pets tores, mollies and thamine

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Posted by bloomindaedalus on May 06, 2003 at 18:51:14:

In Reply to: pets tores, mollies and thamine posted by EdK on May 06, 2003 at 15:53:18:

"These are single shot treatments for a short period of time (which can then be repeated as necessary) and are removed either by precipitation and/or flushing the pond with fresh water. The fish in the stores that use stuff like some of the different fish savers usually do not limit the treatment time and the fish are kept continually in the copper until sold or they have died. (I have been in stores getting feeders to scent rodents and have had the employees tell me to discard the water due to copper.)"

hmmm.... you live in New Jersey right? Guess i won't buy fish there (he he) Its pretty standard in the aquarium world now to do partial water changes at regular intervals until the chemical should be goneif treatments of any kind are used and most copper based stuff is avoided even at the worst places. (this is my anecdotal evidence from working in the trade(as i recall you have) and talking to lots of retailers and some wholesalers in Maryland, New York, Florida and Arizona)but i guess it could still happen.

"Actually as I led to undestand it they are nutritionally better than goldfish as they do not have the bad fat ratios. Also several types of mollies regularly range into marine conditions and will survive and reproduce there."

Mollies are orginally brackish as i recall but they are tremendously hardy and acclimate well to varying degrees of water hardness and acidity as well as salinity. I don't think they are much less fatty than goldfish but i am sure we can find documentation somewhere.

:Many stores either minimally feed or do not feed all of the fish in stock depending upon the expected turnover rate as this keeps the water cleaner and reduces cost.
this seems like nonesense to me. Specialty feeder and animal drugged for transport are foten not fed for a day but that's about it. even the "idiots" feed their fish. I was reffering only to large feeder tanks.
:"All fish are not fed for at least 48 hours prior to shipping and are usually not fed until...."
This is also not always true. It may have been the standard long ago but now maerican fish farms that i have worked with do not observe it.

"As many fish originate in Singapore this can mean that the fish has not been fed for four to five days upon recipt while more locally produced fish such as goldfish may have been without food for at least 48 hours (Depending upon time at distributer-> wholsaler-> retailer-> you). "

This i can't comment on but it seems plausible.

:If concerns about starvation exist then the fish should be held for at least 48 hours and fed a good diet to replace lost fats and protiens.
I think much longer is better. For those of you with large collections, i recommend keeping "new feeders" for at least a few weeks. It will he;p sort out weak from strong stock and "fatten up" your fish (with essential nuitrients as well as fats)

: ":As far as go mollies, these are as good or bad as goldfish."

gambusia.... I try to use mostly native american fishes for american native herps....makes me feel better.

:"Sounds like Fundulus species."
No. I had used fundulus olivaceus for a while but found they couldn't adjust to the warmer temps i wanted to use as well (well not as consistently, statistically speaking) . I have been at this for aw hile and this new species (they are often mixed in with other species at the bait stores) seems termperature tolerant. One day i'll get a pic up to the killifish people.
glad you're still out there helping people.

-rob
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Follow Ups:

pets tores, mollies and thamine EdK 05/06/03 (3)
- goldfish are high in cholesterol EdK 05/08/03 (2)
  - dare i ask, "which kinds?" np bloomindaedalus 05/08/03 (1)
    - dare i ask, "which kinds?" np EdK 05/08/03 (0)