Mad @ Texas Tropicals

[scuba_steveo]

I was just at Texas Tropicals and they just received a shipment and everything was floating in their bags. I saw they were not acclimating their fish, shrimp, and crabs but very few LFS do so I did not say anything. But then I saw a pretty red linkia sitting in a bag. I told one on the employees, "you know that has to be acclimated or it will die, just like this blue one". Already in the tank was a dead blue linkia that they had received on their prior shipment. He said that he knew that but the owner did not care because it would probably live long enough to sell. That just ****es me off so bad. They know the linkia will die but they do not care because they will sell it and it will die in one of our tanks. I just cannot believe this. Ophiura, who is a starfish expert, says that linkia are the most demanding starfish when it comes to acclimation. They need 4+ hours of slow drip acclimation and perfect water parameters to survive. So my question, does anyone have a linkia from Texas Tropicals that has survived?

[RobertG]

Steve, Dont shop there anymore. It just goes to show that a store can be judged by its enviornment. First impressions are everything to me, & they failed from the get go.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Robert

[::pete::]

Whew ... nice vent ;)

I have not been impressed with them in the past and even more so after getting back!!!

On a different subject I can honestly say they dont necessairly need a long drip and acclimation ... come look!! :-D One year+ and a 1200 mile trip into PC and then to MH. Lucky I guess.

[Tim Marvin]

Very lucky.

[GaryP]

That might explain why I've never been able to keep one alive. Not just from Texas Tropical. I've made a couple of attempts.

Gary

[::pete::]

I dont want to steal the thread, but after hours of driving and it being early in the am it went to the holding tank ... couple days later it went to the show tank without acclimation.

[Reef69]

I have to agree, linkias are very demanding from the beginning, if you dont acclimate them carefully they start to decompose in the bag...pretty nasty, lost one that way back when i first started this reefing deal...and have to agree with Steve, thats pretty Sh...ty....how they will know the animals will die and just want to make a sell..We all know if they are going to live or die since we have been into this for a while, but new reefers should really becareful and get a good eye for situations like that...

[scuba_steveo]

Pete I think you have the exception, there are some out there. I have done many searches into linkias after having two die on me. I then realized that even if I drip for days it will not matter because the store I bought it from just put it in their tank w/o acclimation. I read that the star can die a month later due to improper acclimation on day one.

[NaCl_H2O]

Guess I need to take exception to the start of this thread! I have always been very pleased with TX Tropical, esp. Yves! They have helped me a great deal with decent advice. Granted, they have some staff that are less helpful than others, but isn't that the case at every LFS? I don't buy a ton of livestock from TX, but what I have bought has always done well for me. Livestock really is not their focus - they do have great prices and stock of drygoods!

I wonder if the guy Steve talked to had just been chewed out by his boss and was "venting"?

Note to all: If you take all advice you get from LFSs as 100% accurate, you wil have one sorry a.. reef tank ;)

[scuba_steveo]

Actually this is not the case. The employee is a very good one and one we all like and have trusted for a while. He said he was very frustrated and was upset too. He had told the owner before that it was death to stars, especially linkia, to not acclimate. He asked me to talk to the owner but I was so ticked off after hearing what the employee had to say that I was afraid that I would explode on him. I too have been impressed in the past but for a while now I have been afraid to put any of their live stock in my tanks. I have seen too many diseases in their for sale tanks to buy any fish for them. But that still has not stopped me from going in and buying frozen foods and dry goods, until now.

[NaCl_H2O]

That's too bad - I haven't been in their store for a few weeks, I hope they aren't falling off - we need the retail competition in SA!

[mathias]

Ive had nothing but good luck with that location... seth, yeve, and chris... all good guys...

[::pete::]

Whew ... nice vent ;)

I have not been impressed with them in the past and even more so after getting back!!!

Sorry ... I was thinking ... AA even though it was typed TT. I read it right , but pictured the other.

I have never had a problem with TT and they have always been helpful in everyway.

[GaryP]

Remember that that same Linkia has gone through several transfers and acclimations. It was collected in the wild, moved to at least one holding area at or near the point of collection, shipped to a wholesaler, shipped to a retailer, and then finally to the purchaser's tank. Every step in this process could be traumatic and abusive. Its no wonder that some of the more sensitive critters have a high rate of mortality.

Gary

[scuba_steveo]

Even still I think you are missing the point. Starfish in general, especially the linkia, need a long slow acclimation or they face a very high likelihood of death. TT knows this and they do not care. That is the point. Yes, I am happy with their employees and I have always been happy with their service and they have been very helpful. But I was told, and not by a disgruntle employee, that they knew it needed a long acclimation and as long as it makes it long enough to sell that the owner did not care if it dies afterwards. That is the bottom line. Am I the only one that always sees dead stars in their tanks?

[dan]

yeve told me yesterday that he is leaveing TT in a few months to join the marines. sounds like he allready had his papers because he was going to hawaii for training. going to miss him there at TT.

[theedprado]

the only good livestock i have purchased there was left on consignment, anyone know who sells on consignment at TT?

[GaryP]

Yves as been trying to get into the Fire Dept. I guess that fell through and now he is going into the Marines. That's a shame as I felt he was about the only knowledgeable SW guy there.

Gary

[scuba_steveo]

He got into the fire department but has deciced on the marines instead because he believes it will be a better career. Yes, I will miss him there too. I think he was the voice of reason at the store.

[cvonseggern]

That's it for me...I will never shop at TT. I generally haven't gone there because it's far out of my way, and both Fin Addict and Aquatic Warehouse are closer, but that's the clincher. I have no need to support businesses with that attitude. It's crappy customer service, environmentally reprehensible, and just a bad attitude.

Thanks for the heads-up, Steve. I'll keep giving my business to Felipe & Sara instead :)

Chris

[scuba_steveo]

Chris, thanks for your support but I am not saying that we need to boycott TT. Instead, I think if enough people inform them about the importance of proper acclimation of starfish and other sensitive animals then there is a possibility that they will change their policy. Of course, I was so mad that I left w/o saying anything so I am really no help to the cause.
As far as Sarah and Felipe go, that is an example (and there are others) of people who care about more than a sell.

[Chip]

I've only bought fish from Aqua Dome, Aqua Tek and Petco (before I knew better and knew about lfs) and have never had a fish die on me without having it for at least a year. Except once I bought a Raccoon Butterfly from Aqua Dome that died overnight and Gary gave me another one even though the saltwater fish are not guaranteed. But, I have never bought a starfish from him so I can't comment on that.

[Ram_Puppy]

well, I think he will make a **** good marine. I will say only this, Texas Tropicals has had me conflicted for quite a while. I still go there, but can hardly ever bring myself to make a purchase. There is also another store uhh.. near San Antonio, totally opposite ethical track, won't even order linkias becayse they DONT want them to die on you.

[Jenn]

Steve, you're not the only one, I have seen them dead there too. Makes complete sense now.

Josh, that has got to be the craziest story of survival I have heard! :lol2:

[cvonseggern]

I'm not saying Steve told me to boycott TT :)

What I *am* saying is having heard statements like that from the owner of the business, I feel no need do business with him. I feel VERY strongly about the importance of responsible reefkeeping...done right, the aquarium hobby could be a powerful force for conservation. I only have to see how excited my kids get about marine animals, having experienced them firsthand in their home, to realize this. Done badly, we can be immensely destructive to these beautiful and vital ecosystems.

I don't think that we have the opportunity to inform this individual about the importance of acclimation. It's clear from theoriginal post that he's well aware of this importance to the health of the animal and doesn't care. That really burns me. Therefore, my conscience dictates that I will not support this LFS owner in his irresponsible practices, that's all.

Chris

[rocketeer]

One thing I have always liked about TT is that they have been willing to sell my extra corals on consignment many times. AA wouldn't let me do that easily. I haven't tried the others.

That starfish story really has me concerned though. Talking to them may not help because it sounds to me like they know exactly what they are doing.

If anybody from TT reads these forums, I'd like to hear their side of the story.

Jack

[blueboy]

i certainly hope someone from TT reads this! if simple decency doesn't appeal to this guy, $ probably will. i've never been there, and never will. there are simply too many good LFS's that need our buisiness to support these sorts of practices.

[bckey]

I purchased my 75 rr tank from Yves. I enjoyed talking with him. I can picture him in the marines though. He'll make a good one.