Where to get Garibaldi damselfish?

[Anonymous]

I know there is a FS/WTB section, but I feel this thread is more appropriate here....

Anyway, I am looking for Garibaldi damselfish. I remember FFExpress used to carried it last year, but I am looking for the fish right now. I also remember there is a band on it until 2002, and I wonder what is the status for it now? How can one keep it legally? Any paper work?

I will set up a FOWLR tank for it and I am sure the chiller will get a nice workout keeping the water cold.

Thanx for any helpful info.

 

[mountainbiker619]

TRY WWW.THEMARINECENTER.COM AND EMAIL THEM

 

[Anonymous]

Or you could contact me, since I've got a 4.5" one in stock right now.



Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Well, MarineCtr is in TX, while Chip is in NY... Garibaldi damsel is common right where I live (so. CA), so I just feel a bit weird to pay for shipping it all the way from the east coast....

Any local people have it??

 

[mountainbiker619]

you can try www.aquaticwarehouse.com give them a call and see if they can pick up one on their fish shopping days which are every monday. They are located in San Diego.

 

[Anonymous]

isn't it illegal to collect?

or am i confused?

 

[Vili_Shark]

Hi David

There are few in Asi's reef center in Israel, but I guess it's too far for ya :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Most specimens do not do well long term at tropical temperatures - this is a temperate fish. If they do adapt, you then have a very large, very pugnacious fish on your hands.
Reseach this fully before you purchase... :wink:

Jim

 

[tazdevil]

Podman- they're illegal to capture off the California coast. Not further out-International waters, or further south-Mexico.

 

[Anonymous]

Podman- they're illegal to capture off the California coast. Not further out-International waters, or further south-Mexico.

but they can be kept in captivity here?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes. However, the points made about the Garibaldi being temperate and pugnacious should not be taken lightly. While scuba diving off Laguna, I had the pleasure of being severely "dogged" by a male, and the fish even grabbed my mask, lifting it enough to flood. They become large slabs of fishmeat.

The fish would not normally be found in "international" waters, because they are considered a benthic species, and the "international" waters where they would be found are the Channel Islands, part of California. The only legal Garibaldis and Catalina gobies one can purchase will come from Mexico.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a nice industrial chiller that will keep the tank at 4C (~40F) if I want, so the heat problem is not issue. Furthermore, I intended to keep one, or at most two of them, and they will be the sole vertabrate in the tank. No other fish. So their nastiness will not be a problem. It (or two of them) will be in my office tank.

So how can I prove that they were caught in Mexico.... does the seller give me any paper work with the sale? :?

 

[Anonymous]

You don't need to prove this (at this point), the outfit you buy them from would, ultimately, the wholesaler. Your biggest headache would be if you decided to try and collect them yourself. Beware Los Federales!

Anyway, do know that you have an entirely different set of issues/problems when running temperate tanks, condensation NOT being the least of them.

 

[goofyreefer]

Save yourself the time and money and just buy some big goldfish. I would look into the idea of keeping more than one per tank. Have you done any research on them? It could be a expensive gamble to buy 2 and watch one beat the crap out of the other. I thought live aquaria had them on sale? I just saw a web site advertise them but that could have been marine depot to.

 

[Anonymous]

Seems like people are raggin a bit on the fella when in his first post he made it clear that he had done some research.

The thing I would be most concerned about is the condensation, as SM mentioned. The temp difference between the room and the water in the tank, along with humidity is what causes this. If the room its in is cool and dry, and the tank is not so cooled, it may not be too bad. You can also point a fan at the tank, or use acrylic which is a better insulator.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, two good options exist for temperate systems in regards to reducing condensate--very thick acrylic, and double-glazed glass (IIRC, what they had to do at the aquarium was have the large displays made specially, because a vacuum was created in the space between each pane--I would suppose that it's a tricky proposition).

Have you given consideration/research or found sources for other temperate creatures to keep with the Garibaldis? Of course you'll be able to keep Catalina gobies with them quite easily, however, though I've never seen them offered for sale, there are many other fishes suitable, as well as myriad inverts, not the least pretty of which are the purple urchins...heh, say that five times really fast (sounds like a beer game, doesn't it?). Plenty of limpets, sea stars, and anemones would make a beautiful tidepool display, in my opinion.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm going to do a California tidepool display in a few years. I live near the coast, so collecting isn't a problem. I just need to wait until my girlfriends oldest kid moves out so that I have the space. Money to run the chiller 24/7 is also an issue. I have to find an economical way to cool the tank. Other than that, no problems! Er...besides the legal issues that is. :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

I am not worrying about the condensation. The office is so dry that if I left a container of Vaseline open, it will crack like dried mud. Besides, it is so cold in the building that some people wears suits and ties year-round.

I won't put a goby in there for the fear that the damsel will bully it to death. But the goby is definitely one of the prettiest fish I ever saw.

I am not allowed to take picture in here, so even after I set the whole thing up, I won't be able to show it to anybody in RDO The tank was formerly a SPS reef setup with whole nine yards. I am breaking it down because I am setting up a bigger tank at home.

 

[Anonymous]

Unless you're also putting in other predatory animals, I don't see why you can't put the Catalina goby with the Garibaldi (assuming copious room and feeding regimen). JimM, unless you have zee paperz, you could face some big money should Fish & Game find you collecting anything. Kinda weird considering how ubiquitous the Garibaldi is, ya know? I think the animals coming out of Mexico are cheaper all the way around, myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, you're right, but the key is to not get caught collecting out of a marine sanctuary or preserve. I know how to collect without looking like I'm collecting anyway, so no worries. :wink:

Cheers
Jim