How do you acclimate your fish?

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by Tangster

I will put them in a small black bucket like some seachem stuff is packed in this is to allow them to clam down. I let them set there for 1/2 or so then I simply take my hand and easy like slide it up under the fish and they all always just lay quiet and almost go limp I then with fish in my palm easily lay them into the tanks water.. Then they will slowly swim off and they stay calm and not dive right for the rocks.. They will swim about and just blend in.. Thats is how I acclimate LOL I never worry about the temps as they are very close room 75 tank 78 I think its the lack of stress and clam way I put them into the water makes more of a difference. I even Have the Boss here doing it that way now (:

1,We're not releasing large mouth bass here are we ? , ( i disagree on the 75 to 78 degree "no diffrence" method ? )
temp "numbers" are there for a reason, and 3 to 4 degrees is a significant change in temp for a small fish ( it's called shocking )
2, I DONT ever suggest "holding some fish "in-hand" specialy lions,tangs,etc.
or what have you, you run a large risk of being injured your self' or having the "fish carpet dive" .

3, seems normal to just put in a "plastic dip can" that the pet shops have and then pour fish and water into that OR if possible or put bag in tank water for atleast 30/45 mins. then "drip" water in over a period of about 30 mins to
get the fish comfy with salinity / ph/alk in your tank.

Further more>
That' may be the "old school' 90 year old way but most assuridly not mine..

[cuttingras]

I agree totally with Wildreef and doesn't handling the fish harm their slime coat? The only time I ever touch a fish is when my e.g. rubs on my fingers

[Zectra]

I totally agree with wildreef on this one. Who in the heck would grab a saltwater fish with their hands? More power to you if you think you would better off grabbing a tang/lionfish or any sort like that.

[sean_p_f]

i normally just float the bag as i put other stuff away i bought on my outing then into the tank they go.. I am however going to try tangsters method here in the near future if for nothing else just to see for myself how it works out.

[Godbert]

when i drip i use an air pump to account for 02 depletion, i think tangsters method is very intriguing thoug, i woulndt try it with anything that can sting buy i think it may make the fish more used to human interaction... probably going to try it soon

[wildreef]

yalls funeral ' ' the less "hand's on" the better . what people don't realize here is "the novice" person stoping by and seeing how to do this , there by maybe causing inflicted injury.
we "all" have to remember "some of us" are experianced here and most are not ,
and suggesting we "hold" these fish in any way is a BAD idea.


The the less we meddle with our tank ,fish . etc THE BETTER'! ( imo )

as well known round here " GO SLOW LET IT GROW" and quit "meddling with this stuff.
WE ( humans ) have only just discovred and begun to keep salt water organisms in our homes.
and all of a sudden "we think" by handling them "more" we will succeed ?

GO slow don't "rattle" or "jar" the bags / holding tank" , light off when possible, and "slip" the fish off as EASY as possible
( and temp as near as possible to 'bag/tank water )
cant even "recall" how many fish /inverts/corals , etc. i have seen from others die' cause "i think i need to do somthing more such as touch it/put more "snake oils" in the tank..

GOD only knows how much w'eve screwed up in this "diverse world" seems when ever we start putting our hands on it
it go's to the "deep six"..

My self or any one cant even compare to the millions of years of evalution of the marine world/nature,etc.

[amcarrig]

Wildreef. The "old" jokes are getting a bit "old" and I don't mean that in a funny way. As to whether or not it's "natural" or "safe" for a fish to be handled the way Tangster and I do, it's much more preferable to us than using a net or adding the store's tank water to our tank. Just because it's not something you would do doesn't mean that it's a bad method. If you don't want to do it, don't. Simple enough.

For those who want to try it, don't grab or hold or squeeze the fish. If you read Tangster's method, he says that he gently lifts the fish out of the bucket with an open palm. If you grab the fish, you're doing it wrong.

[Executivelevel]

usually just float em, then pour them in, havent had any problems as of yet(knocking on wood as i type) with more delicate stuff i float em, then add some of my water every 10 minutes for a while.

[phoenixhieghts]

Originally Posted by Executivelevel

usually just float em, then pour them in, havent had any problems as of yet(knocking on wood as i type) with more delicate stuff i float em, then add some of my water every 10 minutes for a while.

Same here - gonna have to admit i've never acclimatised anything for longer then half an hour (except crabs etc..) So im always bemused when people acclimatise over 3 hour periods!

[baugherb]

I think tangster and amcarrig way is amazing... Just don't know if I'd have the ----s to try it......