imsati

Guys, thanks for the tips, but seriously, I've been doing this for years upon years. I know what to look for in higher-end fish and how to acclimate them to a new environment. I have more gallons in one of my tanks than some of the local pet stores have total - I'm in this game to play, not sit on the sidelines. The shop I bought it from caters to upper-echelon species that the chain stores are clueless with how to handle. Some of the fish that they stock are the equivalent of Elise's or Diablo's - not the everyday Honda Civic (Oscars) that everyone and their brother have. The brothers that own the store have close to 60 years exotic fish experience between them - they know what they're doing.

I don't know what happened - it was just a freak occurrence. I had been watching it swim at the store every time I went in for a few weeks and it looked healthy; shiny, bright eyes, energetic, full fins. Took it home and acclimated it the proper way. Actually moved a freshwater barracuda between tanks the same way at the same time and he's doing wonderful. For all I know, it was a bad Rosie it had eaten earlier (which, honestly happens, and there's no way to find out beforehand). Again, losing a fish I spent a lot of money on to something else that eats it or bullies it to death is something I'm prepared for; fish SIDS is not... I've lost larger species that I had hundreds of dollars invested in between them, supplies, and food to the (new) tank Alpha - I sighed, said 'eh', and moved on. But for something so pointless...as my boy Officer Sullivan (yay Third Watch) would say '...crap...'

I'm already seeing if they can get another one in so I can place him before the other fish establish their territories after the new additions/placement of items. Being that it's not a 'oh yeah, we have 40 of those right next to the danios' type of deal, it'll be close, but here's hoping...

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--Jay
Creepy Lurker Guy