What's your method for introducing fish?

[windowlicker916]

Got a Coral Beauty and he has just been hiding and would come after the brine shrimp I squished by him. I understand this is normal but it got me thinking.

What is your guys routines when you get a new fish?

Also should I do a black out to lower stress since I don't have anything that needs light?

 

[yehchien]

sometimes introducing them when the lights are off is less stressful. They'll usually come out in the morning if you do that.

 

[Paulca916]

sometimes introducing them when the lights are off is less stressful. They'll usually come out in the morning if you do that.

+1

 

[Borchers]

Ditto, but I am bad I float and dump unless its really stressed fish like mail order. But if it's a local LFS I just dump after a long float and half of the water replaced with mine.

 

[tcoral]

drip acclimate then put in when lights out.

 

[Bamm Bamm]

I do a freshwater dip on them and then throw them in.. I usually feed a few minutes later and usually within 2-3 days the new fish comes out from hiding the last wrasse took a week to start coming out for me.

 

[HV1990]

I drip acclimate and while doing that I feed the fish in the tank a few minutes before. Not sure where I read that but the theory is that since a fish is full then no reason to compete for food.

 

[tcoral]

OH, and I feed the other fish in the tank prior to adding the new fish to try and get their attention away from the new comer (also to make sure they're full, just in case).

With saltwater fish though it's a crap shoot on who's going to be aggressive to who though. Some just seem to have a grudge for a certain type of fish (or shape or color). I've had some tangs be buddy buddy with some fish/tangs from the start but just have it out for another until I took them out. It seems that saltwater fish have different personalities and intelligence as compared to freshwater fish.

Just like the time that I found out that my anthias and wrasses entertain themselves by taunting my dwarf eels in a game of "chicken" after I found my newbie wrasse got bitten in half. I guess this just makes these guys more interesting, LOL.

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

Note that coral beauties will pick at some corals. Never add fish store water to your system. They are highly medicated, often with copper.

 

[iamwrasseman]

some of my wrasses get dripped and some only get a temp acclimation but i feed my tank very well during the dripping so my fish are happy when the newbe is introduced.i also move some of my rock work around if its an expensive fish which is usually the norm . i think that moving some rock around really helps and then the tank get fed when the fish is put in and then its lights out for 24 hrs .after that its business as usual 99% of the time and if i have any issues i move some other rocks around and feed very well to give my other fish something to do and also so they know the new fish isn't going to be taking any of their food away .

 

[windowlicker916]

My Coral Beauty is active now, exploring and what not. Still shy. Tried putting some food in today with no luck, swam by it repeatedly not even stopping for a nip.

 

[Justin74]

I do a freshwater dip on them and then throw them in.. I usually feed a few minutes later and usually within 2-3 days the new fish comes out from hiding the last wrasse took a week to start coming out for me.

I also have found the best success at survival with a freshwater dip with new arrivals from the LFS. Highly reccomend them, unless it came from an established personal tank system and is otherwise healthy.

and this needs repeating IMO:
"Never add fish store water to your system. They are highly medicated, often with copper."

-Justin

 

[windowlicker916]

A store that has all their water circulating through all the tanks and they sell inverts....do they still dose copper?

 

[tcoral]

Ask, some stores in town (the ones I get my fish from) don't use copper. Still it's a good practice not to put the store water in your tank, better safe than sorry

 

[RonMidtownStomp]

I can't think of a single store that's on one system. Never, ever, ever add that water.

 

[Bamm Bamm]

I also have found the best success at survival with a freshwater dip with new arrivals from the LFS. Highly reccomend them, unless it came from an established personal tank system and is otherwise healthy.

and this needs repeating IMO:
"Never add fish store water to your system. They are highly medicated, often with copper."

-Justin

see Justin know whats up...

 

[windowlicker916]

Fresh water dip is as literal as it sounds or is there a method to that?

 

[Bamm Bamm]

proper temp ro/di place fish in until it about passes out usually 15-30seconds when they keel over once I throw them in the tank

 

[HV1990]

proper temp ro/di place fish in until it about passes out usually 15-30seconds when they keel over once I throw them in the tank

Sounds like fish S&M :eek2:

 

[Bamm Bamm]

lol yeah Im into weird stuff.. JK