Corals or fish? Who gets emergency evacuation?

[Lavey29]

So a catastrophic failure happens in your tank and you have only one option of trying to save your corals or fish. Most of us have thousands of dollars worth of corals and 20 dollar clownfish.

So who gets the emergency evacuation priority your expensive corals or you 20 dollar friend that greets you every morning?

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Ugh, this one would be tough, for sure. I would have to go for the fish. I know both are living creatures, but fish just feel more like pets than coral to me. But it's an almost impossible decision, and I hope it never happens to me. :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[Lavey29]

Ugh, this one would be tough, for sure. I would have to go for the fish. I know both are living creatures, but fish just feel more like pets than coral to me. But it's an almost impossible decision, and I hope it never happens to me. :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

I've talked to my fish and told them it's nothing personal, just strictly a fiscal business decision. So now they are mad at me.

 

[DanyL]

Saving corals is a far more actionable task than catching fish, as I can quickly frag my corals to save at least a piece of each.

Saving fish on the other hand means to chase them, or using traps - both of which either take too much time (which is precious during an emergency), or aren't practical due to the amount of hiding places the fish have.

In reality - In all of my emergencies I didn't chose one over the other, but instead worked to get the tank back in shape as quickly as possible - even if it literally means driving multiple times to the sea in the middle night to bring 200g of fresh sea water (true story) and do a 100% water change right into the little hours of the night.

 

[KQuillan]

Whatever I can grab the fastest wins.

 

[IceNein]

Funny. I would automatically go for the fish, because they are conscious creatures, even though the coral could be an order of magnitude more valuable.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would just start grabbing whatever I could get my hands on first

 

[Lavey29]

Might have to train the fish to jump into the emergency bucket?

 

[exnisstech]

Fish if possible because I interact with them so they are more like pets and I tend to bond with my pets. I have more money invested in coral but I've also had a more coral die than fish so maybe I'm used to loosing them :face-with-hand-over-mouth:

 

[timmyrules]

I’ve actually had something like this happen!!! I fed my fish a cheap food, and I guess it wrecked the water. But, in the middle of the night, things went down hill. I didn’t realize till morning. Because I didn’t see any fish swimming around. All fish died but two. But when I saw the tank, I could only think about getting those two fish and the coral out NOW! I didn’t care about acclimating them, they just needed to be out! I grabbed the fish first, then the coral. Every thing I got out of the tank survived. :) and it took a few days and water changes to get the tank back to normal

 

[BryanM]

Both, everything that I can reasonably save

 

[timmyrules]

I probably went for the fish first cause they were the living breathing ones. The corals just scrunched up.

 

[DanyL]

Might have to train the fish to jump into the emergency bucket?

Potty training your fish for emergencies sounds like a solid plan !

 

[Lavey29]

No snail love?

 

[blecki]

Fish.

Coral can live a long time in a bucket. Fish can't. I might grab a few pieces and put them in the emergency bin with the fish... but fish first.

Snails and crabs also saved.

Bottom line... pets with faces win out.

 

[mariano]

I've talked to my fish and told them it's nothing personal, just strictly a fiscal business decision. So now they are mad at me.

Then you have your answer.

 

[alepop1211]

No snail love?

I'd probably grab a few snails while picking up corals. Especially if any were right on the glass.
I had this type of situation before. I chose the fish. I had a bit more financially in fish than corals at the time.
I ended up still losing a bunch of fish but overall, it was the right move.

It's a hard decision no matter what.
It's easier to move out corals than fish usually.

 

[winxp_man]

the fish first. I talk with them more than I would coral if I had any. In my case I tried talkin to my nems. They just don’t listen as much. It’s an emotional stance…. Sorry nems!

 

[EliMelly]

I don’t have any corals that cost over $500 so fish are more expensive and more conscious.

 

[Lavey29]

So looking at the current voting looks like lots of love for the $20 clown and you can always get another $500 torch. Nice to know all my fellow reefers have a soft spot for their aquatic friends as do I.