Re: OT - But a hard lesson learned :-(((((

["Roger Vitko" <rvitko@ix.netcom.com>]

I can't comment on the Argulus or Columnaris but Clown Loaches are an
inherent risk.  Being scaleless and wild caught they almost always are
carrying internal parasites and are very susceptible to ich, I almost hate
to sell them.  We clout our loaches on arrival and import them from Holland
where the distributors have a clue but if you try clown loaches again I
would consider alengthy quarantine.  While the shop keeper was less than
honest I think some quarantine procedures need to be implemented in the
future.

Roger Vitko
----- Original Message -----
From: <Brown.Victoria@ic.gc.ca>
To: <apisto-digest@admin.listbox.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 10:39 AM
Subject: OT - But a hard lesson learned :-(((((


> I just wanted to post my nightmare story,, for everyone to think about.
>
> I have a 50 gallon tank, that was my pride and joy. I had 5 beautiful
Clown
> Loaches, who were 9 years old. These fish were 9 inches long, and were
> starting to show spawning behaviour.
>
> This tank also had 5 Botia Striata, (Zebra Loaches), who were also getting
> to adult size and starting to display spawning behaviours.
>
> Also 6 absolutely AWESOME Corydora Sterbai (From George, in Montreal,,
> fellow lister here),, and 3 Black Lace Super Veiltail Angels, I was also
> hoping to spawn.
>
> This tank was stable,, has been running for 12 years with no problems,
> disease or water quality issues.
>
> Because Clowns don't spawn in captivity, I was hoping because mine were
> reaching maturity, I may have had a good chance to try to spawn them.
These
> are long lived fish, and one reason for them not spawning in captivity is,
> it's hard to keep them alive to maturity.
>
> It was suggested to me,, to buy 3 small baby clowns, with the hopes of
> stimulating my adults to think about spawning. My largest female was
getting
> gravid with eggs, and males were actively courting her.
>
> So,, I decided to buy 3 small clowns to introduce to the tank. I went to
my
> local fish store and asked them if their clowns were healthy. They said
they
> were. I tracked the tank of them at the store,, for a whole month to  be
> sure my closed tank would be safe, adding new fish. I even explained to
the
> fish manager how valuable my tank was,, and asked him to be honest and
> forthright about this tank of babies. After checking every few days for
over
> a month,, the fish guy said  these fish would be safe to add to my 50
gallon
> tank.
>
> Unfortunately,, all my Apistos have spawned and I have Apisto Moms and
their
> babies in all my quarantine tanks, so,, no free tank to quarantine these
new
> baby clowns. But,, I believed the fish guy at the store, who said his fish
> were safe,, and put these 3 clowns into my 50 gallon tank with the adults.
>
> Well,,, within 2 weeks, all the fish in the 50 gallon tank have died.
> Everyone of my beloved clowns has died.
> Those new fish killed everything in the tank. I have since found out they
> lied to me,, they had argulus, and colummnaris and ich,,  in that tank,
and
> didn't have the CLASS to inform me, about the problems they had.
>
> I am heartbroken,, and furious!
>
> 9 years of caring for these beautiful clowns destroyed, because some
> lowlife, making mininum wage who doesn't care about intregrity lied about
> diseases in their tanks.
>
> Folks,, please, please, be careful buying fish from stores,, all they care
> about is the allmighty BUCK, they don't care about the species, they
sell,,
> they only care about the money they get.
>
> Major bummed here, I cannot look at the tank without crying. My heart is
> broken.
>
> just thought I'd share my nightmare, to give folks a heads up.
>
> )0(
> vickyb in ottawa, canada
>
>
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