The list of livestock I will not bring in to the store. Ple

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gatortailale:
<strong>What are your plans for the fish and corals the wholesaler/distributor includes in the box to fill space or replace an item you ordered that is "suddenly" out of stock. From what I have learned from other LFS operators, this happens on almost every shipment. Despite your best efforts not to bring this stuff in, I think you are going to end up with a small stock of this stuff.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thankfully, this does not happen to us at all. If it's not in stock, it won't be sent at all.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MattM:
<strong>What we do is write "No substitutions without prior approval" on the bottom of every purchase order.
Distributors will call us when they want to provide substitutes and we say yea or nay on each depending on what it is. Eventually the distributor will get to know you and it won't be a problem.</strong><hr></blockquote>

This is what has happened. It's been the same distributors for saltwater livestock since the store opened 5 years ago, so they know us and know we don't want what we don't order.

This is great, keep the comments coming!

Peace,

Chip

[ April 09, 2002: Message edited by: marillion ]</p>

 

[naesco]

Regal angel

Best of luck Chip. On this issue, you set an example for all LFS to follow.

 

[Sol T. Waters]

I think everyone has their own opinion about which fish should or shouldnt be allowed in fish. Some keepers are able to keep the fish alive...whether the fish be happy or not. Its up to the keeper to decide...but thats my opinion.

 

[Kalkbreath]

Once again, I see we are limiting what is OK to take from the ocean ... thus placing great strain on the remaining species that we deem hardy in captivity..........The reason collectors substitute what we order with what they have in huge supply, is that those "hardy" items are in short supply? Save the reefs, buy Moorish Idols and Butterflie fish not herbivore Tangs and Groupers?
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Honda SH150i

 

[SPC]

Posted by Kalk:
Save the reefs, buy Moorish Idols and Butterflie fish not herbivore Tangs and Groupers?

-Yea, nothing like a good old herbivore like a grouper.

Steve

 

[naesco]

When you read the posts to this thread, it is so nice know the professionalism of our fellow reefers on reefs.org.
Newbies are lucky to be able to have the benefit of their experience and not hve to go through the trial and error I did when I first started. The result is saving many fish and coral that should never have ben imported in the first place
Way to go reefers!

 

[reefworm]

feather stars

 

[Bodhi]

Spotted Filefish. Such beautiful and unique fish. I always cringe when I see them at an lfs, destined to die

 

[Kalkbreath]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SPC:
<strong>Posted by Kalk:
Save the reefs, buy Moorish Idols and Butterflie fish not herbivore Tangs and Groupers?

-Yea, nothing like a good old herbivore like a grouper.

Steve</strong><hr></blockquote>
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banks on watch list

 

[Bill2]

Why not go look at the unsuitablility list in the industry forum?

 

[Tony Quinn]

Non photosynthetic corals. IMHO I have seen so many stores with bright hallides on these difficult to feed corals, dendronyphtea is probably the most common I've seen and is has been sold as pussey coral??????

 

[ophiuroid]

Question any animal that if successfully kept will outgrow nearly any system and become impossible to keep...simply because it actually reached adult size. As we strive to learn the needs of these animals and keep them longer and longer, this is something that needs to be taken into account. For example, filter feeding basket stars can be kept in species tanks as juveniles, but, when full grown, have an arm span over 3 feet! In this case, a successful keeper is doomed for failure. Many popular species of sharks, remoras, batfish and parrotfish fall into this catagory as well, IMO. They should be special orders, if ordered at all, and only for customers whose tank specs are known and adequate.

It would be interesting to see the changes if stores that carried some of the species were required to take them back when they outgrow home systems. Maybe then they would be a little more honest about particular fish and choose not to carry some (same is true with freshwater fish). Perhaps it would be responsible to ask the question "could I take this animal back when it is full grown" before ordering it.

Just my idealistic .02

---------------
Brittlestars!!
http://home.att.net/~ophiuroid
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[naesco]

In my opinion if a LFS or online store sells us something that we subsequently find out is not suitable for our tanks or a fish or coral that is sick or destined to die like all of the species recommended in this thread, we as reefers have the right to demand a refund of our money upon return of the fish or coral.
If we all choose to do this and enpower newbies with this message, we will begin to to have LFS and online stors take an ethical approach to what they sell.

 

[JennM]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by naesco:
<strong>In my opinion if a LFS or online store sells us something that we subsequently find out is not suitable for our tanks or a fish or coral that is sick or destined to die like all of the species recommended in this thread, we as reefers have the right to demand a refund of our money upon return of the fish or coral.
If we all choose to do this and enpower newbies with this message, we will begin to to have LFS and online stors take an ethical approach to what they sell.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Whoa wait a minute! What about the ethical hobbyist's responsibility to choose specimens he's willing to accomodate? Yes it's a LFS responsibility to make sure the animals go to a suitable home, but if you buy something that will outgrow your 75, and you tell me you have plans to upgrade to a 120 and you don't...that's not MY fault.

I'm prepared to take back anything I sell, but not for a "full refund". You'll get the going wholesale rate for that specimen. Now if you're really lucky enough to have bought a juvenile for a few bucks and now it's as big as a dinner plate, you'll "make" money, the animal will be worth more.

As for unsuitable species....somebody mentioned WC seahorses. Sorry, but I have to disagree on that. I've got a WC pair going on a year, they've multiplied exponentially. I've not mastered rearing the young yet (H. reidi are hard to rear) but I am certainly capable as are many, of attending to the needs of these animals, and I'm aquainted with keepers of other seahorse species (H. erectus, H. zostrae) who are having good success propagating.

As for that CB seahorse farm mentioned, I had a really crummy experience with them (not naming names) and I'm not alone. The market is expanding for CB horses, but demand still exceeds supply right now.

Some people are duly qualified to keep mandarins and anemones, and while I agree that certain species are best left in the sea, plenty of people get all bent out of shape when they are "told" that they can't keep something. Especially when they are being told by somebody who IS keeping that something.

About 2 years ago everybody would flame the living heck out of anybody who admitted they had an anemone..now it's politically correct again to admit we keep them.

As for the problem of suppliers stuffing boxes with unwanted extras, if it doesn't happen to you, you're lucky. IME it is standard operating procedure. If and when I end up with such animals, I'll do my best to find the best and most appropriate homes for them, and do my best to take proper care of them while in my custody. And I'll do my part by trying to prevent such occurrances, but it's going to happen.

Jenn