A lession learned

[crkinney]

Yesterday I read about Glass cats on this site. Neet fish.
While doing my husbanly duty and letting the wife wander very expensive stores, I went into the pet store.To my amazement they had 4 glass catfish. Only 4$ each so they came home with me.For two hours they floated in the tank until the temp equalized . The moment of realse came ,I made a cup of coffee and lit my pipe ,opened the bag and let them go.Before I sat down to watch two were dead one other was wounded ,I got him out but not in time [croak] the last one ran for it's life illuding me and his attackers ,Dam [croak] they got him .
The KILLERS were pot gut minnows[ mosquito fish] there are 15 in my tank. They have always been good tank mate to any thing . Who would have thunk that those cut little guys with their big belly were so aggressive.
Next time the newbe will have TEETH.

[naturalart]

Hello crkinney, sorry to hear about your loss. But don't be so quick to blame the minnows as the only culprit. Keeping any fish in a bag for 2 hours can be hazardous to the most hardiest of denizens. And glass cats aren't exactly bullit proof by any stretch of the imagination. The build up of ammonia over 2 hours could have put them in enough of a stupor that when the bag was opened, with ph, dissolved oxygen changes, etc., most of the cats were too dizzy to defend (take flight) themselves. And the ravenous gambusia, primed and triggered by ammonia/? went into a skin peeling frenzy.

Long-winded theoretical explanation for a simply harrowing experience. Again, sorry for your loss.

PS. The image of a group of shy and non-competitive glass cats hovering below a storm cloud of fast aggressive gambusia is hard to concieve of as the best combination. I would think getting enough food to the cats would be problematic at best.

[andywoolloo]

I am sorry that happenned. I ve always wanted to try those fish.

i try to get my fish out of the bag as soon as possible, soon as i get home i have them and the bag water in a fish bucket with a screen top lid and start slowly dripping tank water in.

i m always afraid to keep them in the bags very long, even tho i realize they do ship in bags and what not.

[MatsP]

I would definitely never keep fish longer in the bag than is necessary. I'm also aware that some shops do not have a huge experience in packing fish for long "stay". If you plan on keeping the fish in the bag for a long time (more than a couple of hours total time), then tell the shop, and they will help to pack the fish in a better way - bigger bag, a bit more water, more air, and/or fewer fish in the bag.

It doesn't take long to get the temperature equal between the bag and the tank - about 5-10 minutes unless there is a HUGE difference (and if there is a big difference, you probably want to make other arrangements to slowly establish the new temperature). Once the temperature is settled, you can start adding water from the tank - slowly, especially in the first few portions. The more of the tank water you have in the bag, the more like the tank it is, so you can add a bit more tank whater each time. Wait at least a couple of minutes between each portion of water.

But correctly packed, fish can last several hours in a bag with no problem, and when the fish are shipped from South America, Africa or Asia, they often sit in a bag for over 24 hours - even more at times. Of course, that's packed appropriately! A good exporter will do that right.

--
Mats

[crkinney]

Thanks guys .I guess I messed up.
I am slowly learning this stuff .and are slowly adding some cats.