does it do and what is the purpose? Has anyone else used it?

 

[VitalApparatus]

Barrett, what kind of garlic are you referring to?

Fresh chopped? Powder?

What does it do and what is the purpose? Has anyone else used it?

get the liquid kind from Memfish.Zelcon I think.Its a natural immuno booster.

 

[Rudolph]

Sorry to hear that Jason....sounds like a good excuse to set up another tank. I use mine for frags until it is needed for potential new tankmates.....I want some new fish but the darned fish I bought (thinking that all would be torchured and die as I began my salt adventure) just keep on keppin' on....they all are very rare..you know clowns and chromis...

 

[bshumake]

you can find them at the LFS. but people are making their own from store bought. just look around a bit online and you'll find all kinds of good info. I used the Zelcon for years and it's good stuff. just a drop or two with the food and let it soak a min, then feed. If you decide to make your own food you can add it to the mix.

 

[jabo]

Bought some today, thanks for the tips and all the feedback. I had never heard of using garlic but it seems to be everywhere when you look.

Chris thanks for the medicine and the added frags were nice as well!!!

I have lost hippo, saddle back clown, and blue damsel so far. I will update as it goes along. My tang looks much better tonight, I hope he makes it.

 

[SaltH2OLover]

WOW!! Jason that sucks man. I really HATE to hear that. I almost bought a Powder Blue Tang like a week ago, I told the guy that a good bit of their fish had ich and he said, Idk you will have to come back and ask the guy that works mornings. Well uhhhh some people have a job they have to work at during the morning too and can't just skip work and come to Petco and ask if the fish has ich. I'd just rather wait and if Memfish didn't have one in stock, get them to special order me one. It might take a couple weeks to come in but hey,, it's FREE and you almost 100% don't have to worry about ich. Once again sorry for your loss man!!
I just bought a blue tang from Memfish last week. Lil thing is HILARIOUS. I got up the other morning and checked tanks out ( like every morning) and found him laying completely flat on his side on liverock under another small piece of liverock with zoas on it. I was curious to know how long it was when light went off before he went up there. well last night I watched him, not 5 SECONDS after the light went off he swam VERY quickly up there and sure enough went to sleep. Ya know, don't ya wish kids were the same way. lol anyway I thought it was pretty funny. sorry for the book and good luck with everything

 

[Mako Shark II]

As a Director of Purchasing and a professional "Buyer", there's a World of Difference between Price point (or cost) and VALUE.

More often times than not, I end up (knowingly) paying more for something from the LFS, but those are also the same people I turn around and go to when trouble comes.

Choose your Vendors wisely and make them "partners" in your exploits; not merely a supplier. Anybody can $ell fish. I want someone that will support my Hobby. You typically get what you pay for.

(I'll get off my soapbox now and offer my condolences to your tank. We've all been there. Sux. )

Marty