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View Full Version : 12/18/07 The day of Arrival!!



phidelt85
12-18-2007, 11:25 AM
Finally got my lazy butt out of bed at 9am; I gotta continue cutting up all the tree fall from the ice storm. Just checked the FedEx tracker. They've been on the truck since 8:14 this morning (so ~45min.) en route to my place before 10:30am. I don't know if they'd make a special trip out here; Fedex normally comes around here between 1-4pm.

I'm getting too anxious. I need a sedative!! :D

brewmaster15
12-18-2007, 11:32 AM
Jose,
They need to deliver it inthe am...it was paid for as priority... but you need to watch for that truck... they'll leave it outside if you are not there for the truck.

-al

phidelt85
12-18-2007, 12:36 PM
They're here!! They got here at 950am. It's bitter sweet though. I acclimated them for temp. I dropped and plopped them in, and 4 of the 6 or on the bottom flat. I lowered the level down and added another airstone. Wait and see, I guess.

Pics to come later.

brewmaster15
12-18-2007, 12:44 PM
be patient Jose... They should spring back... you may want to add salt at 1 tablespoon per 10 gals... for the stress.

-al

Ryan
12-18-2007, 12:59 PM
I always just turn the lights off and leave them alone for a while. They'll usually be up and swimming by the end of the day :) Glad they made it!

Tropical Haven
12-18-2007, 03:14 PM
Glad to hear that you recieved them, post pics as soon as you can. :D

AADiscus
12-18-2007, 05:03 PM
Hang in there Jose.

pcsb23
12-18-2007, 05:06 PM
fingers crossed Jose.

Seastep
12-18-2007, 05:07 PM
I may have my work cut out for me too..... 4 pm here and still no delivery.

I'm trying to stay patient, but I confess the last hour or so I've started to curse Fed Ex.......

brewmaster15
12-18-2007, 05:21 PM
Scott,
when I call 2 minutes ago they said it will be delivered today...and blame the WEATHER for delays.:mad: So much for priority morning delivery..


This has not been going well.

-al

renae
12-18-2007, 05:43 PM
Hi Jose.. be patient they will be fine..give them time to recover..
Al and everyone else whose shipment has been delayed I know exactly how use feel..Hope everything works out for all of you.

Good Luck with them Jose!

poconogal
12-18-2007, 05:46 PM
Every Fed Ex shipment I've gotten has been overnight priority, and has been delivered sometime in the afternoon, once when it was 15 degrees out with windchill of about 2 degrees. The Discus were fine, as Fed Ex had them in a delivery truck with heat. I'm sure your guys will be okay but I know how you feel, it's really upsetting!

two utes
12-18-2007, 06:22 PM
This is stressing me out! Hope it all works out for you. There isn't much you can do but wait at your front door.Good Luck Mate!
Jose , ,hope your fish are doing good, and GOOD LUCK!!!

phidelt85
12-18-2007, 08:30 PM
Well, I've been keeping busy cutting down and burning all the tree fall today. Thank goodness or I'd probably be going crazy just watching these guys. Initially, I had four laying flat on the bottom breathing heavily. I felt really bad.

I dropped the tank level to 50%. I had the pleasure of talking to Al and as he recommended I added salt to the tank to help with the stress. About 6 hours later I came back (mind you I was pokin' my head in to check on them every now and then) filled the tank with fresh water, added salt to the new water and lowered it back to 50%. As of 6pm there are three upright and three down. Of the three down there has been one that has been down the whole time with his tail curled. Takin' a page out of Karen's thread ;) I placed a towel over their tank more for me but to help them unwind as I'm in and out of that area.

With all the drama going on :D Here are some pics that I was able to take.

Wanted to take some pics of the FedEx lady bringin' them in but she caught me comin' out of the shower, so she just brought them in and I had her place them on the table. I left her a sign on the door asking her to bring them in :D
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03347.jpg
I popped the lid off the box and....dadgummit more unpacking :D
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03351.jpg
Here they are!!!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03352.jpg
Floatin' the bags. The bag water temp was actually 82*F and I had lowered the tank temp down to 83.7*, so I didn't acclimate for anymore than five minutes. I really wanted to get them out of the bags as a couple of them didn't look too happy
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03353.jpg
About 1.75". This little guy was about in the middle of the pack as far as size goes.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03354.jpg
And this is what has been upsettin' me. I feel bad for the buggers. I just want to feed them
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03355.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03356.jpg

KJoFan
12-18-2007, 08:43 PM
Aww Jose, poor little guys! I wonder though what is making them take awhile to come around? I only had one lay on the bottom for awhile, but they're all up now. Your bag water was 82 straight out of the box? That's pretty good! If mine was even 70 I'd be surprised, it was so cold!

You should have left a note for the FedEx lady to take a picture of herself with the box too! :D

phidelt85
12-18-2007, 09:52 PM
Aww Jose, poor little guys! I wonder though what is making them take awhile to come around? I only had one lay on the bottom for awhile, but they're all up now. Your bag water was 82 straight out of the box? That's pretty good! If mine was even 70 I'd be surprised, it was so cold!

You should have left a note for the FedEx lady to take a picture of herself with the box too! :D


I don't get it either, Karen. I'm glad yours turned out. Mine do have hope yet. Just before these pics 20min ago. Five were up and the sixth one was trying.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03362.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03361.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03360.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/cuervogold85/Discus%20Hobbyist%20Challenge%20Pics/12-18-2007/DSC03359.jpg

phidelt85
12-18-2007, 09:53 PM
Sorry for the off-center shots.

back 2 discus biz
12-18-2007, 10:04 PM
This has not been going well.

-al

Al,

I think it's going just like it should as these things happen in the real world and it seems to be fairly-well standardized across volunteers. The fish would beg to differ but I think it adds a bit trauma management excitement right from the git-go. You may be on to the next reality series!!!

The little guys are in great hands. I think the early obstacles help us near-newbies understand that even experienced discus keepers can be sent spinning. Many newbies that had this happen would immediately think they did something wrong and nuke the tank with everything at their disposal. This shows us that sometimes it's all just external circumstances.

I applaud the experiment/game/reality show. It's a great idea.

BTW, not that you needed to with this group, but did you outlaw hormones or other such things?

Game on!

AADiscus
12-18-2007, 10:06 PM
Remember Jose and everyone else, sometimes this happens. The best thing to do is lower the water level, maybe add a little salt, add'l air, turn light off and forget about them till tomorrow. No food.....NOTHING! If the water was a little cold then they are stressed, now they are being put in a new tank with different water parameters. They just need to settle down. Give them time.

Ryan
12-18-2007, 10:20 PM
I agree with Angela. Don't add any food or water. Keep the parameters as constant as possible. Flip the light off, leave the room, and see what happens in the morning.

I've had large discus that took a long time to come around. I once got some 5" heckel crosses that had a really traumatic shipping experience (box was damaged and the bags were almost completely empty) and they laid on the tank bottom for an entire day. I went to bed that night expecting the worst, but when I woke up they were up and swimming.

I would imagine that being tossed around in a box for almost two days is enough to stress out really young fish, coupled with the fact that they may have been through some temp swings depending on where the boxes sat (warm sorting facility, cold truck, into a warm tank, etc.).

I hope they pull through, Jose :thumbsup:

phidelt85
12-18-2007, 11:07 PM
Solid advice, Angela and Ryan!! I've already learned tons from just this day. This is the first shipment of fish I have ever received, so I really didn't know what to expect. Hoping for the best for me and for everyone else.

Al, again thank you for the opportunity; I know I will learn alot from this experience.

brewmaster15
12-19-2007, 09:55 AM
Jose,
Your most welcome!:)

Now ..the question is..How are my...I mean your kids;) doing today?

-al

phidelt85
12-19-2007, 01:42 PM
Looks like the start of a new thread to find out, Al. :D