So what is your exit strategy?

[SDguy]

Many people mentioning LFS take these fish. What do they do with them? I worked in a couple LFS for many years back in the day. Not much of a market for really large marines IME.

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

i'm watching my tank right now trying to catch a 3" 1/2 atlantic blue tang with an acrylic fish trap from tbaquatics......

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Many people mentioning LFS take these fish. What do they do with them? I worked in a couple LFS for many years back in the day. Not much of a market for really large marines IME.

Agreed- I regularly have customers come to me and state matter-of-factly that they will bring such and such fish to me at work when it out grows their tank, to which I bluntly say "no, you wont. If its too big for you, what makes you think its not too big for me?" I get the same shocked/puzzled look every time, which usually leads to informative conversations about why that fish is inappropriate in the first place.

Since I started doing most of the fish ordering at work, Ive made a concentrated effort not to bring in fish that will out grow the average home aquarists tank, with rare, specially requested, exceptions. No sharks, no morays, few large tangs, no xl triggers, no sweetlips or large groupers, etc. I think there needs to be greater awareness of the animal's well being and responsibility at All Levels of the hobby. Not to mention, there are a tremendous number of fish that are great for most any reefer- why insist on having one of just a handful of truly inappropriate animals?

The one time I put a risky animal in my personal reef tank (a juvenile Blue Face Angel), it took 4 hours of disassembling to get her back out of there when she decided to go ballistic on my softies. I no longer take risks like that (that's what the fish only is for). Any fish that goes into that tank is staying there for the rest of its life.

 

[LKGRenegade22]

I also have a local fish club that I can easily rehome fish but mine has never been related to sizing, more along the lines of fish turning out not to workout in my setup.

We take a risk with most fish we get, and I don't have an issue taking that risk knowing I can rehome the fish to a good place if needed. I have a large trap I use (and have only used a few times) that has always worked. I have actually loaned it out ALOT more than I have ever needed it.

 

[Gill_bucket]

Agreed- I regularly have customers come to me and state matter-of-factly that they will bring such and such fish to me at work when it out grows their tank, to which I bluntly say "no, you wont. If its too big for you, what makes you think its not too big for me?" I get the same shocked/puzzled look every time, which usually leads to informative conversations about why that fish is inappropriate in the first place.

Since I started doing most of the fish ordering at work, Ive made a concentrated effort not to bring in fish that will out grow the average home aquarists tank, with rare, specially requested, exceptions. No sharks, no morays, few large tangs, no xl triggers, no sweetlips or large groupers, etc. I think there needs to be greater awareness of the animal's well being and responsibility at All Levels of the hobby. Not to mention, there are a tremendous number of fish that are great for most any reefer- why insist on having one of just a handful of truly inappropriate animals?

The one time I put a risky animal in my personal reef tank (a juvenile Blue Face Angel), it took 4 hours of disassembling to get her back out of there when she decided to go ballistic on my softies. I no longer take risks like that (that's what the fish only is for). Any fish that goes into that tank is staying there for the rest of its life.

Hmmm... your store must not do much maintenance my LFS has hundreds of large tanks all over the PDX area and will take almost anything, although I am sure there are fish they would turn away.

I think that one thing people should keep in mind though is that when a tang gets to big it is not just a physical constraint, but an issue of stress. And I think we all know what happens to a stressed out blue tang, if you don't it's called ICH or one of a long list of diseases. IMO There is little to no chance you are going to find someone with a massive tank willing to take on a sick fish. Next time your at the LFS ask them if they will take a 10" fish with ICH or hole in the head you might not like what they have to say.

 

[LargeAngels]

Many people mentioning LFS take these fish. What do they do with them? I worked in a couple LFS for many years back in the day. Not much of a market for really large marines IME.

I agree. That is why I would only buy a fish that I know I can take care of long term (max size) or my friends can take and have tanks/customers that can accomodate them.

 

[snorvich]

Many people mentioning LFS take these fish. What do they do with them? I worked in a couple LFS for many years back in the day. Not much of a market for really large marines IME.

That is what I suspect although I have no data to back that up. :hmm2:

 

[rekn]

meh, im over it. sick of telling people no and they do it anyway and then ask for help after the fact. whats worse is when people argue with me about it " oh ive had these for months or years and its been fine" -right, turn your head sideways when you talk to me Pinocio, you can put an eye out with that thing.

 

[Sheol]

Fortunately, I don't own anything that will grow to the size of an adult grouper. Or even a dinner plate. I would discourage anyone from that kind of thing. And I never the baby Pomacanthus I often wondered about..

Matthew