Buying Healthy Fish FAQ

What can I do to help ensure I purchase healthy fish?

When you purchase a fish for your aquarium, there is no 100% sure-fire way of knowing whether the specimen you're buying is healthy or not. If there was, there would be no need for fish guarantees! Fish that appear healthy may have internal problems that are not yet visible. The fish may be genetically weak (which by the way, there's nothing you can do about), or in the case of marine fish, there are some species which simply don't do well in captivity. There are, however, ways to make a well-educated guess. There are many things one can look for to determine if a fish is healthy. Many aquarium stores will not assist you in determining whether a fish is healthy or not. After all, they do want to sell the fish! Here's a list of tips to follow when you're buying a fish:

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Are there some aquarium fish sold in aquarium stores that usually do not do well in captivity?

We wish that we could say that all fish sold in the aquarium industry were great specimens that, if properly cared for, would live a long time. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Some fish simply do not do well in captivity. Some species may have requirements that we cannot provide, such as a special diet. Other species may only survive under certain conditions we cannot duplicate or may not be kept in close quarters with many of the other available species. Some fish that shoal (school) together in the wild will not live for a long time if they are not kept with large numbers of the same species (There are a large number of shoaling fish, however, that will do well if kept by themselves). Some species are easily stressed by being in captivity and may therefore be particularly sensitive to certain disease vectors. Other fish may simply grow too large for any aquarium other than huge tanks in public aquariums. Some so-called "experts" would strongly disagree with us on certain species we've named in our book. There are always going to be exceptions to any rule or philosophy. Some advanced aquarists may be willing to slave over their "sensitive" specimens. Unfortunately, too many of these fish are sold to new hobbyists, especially with marine aquaria, and when the fish do not do well, the new or inexperienced hobbyist may get discouraged and give up the hobby. This serves no one, especially the aquarium industry, as these are the people who will let everyone they know "how hard aquariums are to keep," thereby discouraging others from getting into the hobby. There are hundreds of species that will do well in aquaria. We feel there is no reason to sell species that have a history of being difficult. It isn't fair to the aquarium owner, and it is especially unfair to the fish!

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What is a reasonable guarantee on fish and other livestock bought in an aquarium store?

This is a great but loaded question that is very difficult to answer. Any answer we give will be loved by some and loathed by others. Unlike furred and feathered pets that can be examined by a veterinarian, there is a greater degree of uncertainty when it comes to determining the health of an aquarium fish. Many aquarium retail stores nationwide have reduced the length of time for which they will guarantee fish and other aquarium livestock, especially for marine specimens.
Almost all of the stores in our area have some sort of guarantee on freshwater fish, and a very limited guarantee, if any, on marine fish. Some stores in our area will not guarantee saltwater specimens at all. Others will only guarantee marine fish on a case-by-case basis, or will only guarantee that the specimens are healthy and feeding well at the time of sale. Nearly all aquarium stores require a sample of water from the customer's tank for testing before they will honor a guarantee. Since almost all stores give a guarantee on freshwater fish, this question really applies mostly to marine fish.
To answer this question honestly, it is important to look at the issue of fish guarantees from both sides. Aquarists invest a lot of money in their aquariums and the aquatic animals they keep. Some shop at the same store for everything they buy for their hobby. They feel that their aquarium store should stand behind everything they sell, including livestock. There is nothing more disheartening than to see that beautiful (and expensive) saltwater fish dying in your aquarium only two days after you bought it, knowing that the store that sold it will not replace the specimen because they don't guarantee marine fish. Many inexperienced hobbyists have been the victims of stores that just want to sell and don't ask any questions to determine whether a particular specimen is right for the customer's aquarium. Although we believe that it is ultimately the responsibility of the hobbyist to learn about their aquariums, we also believe that there are stores out there that would do more business if they sold with integrity.
Fish guarantees are a double-edged sword for the aquarium store. If they give a guarantee, they may run the risk of replacing many fish that died through carelessness on the part of the customer who, for example, knowing the guarantee exists, may not acclimate the fish properly, or buys too many or incompatible fish. If they don't offer a guarantee, they may risk losing an excellent customer who fully supports that store.
Once upon a time, an aquarium store could make more money selling fish than it could selling dry-goods and aquarium equipment. Times have changed, and now the profit margin for livestock sales is rapidly dropping. The wholesale cost of many fish has increased dramatically. However, the price an aquarium store can charge for a fish has not and cannot be increased at the same ratio as the rising cost of that fish. If the store were to mark up the price of the fish so they were making the same percentage they were a few years ago, THEY WOULDN'T SELL ANY FISH! Fish that used to be sold at a 300% mark up are now being sold at a 100% mark up. Maintaining aquariums is one of the greatest operating expenses of an aquarium store. The electrical cost alone can be staggering for many modern retail aquarium systems. Store fish losses have decreased overall with the advent of better shipping and collection methods, but many aquarium stores still lose far more fish in one month than a single hobbyist will lose in a lifetime of fish-keeping.
Large pet store chains and wholesale internet/mail-order businesses, with their greater buying power, have badly hurt the business of many a neighborhood aquarium store by charging much lower prices for dry items and fish than the small aquarium business can afford to match. Many hobbyists, in an effort to save money, now buy their dry goods and aquarium equipment from these less-expensive sources and only buy their fish from their local aquarium store. Unfortunately for the store, they must offer the same guarantee to everyone, including those customers that buy only fish from that store.
Guarantee fraud has also increased, so that many fish customers cannot be trusted to be honest about why "the fish died," choosing to blame the store when for example, they went out to eat the night they bought the fish, leaving it in the car on a cold winter night for two hours. And then, where does a store offering a guarantee draw the line? Many stores that offer a twenty-four hour guarantee have to put up with the customer who brings in a dead fish three days later, but claims that the fish died the day after they bought it.
So what's reasonable? The answer depends on the store. We feel that all aquarium stores should offer some type of guarantee on all the fish they sell. A twenty-four hour guarantee will usually cover fish lost due to the stress of handling and transport, but will not cover an internal problem that cannot be detected until a few weeks after purchase. Here, it's usually a case of "buyer beware."
The hobbyist should help prevent losses by using caution when buying fish, not over-stocking their aquarium, practicing good aquarium maintenance, learning all they can about the hobby, and most importantly, being honest with the store regarding the number and types of fish in the aquarium to prevent incompatibility and over-stocking problems. It is also up to all aquarists to support their local aquarium store. Sure, that new filter may be less expensive from the wholesale or discount source (including The Aquarium Professionals Group's Web site), but your local aquarium store is where you go for help with your aquarium, and they sell quality fish that you can see before you buy. Providing advice costs money. If all you buy from a store is their fish, then don't be surprised one day when you desperately need help with your aquarium and the sign in their window reads: "Out of Business."
The store can help prevent fraud and unnecessary replacement by developing firm guarantee policies, posting their guarantees clearly where they can be seen by all, training staff to ask the customer questions about their aquarium to prevent problems, refusing to sell specimens that are incompatible or will result in over-stocking a tank (selling with integrity), properly maintaining the store fish system, feeding fish prepared foods for customers to prove that a fish is well-acclimated to captivity, requiring customers to provide a water sample from the aquarium for testing, both before a fish is sold, and when a loss is to be replaced, and not setting precedents by replacing fish "but only for you because you're such a good customer" outside of the guarantee period.
To answer the obvious question that has been burning on your lips as you read: The Aquarium Professionals Group guarantees all livestock it sells for two weeks after we introduce it into a client's aquarium, but we too have some limited restrictions on our fish guarantees. We can afford this great guarantee because we insist on total control over the client's aquarium environment. We also determine what fish specimens are kept in our client's aquariums. Our clients do not touch their aquariums except to feed the fish and top-off the water for evaporation. We do all the maintenance so we are assured that the water conditions in the aquarium are optimal.

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My aquarium store has a 24 hour guarantee on livestock, but will not replace a fish that died the day after I bought it. Why is this and what can I do about it?

This question raises many other questions: Did the store refuse to provide you with a reasonable explanation as to why they wouldn't replace the fish? Did you notify the store of the loss within 24 hours after you purchased the fish? Is your aquarium water quality good? Is your aquarium under-stocked? Did you make sure the fish was compatible with the existing fish in your tank before you bought it? Did you follow the store's instructions for acclimating the fish to your aquarium? Did you wait an appropriate amount of time between new-fish-introductions (usually at least 2 weeks) to prevent ammonia peaks? Are you sure that none of your existing fish killed the new fish you want replaced?
If you can honestly answer "YES" to all of these questions, then the store probably owes you a fish.
Remember that you, as the consumer, are ultimately responsible for making sure that you first do everything in your power to prevent a loss, before and after you buy a fish. While good aquarium stores will usually ask you some questions about your aquarium before they sell you fish, it is also up to you to ask questions too. Ask if the specimen is compatible with your aquarium community. Inform the person waiting on you of the size of your aquarium, what and how many fish you have in your tank, and with what filtration the aquarium is equipped. Provide the store with any and all information necessary for them to help you make good decisions about your fish purchases. This way, you leave nothing to chance.
If you are satisfied that you've done your part, and, despite reasoning with them, the store still refuses to honor their guarantee, then you have no choice but to consider not shopping there anymore. If the store is in the wrong and they aren't honoring their policies, chances are they're doing the same to many other hobbyists. If this is the case, the store won't be in business for very long.

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We bought a marble molly approx 8 weeks ago. Yesterday she gave birth to 7 babies. What is the gestation period for mollies?

Depending on the individual species, Mollies have a gestation period between 28 to 36 days. Based on the number of fry you have, we would say this is a young female. typical broods are usually between two to three dozen.

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I was shocked to see the Beta display in a WalMart store this week. The fish are in plastic cups with lids. They did not have room to move, and they were barely covered with water. The manager said they were shipped that way, and they sold so quickly that it didn't matter. He also said that these small bowls were good to keep these fish in permanently. Can you please tell me if this is correct?

What the store manager said is PARTLY true. Bettas occur in the wild in stagnant bodies of water (large puddles and rice paddies) and possess a labyrinth organ by which they can extract air at the surface of the water. They are not very active fish except when two males are fighting or when they breed. As Bettas do not get along well with many aquarium fish, they are usually displayed in stores in small bowls to conserve space. There are specialized Betta displays that do provide better quarters in less space, and perhaps you could persuade the store to use one of these displays. They will be able to display more fish in less space and will sell healthier fish as well. Tiny Betta bowls in stores require daily water changes, and these display units do not require these water changes as they have integrated filtration. The best and easiest way to affect a change in the way animals are treated in stores is to provide a solution that works better and costs less than the method the store is already using. Complain by all means, but suggest a viable alternative or you will not be taken seriously. Keeping Bettas in samll bowls for a short period of time will not harm them, but the person that buys a Betta should keep them in a MUCH larger bowl (2 gallons minimum), or keep it in an aquarium which contains peaceful community fish that will not stress the Betta and which does not have a lot of water movement.

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I went to PetSmart last night and i saw lots of common goldfish. Is a grey common goldfish healthy.

All goldfish go through at least one color change throughout life. More commonly, they undergo several as they grow older (and they can be very long lived). As babies, they are all grey and grow into the more familiar gold colors as juveniles.

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I am buying fish for my 15 gallon tank, i don't know which one to choose? Are goldbarbs tropical? can you keep them in a 15 gallon tank?If you can how much?

You can keep Gold Barbs, and I would suggest 2 or 3 for your 15 gallon aquarium. Have you seen any of the Dwarf Gouramis--one of those would be excellent, in my opinion. Perhaps one small Cory Cat, and perhaps a small school (6 or 8) of your favorite peaceful Tetra.

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Can clownfish live with Seahorses?

Sorry, not generally.

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Frequent Aquarium Questions