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Just Need to Vent...

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Okay - long time reader, first time blogger here.

I have a beautiful 100G Elos tank. Wonderful landscaping (thanks to the wife designing it), and after moving from Florida to Chicago, some amazing frags growing out that I managed to save in the reset. Unfortunately, the move several months ago claimed about 50% of my fish. I was quite sad, but made herioc efforts to keep them healthy during the move and aside from giving them away to a stable tank - did all I could.

Fast forward 3 months and I began to stock up the tank again. I got excited when liveaquaria.com posted a mated pair of both Wantanabe Angelfish and Nahacky Fairy Wrasse - I ordered both over two days / two seperate orders. I have drooled over the former and longed for the later and decided to go for it and shell out the $.

After the second order, I asked them to combine the orders (to save them shipping). They did so and shipped the fish... to my Florida address.

I am 100% positive that I changed my billing and shipping address to my home in Chicago. No doubts. I even worried / made sure they would be sent to the right place.

They went south instead.

Long story short, i got a former LFS to pick up the fish, acclimate them, and then eventually send along to me.

They arrived stressed as hell, but alive. The female angel was bruised and had a bloody wound. At this point, i was absolutely frantic. Of course I was worried about the $, but here I was, partially responsible for these amazing and super rare animals who went through hell to get to me.

Despite my absolute rule and my constant preaching - I panicked. I drip acclimated them and thought to myself - liveaquiria.com is good - there will be no problems. So into the display tank they went.

The next day, the female died from her wounds.

The following day, the male Angel had a massive case of Ich.

FML.

After pulling all live rock and coral out of my tank to catch the fish; all the fish save the dragonettes (who are immune to ich) are in QT and going through my standard 5 week process, modified to treat obvious Ich. The rock and coral is back in the DT after a bit of fresh air dosing.

(week 1, Prazipro, Week 2 and 3 Cupramine, Week 3 Prazipro again, Week 4 gram negative antibiotic, week 5 watch, 50% water change every 4th day and activated carbon for 24 hours in between).

I screwed up when I panicked and emplore you not to do the same. We take on a huge responsibility when we take these animals from the wild - it is our job to make sure they are safe and sound.

Chris

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Categories
Tank Entry , ‎ New Additions , ‎ Random Thoughts

Comments

  1. melev's Avatar
    Hi Chris. Thanks for taking the time to share your enthusiasm as well as the recent disaster that happened with your latest acquisitions. I hope your fish will survive the hospital treatment. This hobby is both rewarding and aggravating, and these seem to go back and forth almost daily at times.

    Be sure you update your paypal address to where you live. <-- I'm talking to all of you, not just Chris. My customers often email me after the order is placed to let me know their payment included a former address. When you move, update your drivers license, your CC billing info, and your online payment choice like Google or Paypal.