Unwanted Livestock--Suggestions Welcome

[howman1]

We all probably have this issue arise.

Currently, I have a large tomato clown who needs a new home, should I bring him to an LFS or sell him on the Reefkeepers marketplace?

I don't know which is better. The LFS take the livestock (if they are healthy) off my hands for store credit....but they don't really want to...at least that is my impression, and life is hard enough for an LFS that maybe they don't need to give additional favours.
Last month, I sold a large green brittle star to an LFS for credit. What I received was fair, but I felt guilty--he wanted my business but not my livestock--I can't blame them.


Or, I can sell it to a fellow hobbyist for short money.

Unlike coral, which I have learned there is a nice trade/commerce between hobbyist, second hand fish are more difficult.

What do most of you do out there?

 

[loonz]

Maybe you could set them free??If you happen to live near a reef,that is..

 

[JennM]

Depends....did you buy the unwanted livestock from that LFS? If you did, and they allow trade ins, IMO that's ok. If you bought it elsewhere, then it is a bit unfair to expect them to take it off your hands, you should trade it in where you bought it.

If that's not possible, perhaps your local aquarium club or frag traders assocation.

No club?

Start one!!

*I* did!

JennM
Atlanta Reef Club

 

[danmhippo]

If the value is less than $30, usually, I will just give them back to my LFS, and hoping the critter will find a better home to stay. Don't expect too much in return from LFS for doing this....remember, they are doing you a favor!

 

[gazpep]

The couple of times I've had the problem I just phoned the LFS and offered to give the fish to them, didn't ask for credit...but they remember you as a regular and give discounts etc when you buy more stuff.

 

[jimbo]

My LFS took back my overgrown 5-year-old Snowflake Moray when I converted to reef. (sniff). When it didn't sell after 3 months, they waited till they got a SW shipment and told the distributor it was sent to them in error. And back it went. My hope is that, by this method, it went all the way back to the Phillipines.

 

[danmhippo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gazpep:
<STRONG>The couple of times I've had the problem I just phoned the LFS and offered to give the fish to them, didn't ask for credit...but they remember you as a regular and give discounts etc when you buy more stuff.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree totally. My LFS treat me like a family........or is it because of my $$? I think, through out all these years, their walls bears my name on it!

 

[davelin315]

C'mon hippo, you know they love you, after all, without your money, they'd only have 3 walls and thatch roof!

Sorry, forgot to address the thread. Give them to a friend or a fellow hobbyist. Unless you're really hard up for cash, which I don't think is that possible with all the money we put into our tanks, it's better to pass him off to someone else for free and foster a good relationship.

[ September 05, 2001: Message edited by: davelin315 ]

 

[gazpep]

To illustrate my point, I've taken the odd fish back from time to time, perfectly healthy but grew too big, not reef friendly or something like that..... I just phoned the LFS and asked would you take the fish off my hands. Yes, no problem. Now when I go in and say I'll have that coral and that piece of LR (for example) the guys get them for me....adds it up, say $50.00 retail..that'll be $35.00. I don't even ask for a discount. I have saved a lot on the stuff in my reef, more than I could expect as a credit on the return of the fish. Just for being a nice customer...

 

[JohnD]

I haven't gone down this road, but...

Why not put the fish up for sale at the marketplace? If you don't want to ship, then list local pickup only. Another interested hobbyist (and fellow board member) will get a great fish, the fish will get a great new home, and you will have one less critter to worry about. Everybody wins.