Kuhlis can be weird

[TammyLiz]

I agree Shari, I wasn't really meaning forcing anyone would be a good idea. Enough with my flippant comments. But it is difficult not to be in control of something that is important to you, as in Mike's case, where he was trying to do something to keep the fish alive.

[mikev]

Were all 100 in the same bag? Just because they are low mass fish and starved before transport,

Yes. Two 50-kuhli bags would have been too expensive, as I was told. (they actually did 2*50 the previous time, resulting in only 20% loss, makes me wonder why obvious lessons are not learned.). Adding some ammonia absorber to the bag, as I suggested, would have been too complicated for the shippers.--I'll still try to push for this. And I don't think they were starved.

Despite all of this, I still think that the store could have recovered many, if not most, if they did their end correctly.

And you are absolutely right, profits is the only way to influence them. So I'll keep repeating: "you threw out $300, I hope you can afford doing it often..." (It is not the only time, I have several other ugly stories).

Mike's case, where he was trying to do something to keep the fish alive.

Unfortunately, trying but mostly failing. I'm getting a very good response when it is about fish I'll buy (like they treated the recent hillstreams well since I promised to buy every one left alive); but not otherwise.

[Wendie]

What type of medicines did you try? Were they even used? Probably not if you didn't actually see them put them in the tank.

[mikev]

What type of medicines did you try? Were they even used? Probably not if you didn't actually see them put them in the tank.

They were not used, probably just thrown away. The store tank is part of a system, so no medicine can be used.

Depressing. If these were anything else, even clowns, I'd be less upset.

[shari]

Whoa! Mike...just because khulis are your favorite and hold a special place in your heart doesn't mean you should diss all other species like that!

(Just bustin on you--no anger intended)

[mikev]

Sorry, Shari, I love my clowns too! --- but it is the kuhlis who always get the worst treatment....Clowns do get some treatment in most stores...but the system seems to be healthcare for the rich only, and this is really unfair.

Oh, btw, talking about clowns: it seems that my conjecture about melanin redistribution got a proof. Spot developed two more spots.

[Emma Turner]

Treating imported fish during or immediately after acclimatisation is not always a clever thing to do. Especially if the fish have already been exposed to ammonia for some reason. The combined effects of a long stressful journey, plus ammonia in the fish's system, plus chemical treatments, could prove fatal to the fish.

If the supplier/exporter is supplying good quality fish, and the store provides good conditions (and acclimatisation procedures) for their fish, then there really shouldn't be problems of such a magnitude!

Also, stores that are systemised can take single tanks "off system" and treat as necessary.

Emma

[mikev]

Emma,

no disagreement on what you say. My plan was to put most of the meds in the morning (the shipment arrived late at night), this is why I prepared it instead of just putting into their Q-tank. There is also no question that there were very serious errors both on the part of the asian exporter and the store. While I think they really could not take off this tank off the system (bad design), they should have moved all the fish to the Q-tank at the first sign of fungus, and this they could do. Acclimation was OK, putting 100 kuhlis into a 20g without any substrate was not.

And this is not the first complete dieout either....

In contrust, here are the stats on their hillstream shipment:

Total: 50
Arrived dead: 28
Died at the store over 4 days: 2
Survived: 20

(some numbers are approximate)
This is actually considerably better, and this is because they made a minimal effort at the store. So I'll continue pestering them....