So what is your exit strategy?

[snorvich]

I see many people who are buying fish that are either inappropriate to their tank because they will get too large or inappropriate because they will not get along with existing or planned fish or corals. Sure I know that upgrades are coming in the next year (of course this rarely happens) but how do you plan to remove fish that need removal? And where will they go? (your LFS may give you partial credit, but remember they are in the business of selling fish and thinking that an experienced aquarist will risk his stock to accept a fish from an uncharacterized tank is a bit naive). Just curious . . . :lolspin:

 

[Sheol]

I have an LFS that will accept orphans. I REALLY do mean to get a larger tank, although the logistics are NOW a problem. I actually have the cash, but no place to put the old tank while a new one cycles..

Matt

 

[Emerald525]

That's the advantage of buying fish locally. I have a very good relationship from the stores that I buy fish from. They also have personally seen my tanks and know I take good care of my aquariums and livestock. I also get their input when I do buy fish. I bought a maroon clown locally but had to take him back because he was picking on the baby clown trigger. After about a month the clown trigger was bigger and I was able to get him back. Try to do that online!

I have a baby queen angel in the 150 gallon aggressive tank which I think over time may eventually outgrow the tank but if it does it will make an amazing show fish and again my lfs owners will happily take it if that time ever comes.

I also was hesitant to get the clown trigger because I hear they can turn into a holes when they mature but he said if that ever happened he would take him back. His picture is in my avatar. He's the size of the huma huma now and is one of my favorite fish!

 

[smootie]

I've never gotten a fish that would require a tank upgrade (thanks to a very diligent LFS) but I have gotten fish that don't fit in. Sometimes their personality just isn't appropriate for the community.

In those circumstances, I'm lucky to have a cool local aquarium club with members that will adopt my orphans.

One Christmas, my brother got me a "Nemo" and a "Dory" for my nano tank. The LFS was more than happy to take them back!

 

[reppo13]

You had me pondering this question for awhile and I very much agree with you in the fact that some people don't realize what they've done until there three feet deep in it. But on the other side, aren't forums like these supposed to help people like this and give them advice for the future. If not we can do that keep things like this from happening again.

 

[snorvich]

Well, what to do with the fish is certainly one part of the problem, but getting the fish out, especially in a reef tank, is not a trivial problem either as some have found out (I include myself in that). Yes, these forums are supposed to help prevent fish going into a tank that are either inappropriate or a bad fit. But what about putting a marginally acceptable fish into a tank where it may survive but will not thrive?

 

[R_Hudson]

Unfortunately this happens all day everyday. I spent a year working Saturdays at my lfs and one of the first questions asked is what size tank do you have? If the tank is even marginally to small the owner will refuse the sale. As far as retrieval of an inappropriate fish or any animal for that matter I've always just used a net or fish trap. I have always stressed on understocking and size restrictions. The only real no no I've done so far was when I first started in the hobby I put a orange linkia star in a 12 gallon nano. It survived for over a year I lost him in an ice storm power outtage that lasted 2 weeks. Oh and I impulse bought a mandarin without knowing it's requirements before hand. Luckily I caught him and gave him back to the lfs with no real harm done

 

[Toddrtrex]

I no longer purchase fish that will outgrow my CURRENT tanks -- made that mistake before, and it is a PITA, first getting someone to purchase the fish. Normally that wouldn't be all that hard, but I didn't want to sell it to someone who didn't have the proper sized tank. Second, there is the act of catching said fish, which seems to involve moving rocks around. The moving the rocks isn't the hard part, the hard part is putting them back in the proper spot.

Now, my only "issue" is when a fish doesn't fit personality wise. If I am going to attempt something that might not work (( mixing dwarf angels )) I make sure that I have another tank that I can move it too --- dwarf free.

 

[Recty]

I have a good LFS that is always willing to either trade fish or just sell mine for me, replacing large fish has never been a problem yet for me.

I run in a little bit of a unique circle up here in Alaska. Most people dont want to order fish online for some reason and I just dont mind doing it. I get some fish in that most people never see in real life up here, so I've never had a hard time at all selling them off if/when the times comes.

With that said, I never purchased fish until about a month ago that I knew would outgrow my tank

 

[jaa1456]

Luckily here in NJ there are a lot of people with large tanks, I have a friend that has a 450 and a 500 set -up and that is all he takes, fish that got to big for others tanks. I think most people keep their fish even if they are to big for the tanks. I have seen 10" fish in 4 foot tanks like 55's and 75's. No place for a full grown Hippo. But that is where the LFS needs to step in, but most won't because it's a buisness.

 

[ahud]

I have never bought nor planned on buying something that will outgrow my tank.

I live in an apartment so I would not get a Great Dane (A huge breed of dog), to me its the same concept.

 

[LargeAngels]

Steve,

Those are very good questions and I think that there are a lot of people that don't give it much serious thought, especially how large some fish can grow. Luckily I have a good friend that has 4 stores and another that has 50,000 gallons in a greenhouse so fish that become problamatic isn't a real issue for me as I know they will go to good homes. My biggest problem is usually a fish or two that becomes too aggressive towards others and causes too much stress. In that case I either do a midnight ambush to catch it or worst case drain quite a bit of the water and some slight rearrangement for better access (usually a last resort.)

 

[small alien]

I only buy fish for my current tank.

But if I ever have to break down my tank, my plan is to send my fish to you!:fish1:

 

[Korrine]

pray to god that it all works out!!









j/k There is a lfs that told me he'd take whatever I wanted to get rid of, but I haven't had to do that much (i did kick out an arabian dottyback) apart from when I tore down my tank and sold all the inhabitants to a local reefer.

 

[khaosinc]

Haven't had much of a problem with it yet... I do turn down quite a few offers, usually for hippo tangs and niger triggers... I'm pretty much stocked as far as I want to go.

 

[ALH]

The only fish I ever bought that would get too big for my tank were two golden pilots. Didn't know at the time they get to be about 4 feet. I know it was my fault for not researching, but I don't think an LFS should be selling fish like that without warning people. Anyway, the tank set my house on fire so I never had to deal with the issue of removing them

 

[namxas]

We're kind of in an "odd" place regarding our fish. As most of you know, our love is Scorpaenformes. We prefer to acquire juvie specimens, as we find that they tend to wean and adapt to aquarium life easier than adult specimens. To that end, we actually house the smaller fish in QT/growout setups and PLAN to move them once they reach a "safe" size for their target tank.

That being said, we're actually finding that we were basing some of our stocking on "wild" adult size, and are actually finding that many or these fish only attain about 75% of that size, so we're in the process of re-thinking some of our "final" housing plans.

As for catching them...one the hardest fish to catch is actually our bearded ghoul, which, instead of fleeing, simply hunkers down on the substrate like a fireplug and makes it really tuff to grab with a net...

 

[Cantonesefish]

What about all the sohal tangs at the LFS? These will grow out of 99% of people's tanks.

 

[rmougey]

Great question!

We are pretty lucky here in Denver with a couple of active clubs, a good selection of LFS and a public aquarium that accepts many larger fish. Sadly, I see many folks that loose the specimen prior to it outgrowing the tank. But it certainly is a problem that many folks don't think about.

As for catching fish, nothing beats a good fish trap. It needs to be large enough for the fish to swim through (two 'doors') and be able to close the 'doors' from outside the tank. String or dental floss works well for this. Place a bit of food in the trap, then let the doors close. Often I have to remove more than just the target fish! It also serves as my tank acclimation box.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Good Question Steve, I no longer purchase fish that will become too big eg some tangs and all rabbit fish and I try to discourage the people who do it for the lack of knowledge.
I am an diver and here in florida lionfishes in our reefs have become a real problem, the general believe is that they were dumped by people that couldn't take care of them any more, I am not totally convince of that theory but if it is true is really scary that a predator could have proliferated so quick, I mean, I've been diving Florida waters since the early 90's and it wasn't until this year and last year that I started seeing them, first it was fascinating to find one, now it is scary to see dozens of them every were you dive.