What a fish!

[jmm]

I ordered a Tinker Butterfly from Divers' Den. It arrived in 6 gallons of water, extremely well packed. The water temperature was 71° so I discarded a lot of the shipping water and filled my acclimation box half full of it. The fish was not bothered by my clear measuring cup dipping the excess water out. It went easily into that 4-cup glass measuring cup and went to the acclimation box without panic, as if it knew better things were coming. After my tank water got the temperature up to match its own (76°), and the salinity had been the same all along, I released the fish.

It went casually to the bottom and started picking at the sand. The other fish, curious, came out to investigate. No strong aggression. The other fish wanted food and it was about time for their second meal. I dropped the food in and the newcomer joined the feeding frenzy. No fear, no shyness, just joined in and became one of the gang.

I'm most impressed with the packaging and the quality of the fish from Divers' Den.

 

[pinnatus]

Pics! We demand pics!

 

[jmm]

I'll investigate how that's done and get back to you.

 

[jmm]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=328802&stc=1&d=1442429659

 

[jmm]

How's that?

 

[Nina51]

nice!!

i just got a kole tang from DD yesterday. i was not impressed with the packing. the lid to the cooler wasn't tape on and had a rather large crack in it. there was sufficient water in the bag but much had leaked out.

enjoy your new fish!

 

[jmm]

It came in a huge box, almost 50 lbs. The bags were the size of garbage bags and they were four bags thick. There were 3 cold packs and there was no leakage from one bag to the other and none into the styrofoam box. The rubber bands were heavy duty and unbroken.

The calmness of the fish was what was most amazing.

 

[Deinonych]

nice!!

i just got a kole tang from DD yesterday. i was not impressed with the packing. the lid to the cooler wasn't tape on and had a rather large crack in it. there was sufficient water in the bag but much had leaked out.

enjoy your new fish!

I would call them and tell them. That is not indicative of the packing I have received from DD. Most of the time they overpack.

 

[nuxx]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=328802&stc=1&d=1442429659

Sexy!

 

[pinnatus]

Both butterflies are beautiful!

Thanks for the pics!

 

[GoobieGoo]

Gorgeous butterflies! Always good to hear the good shipping stories

 

[SammyL]

Just curious but you dont quarntine your new fish?

 

[Nina51]

I would call them and tell them. That is not indicative of the packing I have received from DD. Most of the time they overpack.

yes, that has always been my past experience with DD and LA. i'll call tomorrow and put a bug in their ear.

 

[microlady]

There is really no need to quarantine DD fish. They do it for you. Go read about their extensive protocols.

 

[CHSUB]

There is really no need to quarantine DD fish. They do it for you. Go read about their extensive protocols.

I will disagree!!!

 

[jmm]

I don't usually skip the quarantine procedure and I definitely don't skip it with LFS fish, but this fish, if treated the way DD says they are and because it had been on their website for about a month, I felt the risk was worth it. I still feel that way today.

When I quarantine, I do it my way. That is in a fully cycled, well filtered tank and is observation only unless I see something wrong. Only then would I treat the fish. My quarantine tank so far has never seen ich. If it did, I would let it lay fallow for 6 weeks before using it again.

Read DD's acclimation/quarantine procedure. Then add a month advertised on their website without a disease. That's more than I would do on my own.

I know all the pros and cons of quarantining and I read all the arguments on here. I didn't start this thread to hash out those well-worn arguments. I was thrilled with this fish. It is already "tame" and very healthy. I took the risk. I don't always. Some would, some wouldn't.

If worse came to worse, it is a FOWLER and I could (though I've never had to) treat in the tank.

 

[nuxx]

There is really no need to quarantine DD fish. They do it for you. Go read about their extensive protocols.

Yeah, that wouldn't be the best move.

In my opinion there are just too many variables in selling full quarantined fish/coral, etc...

I've flirted with the idea a few times, but I couldn't with 100% confidence say the livestock was 100% clean.

 

[Shawn O]

If it did, I would let it lay fallow for 6 weeks before using it again.

Best to do 11 weeks for ich fallow period.

 

[jmm]

Best to do 11 weeks for ich fallow period.

Or longer, if you're trying for a 100% guarantee.

 

[jmm]

Yeah, that wouldn't be the best move.

In my opinion there are just too many variables in selling full quarantined fish/coral, etc...

I've flirted with the idea a few times, but I couldn't with 100% confidence say the livestock was 100% clean.

You'll never reach 100%. There's not 100% guarantee that I'll make it to the mall. But it's worth the risk occasionally. You take your life into your own hands every time you do something even remotely dangerous. And your life is worth a lot more than your fish.