I've got an lfs I've used a lot in the past. They usually have good livestock and are very friendly. I've noticed the "no refunds" policy in their store, and in the past only bought inexpensive livestock in case something happened.
Well months later, I decided to try and get a group of anthias, and there's a Blenny in the same tank I like too. All 5 fish total $160, which is far more than I usually spend. To this point, I've never lost anything he sold me (except for a baby bta that my peppermint shrimp are).
As he bags things up, I do notice a dead manderin in the same system. I asked him about it, and he says it had been mistakenly put in with a cleaner shrimp that stressed him to death.
This sounded plausable, and stupidly I went ahead with the sale. Well as I've detailed in a few other threads one anthias was pale and gasping for air in the bag by the time I got home. Within an hour she was dead. The rest of the anthias died within a day, the Blenny died within 48 hours.
From what I've gotten from my "help" threads, it appears the animals were infected with velvet, which took a strong turn for the worse when they were captured and moved.
I detailed my QT procedures, and my concerns to the LFS, and told him that while I understand the policy, I communicated that the fish looked very poor before I even unbagged them, and that their deaths likely came from disease in his system (I've been very polite about this so far). I've asked him to see if he can do anything for me to right the situation, as I do feel he sold me diseased fish. So far he hasn't said yes or no, only that he'd investigate (which I'm sorta taking as a "no, but I don't want to say no")
Should I just take this very expensive lesson and be done with it? Keep pursuing him? Am I wrong to expect that dispite his policy, an animal already dying in the bag should be on him?
I'm glad I didn't follow my first thought, to introduce them into my display, since all fish from him have been disease free so far. My gut is telling me he should right the situation in some way, or not return to his store.
Also... Huge lesson in performing QT. My display would all be dead if I'd introduced these fish. Going to rethink and enhance my qt process after this experience.
Well months later, I decided to try and get a group of anthias, and there's a Blenny in the same tank I like too. All 5 fish total $160, which is far more than I usually spend. To this point, I've never lost anything he sold me (except for a baby bta that my peppermint shrimp are).
As he bags things up, I do notice a dead manderin in the same system. I asked him about it, and he says it had been mistakenly put in with a cleaner shrimp that stressed him to death.
This sounded plausable, and stupidly I went ahead with the sale. Well as I've detailed in a few other threads one anthias was pale and gasping for air in the bag by the time I got home. Within an hour she was dead. The rest of the anthias died within a day, the Blenny died within 48 hours.
From what I've gotten from my "help" threads, it appears the animals were infected with velvet, which took a strong turn for the worse when they were captured and moved.
I detailed my QT procedures, and my concerns to the LFS, and told him that while I understand the policy, I communicated that the fish looked very poor before I even unbagged them, and that their deaths likely came from disease in his system (I've been very polite about this so far). I've asked him to see if he can do anything for me to right the situation, as I do feel he sold me diseased fish. So far he hasn't said yes or no, only that he'd investigate (which I'm sorta taking as a "no, but I don't want to say no")
Should I just take this very expensive lesson and be done with it? Keep pursuing him? Am I wrong to expect that dispite his policy, an animal already dying in the bag should be on him?
I'm glad I didn't follow my first thought, to introduce them into my display, since all fish from him have been disease free so far. My gut is telling me he should right the situation in some way, or not return to his store.
Also... Huge lesson in performing QT. My display would all be dead if I'd introduced these fish. Going to rethink and enhance my qt process after this experience.