Ever since I started in the hobby, I have been "saving" fish or invertebrates. When I "saved" a fish, I would purchase a fish that was in poor health (clearly going to die at the store) and nurse it back to health at my home. This may seem heroic, but it is not. In reality the act of saving a fish hurts more than it helps.
Pet/fish stores exist to make a profit. Rarely do you find a fish store run by a hobbyist/corporation that actually cares about the health of their fish, as unfortunately, most LFS are terrible! Purchasing fish (or invertebrates) that are overly imported and have a low survival rate in the aquarium trade (i.e. mandarin fish, anemones) or sick fish just to "save" them encourages these stores to buy more, and does the overall hobby trade a disservice.
Stores see "saving" fish as just another purchase with an associated profit margine. Many stores purchase animals well aware that their systems cannot support their needs for long term: that blue carpet cost the store less than $20.00, so the chance of a 1000% markup is worth the gamble from a numbers standpoint.
After more experience in the hobby and a peek at how fish stores operate, I am no longer participating in saving fish, regardless of how much I want to. It is hard, I have caught myself pondering the recuperation of many diseased fish in my years, but I have cut the habit. To be a responsible hobbyist, I recommend to never purchase anything but a healthy animal with a good track record in captivity, from a store that maintains quality livestock. Anything else simply encourages unconscientious business practices, and/or the continued importation of species that have a poor survival rate in captivity.
Where do I buy my fish, you ask? I purchase only healthy fish and invertebrates from fish stores that are aware of the animals requirements for survival and are not willing to sell you any animal that is sick. I have encountered many associates willing to cut the price or give me a deal on a less than healthy fish - these are the stores to avoid! I recommend purchasing from fish stores that are designed to sell fish and only fish, not Wal-Mart or a store that has a few aquariums as an afterthought. Talk to the store employees and if possible talk to the owner, and ask a few questions. If he/she is able to answer a few questions about fish husbandry, seems interested in your system and is concerned about compatibility, and has healthy marine fish, you have likely found a quality store! Unfortunately, quality stores usually won't exist in your area, and they don't in mine, so I'm forced to purchase livestock from quality online vendors. I have always been much happier with established online vendors than I have with LFS!
Hopefully I have enlightened you to the reasons that 'saving' is not helping anyone and that future livestock purchases should only be fish that are healthy (and happy!).
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Saving fish can be good idea but if your local store aware of the fish/corals/invertebrates requirements and aware of water quality there is no need to "save" fish. unfortunately those stores are rare.
Posted by: rotem | 06/15/2009 at 02:41 PM
one more thing...
What is your recommendation if there is no relible store around but you "have" to buy fish/coral?
Posted by: rotem | 06/15/2009 at 02:51 PM
Great question!
I recommend finding out when these pet stores get their shipments and purchase corals/fish before they even open the bags. This prevents them from suffering in the pet store or obtaining any diseases from the store's systems. It is a great way to purchase healthy fish in a not so healthy store. :-)
Posted by: Merritt Adkins | 06/15/2009 at 11:28 PM
Or my favorite method is to purchase from online stores. I love to shop through the what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSISWG) sections and to check out any rare fish they happen to have. Usually you find better customer service and healthier fish/corals! :-)
Posted by: Merritt Adkins | 06/15/2009 at 11:30 PM