Would you buy fish from an unclean tank?

HI guys.
The title pretty much say it, I hate how LFS near me keep their livestock, but the LFS that has the wider variety of fish around me has not very clean tanks. I want to buy cories for my 20 gallon and this is the only place where I have found them so far.
But their tank water is kinda yellow and you can see big pieces of poop in the spaces between the gravel... I know most of you wouldn't, but can I really buy fish from this store? I'll of course quarantine them, but what would you do if you were me? I've fell in love with cories just by looking at the pictures on the internet...

 

You can only work with what you have. I would get them.

 

You may make a comment to a employee about the problem, tell them exactly what you just told us. If they don't want to clean the tanks anymore then simply don't buy from them.

 

I would, one of my LFS are extremely poor at keeping fish (even though they are a "fish specialist") and no exaggeration every tank has multiple dead fish and has sever cases of ich. If I were to buy from them, I would pick out the healthiest looking fish and quarantine it for 3 week

 

You can only work with what you have. I would get them.

I hope that wasn't ironic...
There won't be a health problem done by the water quality to the fish, may there? Either way can I cure them by properly taking care of the fish?

 

No, I was just saying that if those are the only corys available, then if you want them you don't have a choice but to make the best of a bad situation.

 

You may make a comment to a employee about the problem, tell them exactly what you just told us. If they don't want to clean the tanks anymore then simply don't buy from them.

I often tried to beat around the bush by telling them that the fish would appreciate a cleaner water and since they have plenty of free time he can do that more often etc. but they just gave me a blank stare and I'm sure he called me a bossy person and told me to mind my own business in his mind... I'm sure that just because they run a pet store they know eveything and won't accept any advice, especially from teenagers like me.
And for example there's this other Pet Store near me that has crystal clear water but a very poor stock, 4 tanks with goldfish, the rest of the stock consists at guppies, neon tetras, cardinals angels and some barbs...
I just hate this

 

If the tanks are that filthy, I'd worry about acclimating the fish at home. Perhaps you could ask them to do readings of their tank and then you'd have something to go by. But yes, I would purchase from a dirty tank unless there were lots of dead fish in it.

 

I would, one of my LFS are extremely poor at keeping fish (even though they are a "fish specialist") and no exaggeration every tank has multiple dead fish and has sever cases of ich. If I were to buy from them, I would pick out the healthiest looking fish and quarantine it for 3 week

The fish are mostly healthy looking, except for the overstocked goldfish... Another sign of how bad they keep the tanks is the snail overpopulation... Three weeks ago a couple of ramshorns had hitchhiked in a tank and when I went today, there were snails EVERYWHERE.

 

I'd buy the healthy looking fish, quarantine, and go from there.

 

If the tanks are that filthy, I'd worry about acclimating the fish at home. Perhaps you could ask them to do readings of their tank and then you'd have something to go by. But yes, I would purchase from a dirty tank unless there were lots of dead fish in it.

What if I told you that I'm the only one in my country that knows what water testing is and knows about the nitrogen cycle?
Not trying to brag or something, but aquaria is so poor over here, people only want to sell. The guy at the pet store, when I asked him how should I clean my tanks, he said "Remove all the water but a part of it, leaving about 2" of water. You do this because fish like to eat their own poop".
Now imagine the same information going to other hundreds of people. I'm lucky I received my test kit as a gift, I really feel lucky even though I'm using strips.

 

Anything like liveaquaria available to you? My family's a few quite a few generations removed from Albania so no idea on the current availability of such things lol.

 

Albania? Are you sure lol? This is in southeast Europe, I see that you're from USA. Liveaquaria ships to US and UK only if I'm not wrong, either way I remember that they don't ship to Albania. There are many things unavailable to this country, it is, as many others have stated, "just a dot in the map"... :/

 

I think he said his family hails from albania, and was asking if you can order fish in your country online....not from liveaquaria specifically

 

Not liveaquaria specifically, but might be worth looking into if any similar service in Europe services Albania.

Know it might be a bit of a long shot, but where there is internet access there is hope.

 

Yeah I had that in mind but forgot to type
Well, sites like Fosters&Smith, Big Al's, Kensfish etc don't ship to Albania but I was surprised to find dealers on aquabid that would ahip internationally, but still I could mpstly get plants, no fish :/...
Lol were'e starting another topic

 

I'd buy the healthy looking fish, quarantine, and go from there.

+1 This is the important part..

 

I don't mean to laugh, but did he really tell you that, "...fish like to eat their own poop." I can't believe they run a fish store. Good luck with your cory hunt. Drip acclimation and quarntine are going to be important, (but you probably all ready knew that ) They really are a lot of fun to have. I have 2 green spotted and 1 bronze. (despite the difference in them, they do school together.)

 

I don't mean to laugh, but did he really tell you that, "...fish like to eat their own poop." I can't believe they run a fish store. Good luck with your cory hunt. Drip acclimation and quarntine are going to be important, (but you probably all ready knew that ) They really are a lot of fun to have. I have 2 green spotted and 1 bronze. (despite the difference in them, they do school together.)

Yes he did, I couldn't resist laughing myself... It's a pitty...
Yeah actually I'm having a hard time identifying the cories at the LFS, I can't find a picture on the internet that matches them... They look like the peppered cories but their fins are a bit longer than the usual peppered... They have black patches on their body as well...
Maybe I need to take a closer look at them..
Thanks for the reply though

 

maybe a panda? but you probably saw pictures of those.

 

Hello.

Could you ask the store with clean tanks to order fish for you?

If that doesn't work, I agree with quarantine and a SLOW DRIP ACCLIMATION. Cories are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry. Even though clean water is better, the shock of changing from dirty to clean could be too much. But if you take it very slowly, quarantine and take good care of them, it could work.

Hope you find success!

 

maybe a panda? but you probably saw pictures of those.

No, iy has the coloration of a peppered cory, and it's about 3-4cm in size...

 

Hello.

Could you ask the store with clean tanks to order fish for you?

If that doesn't work, I agree with quarantine and a SLOW DRIP ACCLIMATION. Cories are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry. Even though clean water is better, the shock of changing from dirty to clean could be too much. But if you take it very slowly, quarantine and take good care of them, it could work.

Hope you find success!

Is that possible? I've never tried that before, will I have to pay extra money for ordering that way? Even though they know how to properly care about the tanks, I'm not sure if they'll know all the fish by their name (english is not my native language), i'm affraid I'll have to give them a picture for each fish :/...
Oh and btw can you give me an explaination about the drip acclimation method? I've used the floating method before, I know I've acted wrong but I haven't purchased fish in about 1,5 years... And the water in the bag never got in the tank.
What do I need for the drip acclimation?

 

Here is a link to an article on drip acclimation, and it has a video from dr foster/smith:
https://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm

Sure, you can ask the people if they could order fish for you. It doesn't hurt to ask. And yes, you might have to pay extra money for that, or they might ask you to pay before they order the fish. But you'd be getting the fish you want. That's a good idea to give them a picture of the fish you want. And your English is very good! Anyway, you really have to know the Latin names for the fish

The worse that can happen is they say, "Sorry, we can't order fish for you." But they might say yes. And if they say no, you can ask them for advice on how you can order for yourself.

 

Here is a link to an article on drip acclimation, and it has a video from dr foster/smith:
https://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm

Sure, you can ask the people if they could order fish for you. It doesn't hurt to ask. And yes, you might have to pay extra money for that, or they might ask you to pay before they order the fish. But you'd be getting the fish you want. That's a good idea to give them a picture of the fish you want. And your English is very good! Anyway, you really have to know the Latin names for the fish

The worse that can happen is they say, "Sorry, we can't order fish for you." But they might say yes. And if they say no, you can ask them for advice on how you can order for yourself.

Thanks a lot! You're probably right, I don't have anything to lose. Although they order their fish on another nearby country (Montenegro), I'll ask them.
And thanks btw, the countless hours in front of the computer have really helped with my english. The only downside is that I'm used as Google Translator by my family members, I'm the only one who is fluent in english .
Thanks a lot for the link! I'll take a look at it now.

 

You're welcome! Keep practicing your English skills. They are very good and will only get better!
(I know, I teach English here in the US!)

 

You're welcome! Keep practicing your English skills. They are very good and will only get better!
(I know, I teach English here in the US!)

Wow, really? That was a surprise to me! I've always wanted to live in the US :/...

 

Wow, really? That was a surprise to me! I've always wanted to live in the US :/...

It's better than many native speakers, though I am curious if the offenders speak as poorly as they write.

 

It's better than many native speakers, though I am curious if the offenders speak as poorly as they write.

Good point Jaysee, although I was surprised about the fact that Donnerjay is an english teacher.

 

Good point Jaysee, although I was surprised about the fact that Donnerjay is an english teacher.

hahahaa, that could easily be taken the wrong way very funny though

 

hahahaa, that could easily be taken the wrong way very funny though

Hahah right, and I would sound too selfish if it was that way .

 

Hmmmm....why is that? Does my grammar need polishing?

 

Hmmmm....why is that? Does my grammar need polishing?

what post are you referring to?

 

LOL
Numbers 29 and 30, wherein HenrI indicates his surprise at my being an English teacher. I was curious as to why he is surprised.

 

hahaha, that's what I thought

 

HAHAHA yeah too bad he's offline now. I tailor my posts to the reader, so my diction may have been a bit beneath him hahahahahaha.

By the way, I truly enjoy reading your posts. You do have a grand command of the English language and I appreciate your linguistic precision.

 

Hmmmm....why is that? Does my grammar need polishing?

Oh no, no, I was just really surprised to know that I have been talking to a teacher for about 2 hours yesterday .

 

HAHAHA yeah too bad he's offline now. I tailor my posts to the reader, so my diction may have been a bit beneath him hahahahahaha.

By the way, I truly enjoy reading your posts. You do have a grand command of the English language and I appreciate your linguistic precision.

Whose post do you enjoy reading? Use nameeeees .

 

What if I told you that I'm the only one in my country that knows what water testing is and knows about the nitrogen cycle?

They should obviously consider you for President or at least Governor. Maybe a key to the city?

 

They should obviously consider you for President or at least Governor. Maybe a key to the city?

Hey that wasn't nice... >.>