Why does my lfs color their water?

[Sheila]

Yesterday, I went and got 3 new fishies for my tank since all my water parameters are great. I got 2 glass fish and a bala shark (I know they get big...will move to a bigger tank when needed). I hadn't bought fish at this store before, but they are very clean and reputable. Anyway, when I got the fish home, I noticed that the water was tinted blue in the bag. I didn't add any of this water to my tank as I was a bit afraid of it, just netted the fish and put them into my tank. The fish seem great. Anyway, is this colored water something a lot of lfs do? Does it harm the fish in any way? Just curious.
Sheila

 

[CFC]

Sounds like they have put a drop of methyline blue into the bag to help ease stress in the move and prevent any infections that the fish might pick up from being netted.

You did the right thing not adding the water to your tank, you should never add the water from a bagged fish to your tank, the water may be carrying free swimming parasites which could infect your tank.

 

[Dragonslair]

I would go along with CFC. Most reputable lfs would have their nets in a solution of MB and put a squirt of stress coat in the bag, especially if you had a ways to travel to get them home.

 

[Interfire]

Or they could have been tablets that release oxygen in the water for longer trips.

 

[Sang72]

I noticed that my local Petsmart has their bettas in blue water (in little cups of course ), the clerk told me it was to help condition the water (probably MB).

I agree, you should add your tank water to the bag (after floating for 15-20 min), never add bag water to the tank. Put an aquarium bucket on the floor, and pour the water out of the bag through a net into the bucket then put the fishie in the tank