Die Hards

[Tito]

So what are the fish that 9 out of 10 times will live from mail order/LFS to display tank. Experienced answers prefered meaning let's put aside what the books say and tell me what has lived for you more than a month or two ya know.

Thanks!

 

[OctaviousMonk]

Well I don't know if you would want them in your tanks, but I find Damsels damn near impossible to kill.

 

[inline6]

Damsels & Triggerfish are tough as nails.

 

[marrone]

The real question is will the fish survive the shipping, because if it does it should make it, unless you pick a fish that is hard to keep to begin with.

A lot of it goes into the company that is doing the shipping, some companies ship better than others. Some places don't place enough water in the bag while others place the fish in to small of a bag. Also the carrier that they use can have a major impact, regardless of the type of fish that is being shipped. Many times boxes and bags are broken resulting in even the hardiest fish dying.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I cannot recommend a retailer but you can look for these signs. Packing is the key here. A reputable company packs better because of experience and equipment. My supplier(unfortunately wholesale only), packs fish very well, most of the times. Next day pick up is not a problem at all.

 

[Tito]

I'll get to another point. I think Tangs and Angels are not die hard and they cost a lot of money

 

[marrone]

Most tangs are very hardy and live for quite some time. Price wise tangs, except for some rare ones, are relatively cheap, running in the $19-$80 range, and you can get smaller one for even cheaper.

As for Angels, the larger ones are very hardy but some do command a good price, $50-$300+,especially for large adult sizes. A lot of the Pygmy Angels are hit or miss and even some live for very short periods. Price wise you can get some for pretty cheap, $19-$60.

What Tangs and Angel have you had problems with? Also what do you consider expensive? Prices ranges mean different things to different people and different fish.

 

[Tito]

Most tangs are very hardy and live for quite some time. Price wise tangs, except for some rare ones, are relatively cheap, running in the $19-$80 range, and you can get smaller one for even cheaper.

As for Angels, the larger ones are very hardy but some do command a good price, $50-$300+,especially for large adult sizes. A lot of the Pygmy Angels are hit or miss and even some live for very short periods. Price wise you can get some for pretty cheap, $19-$60.

What Tangs and Angel have you had problems with? Also what do you consider expensive? Prices ranges mean different things to different people and different fish.

Just one Angel - my newly bought annularis. Really Im venting, Im pissed! I paid $149 for him and he had a cloudy I eye. I didnt notice it in the store and the store manager said he didnt notrice it either. Now the fish is blind in one eye and the other is on its way. He cant feed cause he cant see the food. He will die for sure! I tried treating but I dont have a real hopsital tank. I had him in a five gallon tank and he's five inches - I had to take him out. That kind of money is a lot to me. My wife and I do not believe in wasting money. I grew up in the Bronx poor parents - I have a different look on money - it never came easy!

 

[Awibrandy]

I have two purple tangs that have been with me for a year. One came from my g/f when she passed, and I inherited her tank. I do not remember how long she had him, but I've had him for a year & 3 months. The other I purchased at an lfs out by me, I've had him for at least a year and half. My bluethroat trigger I've had for well over 7 months, sailfin tang from the internet 7 or 8 months, maroon clown 10months, dogface puffer over 7 months, lary tail anthias 10 months, hutomoi anthias at least 8 months all from one of our vendors here (Michael Stern), Marine betta also came from my g/f 1yr.3months, and many many more wrasse for almost a year, longnose hawk 6 months. And the only fish I ever paid more then $100 was the Majestic Angel.

Tito, I'm sorry I've tried not to say this; I don't think this is the hobby for you. I also grew up poor, I came from LES from very hard working parents, and my husband also comes from LES.
As I said in my thread, I make my sacrifices to have what I love.

 

[Tito]

If I am going to loose money on a bunch of dying fish then it may not be....

but I will see how it goes. I could just fill the tank with Yellow Tangs LOL I know they wont die. By the way. This is my third salt water tank. This tank I have know is just my comeback into salt.

 

[roncgizmo]

Hey Tito, if you like having a tank why not just try going with easy fish until you adjust...
maybe a pair of clowns, some damsels a yellow tang or two...it's sounds like you have done this before so just read up on some of the things you might have forgotten...

good luck what ever you do..just remember if you do this for 8 days or 18 years we always have something to learn about our pets...it's not like having a cat or dog..when was the last time you tested your dogs pee to make sure the SG was ok along with a battery of other tests? did you ever go out and buy a 200 rodi filter so your dog can drink HQ water? we don't even drink it! we pull the PUR out of the fridge and give the good stuff to the tank....lol I don't get it sometimes I spend more money on my tank then I do myself...every time I walk into a HD I look at stuff and wonder what I can make for my tank..Have you ever done that for a dog? sorry I'm on a roll and babbling
now...:biggrin:

 

[Bikinisalt]

I agree with you on the money thing. I personally love large angels. I have presently a queen, french, majestic, koran, and a blue face. All adults, except the koran who is starting to change and all doing fantastic. I know they can be tuff to keep, but you can't complain about the money afterwards. It is like Awilda stated and no disrespect, this might not be the hobby for you.

Most adult angels are near or over $100, some hitting as much as $400. I have literally spend hundreds, possibly even thousands on fish and had $250 fish die on me. I have lost 4 adult emperor angels and soon will purchase my 5th and keep going. If you are not comfortable spending over $100 for a fish, then don't spend it and look for something else. It is a hobby and the choice is yours when you purchase the fish and what you want to keep. No one is forcing you to buy the fish...

Not a day goes by when I am at work, etc that I don't think about my fish. Also it is like roncgizmo said "I spend more money on my tank then I do myself..." If we kepted track of everything we buy for our tanks, equipment, fish, little non-sense stuff, I think most of us could buy a new car with the money we have spent...

 

[Tito]

Thats for all of the replies. My gripe is not about money really, it's about wasted money. Many fish are caught and taken out of the sea and that's when the slow process towards death begins. These fish can go thru many hands before they get in your tank and the chances increase for ammonia, stress and parasites to harm the fish. My opinion is that it's a crapshoot. Sometimes you get a fish that was well caught and well transported and then sometimes you don't! Really, I'm just kicking myself in the chin because I should have taken a really close look at the Angel I bought for $149. I didn't!! If I would have I would have noticed that he had a cloudy eye. I took for granted that the fish was swimming along real healthy at the LFS for at least two weeks or more but I guess he began to give in to stress. The store keeps very healthy fish and you won't find a dead fish anywhere so I believe this is an isolated incident. I've had Angels before with no problems although I cannot say the same for tangs. Well some. I killed Power Blues and Browns like it was candy!

 

[e.muehlbauer]

Another thing has to be said about the age and maturity of the tank. In my earliest years with my tank, hippo tangs were impossible to keep. they got ich almost immediately, and never made it for more than a few weeks at the most. Now (after 11 years maturity) I never get ich, and hippo tangs are very easy to keep. That said, my personal rule of fish keeping always was "hardiness is inversely proportional to price"...in other words, the more you pay, the more likely to die. Unfortunately true much of the time. I'd suggest blue damsels, maroon clown, maybe the extravagance of a yellow tang. Keep it at that while your tank matures over the years.

 

[Tito]

Another thing has to be said about the age and maturity of the tank. In my earliest years with my tank, hippo tangs were impossible to keep. they got ich almost immediately, and never made it for more than a few weeks at the most. Now (after 11 years maturity) I never get ich, and hippo tangs are very easy to keep. That said, my personal rule of fish keeping always was "hardiness is inversely proportional to price"...in other words, the more you pay, the more likely to die. Unfortunately true much of the time. I'd suggest blue damsels, maroon clown, maybe the extravagance of a yellow tang. Keep it at that while your tank matures over the years.

Well said! Even though I know this - I have decided to put the Angel in there - tank is fairly new. But again, he did not get the cloudy eyes in my tank - he got it at the LFS. Hopefully with the Maracyn II treatment he is now undergoing he will pull through. So far his tankmates a Squarespot Anthias and a Royal Gramma have been doing just fine. I should mention there were other Squarespots but a very mean female killed them all!

 

[reefman]

i have a damsel thats faster than a speeding bullet n leap over tall buildings in a single bound.