LFS quarantine options
- Thread starter Jetsetter57
- Start date
No LFS qt's because it's simply not profitable, that's the bottom line. Paying 25 to 40% more wont cut it either. QT a fish for 6 weeks? Think of the meds and foods, you'll use. Then add it with the labor. So marking up a $80 fish to $100 or $115, they'll still come out the losing end. Because you know there will still be a good percentage that don't make it through the QT process. The only way for it to be profitable is to do large volume of QT. Then there are few people willing to pay extra like the OP is willing, but yet again even 25 to 40% isn't enough. Would have to be 100% mark up or more. Now people will shout 100%?? No way!! I challenge those to setup a QT system, QT fish for 6 months even at 50% markup and see how long you feel it's worth while your time. Especially when you QT a regal angel and you're on the 5th one and now you're negative $100 and still haven't delivered a fish to your customer.
I would assume you meant 6weeks. The price these guys pay at wholesale it's not asking much to double the retail price and keep the fish for 2weeks. Specially on the "cheap" fish. I'd feel much better with a fish that's been in house for 2weeks than something that came in 4 days ago and still isn't eating anything. Some stores will feed in front of you which gives a slight leg up in the game but I've been to some that won't which obviously is a red flag.
Like I said. This is just for the discerning few that are willing to pony up the funds for a "healthy" fish. Never did I say to qt all fish. The general public walks in and grabs what they want and leaves. There's no changing their perspective on why qt is important.
How about buy the fish at the store, have the owner transfer to a holding tank for a week or two and if it doesn't make it then you get store credit for something else? If it does you pay a premium. Whatever percentage that is. I'd feel much more comfortable bringing that fish home to go through whatever my qt process is than some fish that just "landed"
But please remember. This isn't a ethical/financial post on why or why not. Simply does anyone know of an lfs that does. Seems it's a resounding no which is fine but at least there was a time in the not to distant past where this did occur. Even in San Diego. I don't mind the drive. Maybe [MENTION=5436]KarL[/MENTION] knows of something down there.
Like I said. This is just for the discerning few that are willing to pony up the funds for a "healthy" fish. Never did I say to qt all fish. The general public walks in and grabs what they want and leaves. There's no changing their perspective on why qt is important.
How about buy the fish at the store, have the owner transfer to a holding tank for a week or two and if it doesn't make it then you get store credit for something else? If it does you pay a premium. Whatever percentage that is. I'd feel much more comfortable bringing that fish home to go through whatever my qt process is than some fish that just "landed"
But please remember. This isn't a ethical/financial post on why or why not. Simply does anyone know of an lfs that does. Seems it's a resounding no which is fine but at least there was a time in the not to distant past where this did occur. Even in San Diego. I don't mind the drive. Maybe [MENTION=5436]KarL[/MENTION] knows of something down there.
Yes I mean full 6 weeks qt. But 2 weeks is certainly better than nothing. Gives them time to acclimate and feeding like you pointed out. If you're mostly looking for fish that have been there for a while and feeding, that's not too hard to find. Chino Hills isn't very local to me, so I can't comment on any LFS in your area. But if you want to talk about LFS in my area. Age of Aquariums is great. First Dan who picks the fish has been doing this forever and can spot a bad fish at the wholesaler from miles so you already have an advantage. Then at the shop Kevin who's the main guy caring for the fish is a straight shooter. He'll tell you how long the fish has been there and what it's eating (or not). I would recommend you check them out if you already haven't. They keep a nice stock of basic fish, so you'll probably find something you like there.
If you order from Live Aquaria, your fish will ship from Quality Marine (a CA wholesaler). These fish are not quarantined, but they are known to be healthier than other wholesalers. If you order from Live Aquaria/Diver's Den, then those fish will be quarantined (exact procedures and time unknown). Both branches offer a 14 day guarantee, minus shipping.
I called Dan at age of aquariums. He says he gets all his fish from quality marine I think up in LA somewhere. He said he'd go hand pick them out when he's up there and work out a qt deal. Like if it's a fairly easy/cheap fish he wouldn't charge and if it's a riskier fish like a powder brown he'd split the loss with me. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Sps coral is Aaron but the guy that works there during the week knows nothing really. He said they do have a qt tank though and has heard of people working out deals with Aaron to qt fish for them.
Sps coral is Aaron but the guy that works there during the week knows nothing really. He said they do have a qt tank though and has heard of people working out deals with Aaron to qt fish for them.
