Ordering qt Convict Tang question

[Gjedde]

hoping to hear of someone’s experience of ordering quarantined convict tangs from any source. I am hoping to order one from dr reefs however i have heard numerous stories of convicts coming in skinny and not eating. Additionally dr reef offers only a live arrival guarantee. Just makes me a little nervous.
Would also be ordering a dragonet, wrasse or two, and an additional tang, either a sailfin or lavender tang.
In the tank is one chocolate tang, 4” very docile. 150 gallon established mixed reef.

 

[mcarroll]

hoping to hear of someone’s experience of ordering quarantined convict tangs from any source.

Always more risk than buying it locally where you can see before you make a selection. How far are the closest LFS's to you?

Have you acclimated shipped fish before? Things to know and consider:

• http://www.sustainableaquatics.com/docs/Acclimation-White-Paper.docx

Do you have experience with determining fish health and treating diseases if necessary? More things to know and consider:

• SRAC 0474: The Role of Stress in Fish Disease
• SRAC 4705: Amyloodinium ocellatum, an Important Parasite of Cultured Marine Fish
• SRAC 0451: Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems: An Overview of Critical Considerations
• SRAC 0452: Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems: Management of Recirculating Systems
• SRAC 0453: Recirculating Aquaculture Tank Production Systems: A Review of Current Design Practice

Those links are all really good for background info, but if you don't also have at least a couple of good books to back you up you'll have a lot tougher time IMO. Martin Moe is a great author to start with, but there are tons of great books to choose from....lots of ideas here.

Neither of those areas of expertise should be taken lightly....not even farmed out to someone else lightly IMO.

 

[slingfox]

I bought a convict tang from a very reputable seller that quarantine’s. It was very skinny (ie, I could see some of its bone structure due to how thin it was). The fish, however, ate right away. It go bullied a bit by my Yellow Tang but the Convict is a fearless eater so it filled out nicely within a few weeks. It is now nice and plump and doing well.

I have three tangs: Yellow, White Tail Bristletooth, and Convict. The Convict is the hardest worker and most aggressive eater. It is constantly picking at the rockscape and pigs out on any food put into the tank.

As long as the Convict arrives to you alive I doubt you will have issues getting it to eat. To be safe you can put it in a separate tank to fatten up a bit and get it used to eating shaver you intend to feed. Definitely include daily servings of nori.

 

[Largeangels]

Like macarroll stated local LFS is less of a risk often times and you can inspect the fish. My personal preference if you have some good LFS around you. They can order one for you.

Even if I bought a quarantined fish I would still QT it myself and never put it in the DT first.

I've only had one convict and it was the nastiest tang I've ever had and went back to my LFS. I've also heard of many skinny and not eating convicts but this ate anything. I did ask the LFS to order it for me and as soon as it came in I got it.

 

[Jasonak]

My convict came from Dr Reef it's been couple years now I don't remember if it was skinny or not, Its doing great in my tank though and i've not had any issues buying from him in the past. It is odd that they only offer live arrival on the convicts. I would reach out to him and ask why this is ? Let us know what he says i'm curious why.
My last few orders have been from Fish Hotel, really cool dude. He has some fish I think a Naso is one that he doesn't like to get for people as they are finicky. I've not heard him say anything about convicts being difficult but it might be one also.

 

[Gjedde]

Thanks for all the advice. My closest lfs is about a three hour drive away, and doesn’t offer qt on wrasses and doesn’t like bringing in convicts.
Whenever i order qt fish i put them in a 48 hr observation tank. Hearing a few success stories makes me feel more confident. I’ll message dr reef and see if i can get some more info.

 

[mcarroll]

doesn’t offer qt on wrasses and doesn’t like bringing in convicts.

There may be some wisdom behind their choices IMO.....but that's a FAR haul for a LFS....not really local if you have a 6 hr (round trip) drive involved.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

hoping to hear of someone’s experience of ordering quarantined convict tangs from any source. I am hoping to order one from dr reefs however i have heard numerous stories of convicts coming in skinny and not eating. Additionally dr reef offers only a live arrival guarantee. Just makes me a little nervous.
Would also be ordering a dragonet, wrasse or two, and an additional tang, either a sailfin or lavender tang.
In the tank is one chocolate tang, 4” very docile. 150 gallon established mixed reef.

I literally just got one of these last week. I’d have to check, which I just did, there is no size selection on this one. If there was I would have gotten the small sized one, but normally that be in the 3 to 3-4 inch range. I didn’t realize they could come this small. It was about 1” and very thin. I never saw it eat. And it only last 5 days. I have purchased about 24 fish from Dr reef. I have only had 2 not make it. And the first one died the same day so he replaced it. I was really really surprised how small this was. I will not buy another one QT’d like this. I will plan to try and QT one on my own to get a properly sized one. But, I will continue to only use Dr Reef. Very very pleased with his product.

 

[Gjedde]

from dr reef:
If they come from south asia they are most likely to be caught by using cyanide. The fish looks fine on the outside but organs are failing inside. It can live up to a few days to weeks and then suddenly die. That is why we put live arrival on it but since then we have 1 source that is better and they do come in small size from them. We trust that source 100%. If you are willing to wait for that source to come through then and then only I would suggest it otherwise most all retailers get them from south asia and they are no good.

I might give it a try. Perhaps i aught to specify getting one in the 2-3” range as maybe the itty bitties dont have as good a survival rate.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Interesting to know!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I’m going to email him and let him know mine expired after 4 days.

 

[Jasonak]

from dr reef:
If they come from south asia they are most likely to be caught by using cyanide. The fish looks fine on the outside but organs are failing inside. It can live up to a few days to weeks and then suddenly die. That is why we put live arrival on it but since then we have 1 source that is better and they do come in small size from them. We trust that source 100%. If you are willing to wait for that source to come through then and then only I would suggest it otherwise most all retailers get them from south asia and they are no good.

I might give it a try. Perhaps i aught to specify getting one in the 2-3” range as maybe the itty bitties dont have as good a survival rate.

Well there you go. Seems like a reasonable anwser. Like I said ive not bought from him latley but my past purchases were good and he always repsonded to me right away with any questions or concerns.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

Well there you go. Seems like a reasonable anwser. Like I said ive not bought from him latley but my past purchases were good and he always repsonded to me right away with any questions or concerns.

Agreed. Solid communicator.

 

[Gjedde]

Yea, great vendor. First batch i ordered was delayed a day during the winter but he still sent another blue jaw trigger and chocolate tang. The trigger jumped a while back unfortunately however the chocolate tang is still a stunner.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

from dr reef:
If they come from south asia they are most likely to be caught by using cyanide. The fish looks fine on the outside but organs are failing inside. It can live up to a few days to weeks and then suddenly die. That is why we put live arrival on it but since then we have 1 source that is better and they do come in small size from them. We trust that source 100%. If you are willing to wait for that source to come through then and then only I would suggest it otherwise most all retailers get them from south asia and they are no good.

I might give it a try. Perhaps i aught to specify getting one in the 2-3” range as maybe the itty bitties dont have as good a survival rate.

I did not wanna carry this fish for ever due to reasons mentioned above.
Now I have found 1 very solid reliable source. Normally they sell me convict tang as small size but fish is solid.
If you are in market for this fish and can accommodate small size and are willing to wait then and then only I recommend buying otherwise other sources will be 50/50.

 

[Gjedde]

I did not wanna carry this fish for ever due to reasons mentioned above.
Now I have found 1 very solid reliable source. Normally they sell me convict tang as small size but fish is solid.
If you are in market for this fish and can accommodate small size and are willing to wait then and then only I recommend buying otherwise other sources will be 50/50.

I think that i put this as my preference, but ill double check. Thank!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

I do have 2 small 1.5-2" and 2 med 2-3" currently unclaimed if someone wants one.

 

[Gjedde]

Ah, i thought i had placed the order, a 2-3”er. Apparently not! Want me to just place an order noting this thread? Excited to get the fish! The chocolate tang i received from you is doing great!

I do have 2 small 1.5-2" and 2 med 2-3" currently unclaimed if someone wants one.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Ah, i thought i had placed the order, a 2-3”er. Apparently not! Want me to just place an order noting this thread? Excited to get the fish! The chocolate tang i received from you is doing great!

Yes please place an order online if you haven't. Ill ship it this week.
We ship Tuesday for Wednesday delivery
Or Wednesday for Thursday delivery
Or Thursday for Friday delivery.
Let me know what day works for you

 

[Gjedde]

Yes please place an order online if you haven't. Ill ship it this week.
We ship Tuesday for Wednesday delivery
Or Wednesday for Thursday delivery
Or Thursday for Friday delivery.
Let me know what day works for you

Sounds great! Thank you!