I did not acclimate my new fish
- Thread starter Darius
- Start date
Update:Both fish seem to be doing good,kept the temperature up and water conditions were good.Both fish already started eating and no heavy breathing or burns.Both fish are actively swimming too
I used to be one of those that drip acclimated each fish. I've somewhat changed my mind.
My logic is that the water in one's tank is definitely healthier than the water in the fish bag or even the store water and after a long trip there's ammonia accumulating in the bag which becomes toxic upon opening that bag due to the CO2 escaping and raising the pH. Ammonia burns can damage fish permanently.
You can also suffocate fish if you acclimate them in the actual plastic bag due to the small surface area.
So sometimes it is better to just drain the fish in the net and pop them in. I've done it numerous times with no issues and I wouldn't be sure drip acclimating is always the best approach. If you're adapting soft water fish to hard water than yes, but when ammonia is involved one has to act fast.
I don't worry about temperature. A few degrees are no issue and if for some reason the temperature in the bag has gone down significantly it can't be a good thing prolonging the period the fish stays in that temperature. When I was a kid I happened to nearly boil fish with one of those heaters those days that had no thermostat that I had forgotten to switch off and popping the fish in the right temperature would obviously revive them. You don't temperature acclimate fish when they're in temperature they can't normally tolerate...The fastest you get them out, the better.
So I think your friend may have done the best thing in the situation...
My logic is that the water in one's tank is definitely healthier than the water in the fish bag or even the store water and after a long trip there's ammonia accumulating in the bag which becomes toxic upon opening that bag due to the CO2 escaping and raising the pH. Ammonia burns can damage fish permanently.
You can also suffocate fish if you acclimate them in the actual plastic bag due to the small surface area.
So sometimes it is better to just drain the fish in the net and pop them in. I've done it numerous times with no issues and I wouldn't be sure drip acclimating is always the best approach. If you're adapting soft water fish to hard water than yes, but when ammonia is involved one has to act fast.
I don't worry about temperature. A few degrees are no issue and if for some reason the temperature in the bag has gone down significantly it can't be a good thing prolonging the period the fish stays in that temperature. When I was a kid I happened to nearly boil fish with one of those heaters those days that had no thermostat that I had forgotten to switch off and popping the fish in the right temperature would obviously revive them. You don't temperature acclimate fish when they're in temperature they can't normally tolerate...The fastest you get them out, the better.
So I think your friend may have done the best thing in the situation...
Its not that big of a deal with cichlids to acclimate certain fish I like to leave the bag floating for 10-20mins depending on temp the fish were sitting in the bag and just temp acclimate and when I didnt know much about fish acclimating I just dumped them in a tank draining water in a net then releasing them had no problems ever.
W
wow this is really interesting even for me personally.Lucily for me,my local fish store seem to have almost everything i need so i dont really need to acclimate tht long.I usually just put the bag in my tank for 10-15 mins and all are healthy until now
Ever since I saw many prominent Aquarium YouTubers including Aquarium Coop explain that they do the plop and drop method that described by Coryloach above, I've been on board.
I was nervous the first time I had mail order fish and did this.method but the fish were fine and were ready to eat just a few minuted later.
I was nervous because the plop and drop method went against what I had read and been taught for years regarding floating bags and drip acclimation.
When I get my fish, I ready a bucket and dump out the water through a net and then dump the fish directly into the QT tank.
Saltwater is a completely different matter though.
I was nervous the first time I had mail order fish and did this.method but the fish were fine and were ready to eat just a few minuted later.
I was nervous because the plop and drop method went against what I had read and been taught for years regarding floating bags and drip acclimation.
When I get my fish, I ready a bucket and dump out the water through a net and then dump the fish directly into the QT tank.
Saltwater is a completely different matter though.
I personally wouldn't even bother with those 15 mins as the worst thing to do is acclimate in the fish bag. You got lucky that time but if you acclimate fish in the fish bag often enough you'll find out it has the worst survival rate.
Drip acclimation has been shown to possibly do more harm than good.
Msjinkzd (Rachel O'Leary) has a video on Youtube titled "How I Acclimate Freshwater Fish and Inverts and Why-Tuesday Tip" that explains why.
However, some believe shrimp still do best with drip acclimation, so add a few drops of Prime once you open their bag if you drip.
Just observe for now.
I'd be more concerned about what your friend calls "extensive research".
Msjinkzd (Rachel O'Leary) has a video on Youtube titled "How I Acclimate Freshwater Fish and Inverts and Why-Tuesday Tip" that explains why.
However, some believe shrimp still do best with drip acclimation, so add a few drops of Prime once you open their bag if you drip.
Just observe for now.
I'd be more concerned about what your friend calls "extensive research".
Ever since I heard of plop and drop I have been doing all fish that way. Fifteen minute float to temp match. Open the bag, slowly pour it thru a net into a bucket. Fish get caught in the net and go right into their new home/QT. This has worked no issue on local bought and overnight delivery fish.
