RECEIVING NEW FISH

The temperature, and pH of the water in the shipping bags are very likely to be different from that of your aquarium.  The change in water chemistry occurs naturally through the shipping process.  It is critical to allow fish to adjust slowly to your water parameters.  Rapid shifts in water chemistry will cause unnecessary stress for the fish, induce shock, could possibly lead to stress related illness or even worse…death.  Please take the time to make the adjustment to their new home as easy as possible.  The health and happiness of your new fish depends on you!    


If your angelfish arrived alive but look a little ragged, do not be alarmed.  Many of the varieties ,especially blacks and Koi, don’t handle well as far as appearance goes.  They tend to easily lose scales and get split fins during the handling process.  The blushing angels’ fins are very susceptible to higher ammonia and bacterial levels and will sometimes disintegrate under these conditions.  Don’t worry though, they will quickly heal and should look great again in a week or two.

On Arrival: Be prepared with an ammonia neutralizer.  If there is a very strong smell of ammonia, you may have to add a few drops to each bag to eliminate some of it.  If the fish are stressed because the water is too cold they must be warmed up to a reasonable temperature rather quickly.  It is best to empty each bag into an appropriately sized, fish-safe, bucket.  Lots of surface area is important.  Do not aerate the water, and do not float the bags in a fish tank. When very cold, and in the presence of a tranquilizer (which we commonly use) the fish can appear dead and yet be fine.  Always acclimate fish that seem to be dead.  Most times, they are just in a torpid state from the shipping conditions, and will be just fine if warmed up soon enough, and acclimated properly.  To warm the fish, place their bucket into a larger container that contains warmer water. This should be done until the temperature gets into the low 70’s in the fish’s bag, then remove and start the acclimation.

Acclimation procedure:  Choose acclimation container(s) and place on the floor near the aquarium. 

If acclimating more than one type of animal, you must have a separate container for each.  It’s fine to acclimate a few different fish in the same container, providing they are the same type.  Aggressive fish should be acclimated in their own container. 

Choose containers/buckets that are new or have never been used for cleaning.  It is best to buy and keep containers that are used specifically for the purpose of acclimating fish.  Inexpensive plastic buckets like those purchased at any “dollar store” are perfect.  Be sure to wash well with water only, both before and after each use. 

Carefully pour the fish into the fish acclimation bucket along with the bag water.  If the bag water is not deep enough to cover the fish in the bucket, prop bucket on an angle so the water collects on one side.  Make sure the prop is secure so the bucket will not fall over.  The prop can be removed once the bucket collects enough tank water to adequately cover.  Repeat this step with other fish using as many containers as needed.   

With the airline tubing, slowly drip water from the aquarium by siphoning into the acclimation buckets.  Monitor this step closely!  The drip speed should be approximately 3 to 4 drops/second for fish.  An airline gang valve is a very helpful tool for controlling the drip rate.  If you don’t have an air gang valve, you can tie a few knots in the airline and loosen or tighten to regulate the flow to the correct rate.  To keep the airline secure in the aquarium, you can use a clip or anchor under a rock. 

At the proper drip rate, it should take approximately 40-45 minutes for the water level in the bucket has doubled in volume.  Once doubled, discard half of the water from the bucket and continue dripping at least until the volume has doubled again. 

Fish then can be netted and released into the aquarium.    
   

Putting fish in the aquarium: Do not add any of the shipping water.  Gently net the fish into the tank.  Always put in only one fish at first, and then observe it very carefully for a few minutes.  If it looks more stressed when adding it to the tank, then acclimate the rest for a longer period.  If it handled the transfer without negative reaction or improves, then it should be safe to put the rest in.

Part of acclimating your new tropical fish is to not feed them for at least 24 hours. When you do start feeding, start with a very, very small amount of dry food.

RECEIVING OUR WILD SOUTH AMERICAN FISH

Thanks for the order of our wild South American fish; these fish were quarantined at the wholesale facility and the quarantined at our store for several days. This is to insure that when you receive them they are acclimated to water with a slightly higher pH and eating flake foods and commercial formulas.

Upon receiving the fish, your tank water where the fish will live should have a pH of about 7.0. and a water temperature of at least 82-84 degrees. Tank should already be cycled.

  Shipping fish is stressful. Be prepared with an ammonia neutralizer. You should add an appropriate amount to each bag to eliminate some of the ammonia. It is best to empty each bag into an appropriately sized, fish-safe, bucket. Lots of surface area is important. Do aerate the water, but do not float the bags in the aquarium. Follow the same Acclimation procedures above.

We also recommend you have your water temperature at about 82-84 degrees, temperature change during shipment could cause ich to appear. They are maintained at around 84 at the store.

Part of acclimating your new tropical fish is to not feed them for at least 24 hours. When you do start feeding, start with a very, very small amount of dry food.