How do you acclimate your wild caugh polypterids?

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Cohazard

Cohazard

Arapaima
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2005
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So what methods and/or precautions does everyone take when they receive wild caught bichirs?


Usually if it's from Toyin, all I do is check for external parasites, treat them in a holding tank for a day, then put them in the main tank.

With the recent delhezis I got thought, they were 'wilder' and not acclimated to tank life at all, so I had to keep them in a tote for a few days, treated with internal/external parasite meds and bacterial meds, water change daily, then put them in my main tank.

The largest one is still be acclimated because it isn't eating and is still healing from wounds it received during the collectiong/shipping process.

In the tote I was using a powerhead with pre-filter and a sponge filter, plus a heater held in place with small pieces of slate so it wouldn't burn through the plastic.

I also added gravel from my main tank now that the fish will be in there longer than I had planned.
 
hmm thats cool i wanna c what others say
 
wow, that is a very thorough. Although I've had success with the my regimen, I will definitely follow that regimen if I ever come across something that gets past my precautions.
 
Cohazard;3032965; said:
wow, that is a very thorough. Although I've had success with the my regimen, I will definitely follow that regimen if I ever come across something that gets past my precautions.
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i didn't used to do it as thoroughly but have come to the conclusion that it is just totally worth it in the long run with the number of fish in my big tanks and the price of parasite clear being nothing compared to the cost of losing some of my stock...6 weeks and $10 or less in meds is absolutely nothing in the long run...

edit: i usually don't dose the first week at all, and start with a 50% dose week 2 and go from there with only 2 weeks of full doses...
 
I like the idea of not dosing the first week, because if gives the fish a chance to settle in before having to deal with the smell of meds in the water and what not.
 
Cohazard;3032982; said:
I like the idea of not dosing the first week, because if gives the fish a chance to settle in before having to deal with the smell of meds in the water and what not.
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yeah kinda my thought too. some also don't feed the first week. i personally start offering foods the 2nd day but i do remove if not eaten in a few hours. to me a fish that is eating isn't in that bad a shape....
 
I agree, the healthy ones always eat right away. Out of my five new fish, the four that started eating day 2 are already in the main tank, and the last one that hasn't eaten yet... still in QT.
 
Cohazard;3033016; said:
I agree, the healthy ones always eat right away. Out of my five new fish, the four that started eating day 2 are already in the main tank, and the last one that hasn't eaten yet... still in QT.
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yep. i still run the cycle but species dependent (obviously) i feed the hell out of them in QT so i know they'll be able to handle themselves, or at least be used to feeding enough to get in the fray :D
 
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