EMERGENCY WITH SHIPPED FISH

[I Like Rare Fish]

I bought some African Tiger Scat for my 90g, and they arrived with low water and are very lethargic. They are laying on their side at the bottom of the tank, but still breathing. They move when poked. What do I do?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

increase aeration and monitor for now I guess, hope they pull through

 

[Naughts]

Did you test the shipping water?

 

[Ichthys]

Scats produce a toxin when stressed. Hopefully the dilution of the tank is enough, but I would also add carbon or PolyFilter.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Oh wow, had no idea they did that...fancy putting them in bags with not enough water

 

[Ichthys]

Assuming it’s stress from the bag and not from the transition to the tank water, I’d add PolyFilter and put them in the dark and leave them alone, and hope for the best.

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

One died. Don’t have polyFilter

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Scats produce a toxin when stressed. Hopefully the dilution of the tank is enough, but I would also add carbon or PolyFilter.

How might I go about adding carbon? Why?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

How might I go about adding carbon? Why?

The carbon will absorb any toxins the fish may be producing if that's the case

 

[Ichthys]

If you had carbon you could have added it to the filter straight away.
But it might just be extreme stress, poisoning from the bag (ammonia), lack of oxygen, etc. As long as they’re in good water now all you can do is give them peace and quiet and hope they recover.

What kind of water were they in and what are they in now? Fresh or brackish? Hard?

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

We’re in PH of 7.6 I believe and are in the same. Are in fresh and were in fresh. He barely moves when I touch him.

 

[Colin_T]

Take photos and contact the supplier and let them know what is going on.

Where the fish double or triple bagged?
Was there newspaper between the bags?
How big are the fish?

Scats have sharp spines and regularly puncture bags. We used to triple bag them with newspaper between the bags so they might poke a hole in one bag but hopefully not all 3 bags.

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Well the one left is doing fine. I just left him alone. I emailed the supplier (I don’t know if I should say the name because I’m putting them it say the name so people have a little warning, but accidents do happen ) about it

 

[Ellie11]

Provide clean water, well oxygenated & hope for the best.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The supplier should make good. Some require a buyer to cover the cost of shipping replacements and some do not. So give the seller a chance to make things right. It they do not, then by all means post the name. I would also say that if they do make good, also post the name.

One reason for posting is to help others avoid the seller and the other is for others to know that they are reputable and so might buy from them in the future.

I am one who offers a buyer the right to choose a refund or a replacement. I am willing to pay half the shipping for replacements unless the entire lot arrived dead. Then I may not have enough fish to replace the order and so I will refund the entire cost including the shipping.

The worst 18 moinths I had shipping/selling fish was when I had a batch of bad bags that were killing fish. I changed suppliers and have never had that problem again. That episode cost me about $4,000 reatil value, in DOA fish ove that year and a half.