"Introduction Cage" for new arrivals

[David]

Hello Folks,
I noticed at the local city aquarium last week that when new arrivals
are introduced into a display tank they are enclosed in a cage for a
period of time, to allow all of the participants to become acquainted
with each other, while at the same time preventing the territorial
owners from attacking them. It reminded me that I used to use this
same technique myself, with marine reef fish that I would catch when I
lived in the S. Pacific. But I have never heard of any freshwater
aquarists doing this. Is there a particular reason? Or is it just
considered unnecessary? I have read so many posts in the NG about
species aggression that it would seem like this might be an effective
approach. Any thoughts or opinions?

[Elaine T]

David wrote:
> Hello Folks,
> I noticed at the local city aquarium last week that when new arrivals
> are introduced into a display tank they are enclosed in a cage for a
> period of time, to allow all of the participants to become acquainted
> with each other, while at the same time preventing the territorial
> owners from attacking them. It reminded me that I used to use this
> same technique myself, with marine reef fish that I would catch when I
> lived in the S. Pacific. But I have never heard of any freshwater
> aquarists doing this. Is there a particular reason? Or is it just
> considered unnecessary? I have read so many posts in the NG about
> species aggression that it would seem like this might be an effective
> approach. Any thoughts or opinions?

I've seen it done with African Cichlids in freshwater. Those are really
the only FW fish that are kept in communities that are similarly
aggressive to reef fish.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[David]

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 03:11:00 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>David wrote:
>> Hello Folks,
>> I noticed at the local city aquarium last week that when new arrivals
>> are introduced into a display tank they are enclosed in a cage for a
>> period of time, to allow all of the participants to become acquainted
>> with each other, while at the same time preventing the territorial
>> owners from attacking them. It reminded me that I used to use this
>> same technique myself, with marine reef fish that I would catch when I
>> lived in the S. Pacific. But I have never heard of any freshwater
>> aquarists doing this. Is there a particular reason? Or is it just
>> considered unnecessary? I have read so many posts in the NG about
>> species aggression that it would seem like this might be an effective
>> approach. Any thoughts or opinions?
>
>I've seen it done with African Cichlids in freshwater. Those are really
>the only FW fish that are kept in communities that are similarly
>aggressive to reef fish.

Hi Elaine,
I've read all this discussion about bettas and their different
personalities, not just of themselves but in interacting with other
species as well. I'm wondering if this technique might possibly save
a lot of aquarist-angst in tank-matching with them? You have bettas,
and I am just learning about them myself, with a couple recently
acquired. I really don't know anything at all about African Cichlids,
but do you think it might be worth a try with bettas?

How did you end up handling your betta vacation care issue? (I will
be needing to address this same problem soon.)

[Elaine T]

David wrote:
> On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 03:11:00 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>David wrote:
>>
>>>Hello Folks,
>>>I noticed at the local city aquarium last week that when new arrivals
>>>are introduced into a display tank they are enclosed in a cage for a
>>>period of time, to allow all of the participants to become acquainted
>>>with each other, while at the same time preventing the territorial
>>>owners from attacking them. It reminded me that I used to use this
>>>same technique myself, with marine reef fish that I would catch when I
>>>lived in the S. Pacific. But I have never heard of any freshwater
>>>aquarists doing this. Is there a particular reason? Or is it just
>>>considered unnecessary? I have read so many posts in the NG about
>>>species aggression that it would seem like this might be an effective
>>>approach. Any thoughts or opinions?
>>
>>I've seen it done with African Cichlids in freshwater. Those are really
>>the only FW fish that are kept in communities that are similarly
>>aggressive to reef fish.
>
>
> Hi Elaine,
> I've read all this discussion about bettas and their different
> personalities, not just of themselves but in interacting with other
> species as well. I'm wondering if this technique might possibly save
> a lot of aquarist-angst in tank-matching with them? You have bettas,
> and I am just learning about them myself, with a couple recently
> acquired. I really don't know anything at all about African Cichlids,
> but do you think it might be worth a try with bettas?
>
> How did you end up handling your betta vacation care issue? (I will
> be needing to address this same problem soon.)

Hard to know about a trap and bettas. You can't tell what is going to
go after those flowing fins. I had cardinal tetras (which I think of as
an extremely peaceful fish) immediately go after a red betta I put in a
community tank once.

As for vacation, I ended up putting the young shubunkin that was in my
little 2 gallon cycled quarantine/hospital tank into the pond a bit
sooner than I planned since s/he looked healthy. A quick cleaning and
100% water change and the betta went into the quarantine tank for the week.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[David]

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 07:49:13 GMT, Elaine T >
wrote:

>> Hi Elaine,
>> I've read all this discussion about bettas and their different
>> personalities, not just of themselves but in interacting with other
>> species as well. I'm wondering if this technique might possibly save
>> a lot of aquarist-angst in tank-matching with them? You have bettas,
>> and I am just learning about them myself, with a couple recently
>> acquired. I really don't know anything at all about African Cichlids,
>> but do you think it might be worth a try with bettas?
>>
>> How did you end up handling your betta vacation care issue? (I will
>> be needing to address this same problem soon.)
>
>Hard to know about a trap and bettas. You can't tell what is going to
>go after those flowing fins. I had cardinal tetras (which I think of as
>an extremely peaceful fish) immediately go after a red betta I put in a
>community tank once.

You have hit upon my point precisely! What I am wondering is, with
all of your hands-on experience, (which I don't have), do you think
that there might have been any difference in the tetras' behaviour if
you had put the betta in an introduction cage for, say, a week or two,
before releasing him into the community?
>
>As for vacation, I ended up putting the young shubunkin that was in my
>little 2 gallon cycled quarantine/hospital tank into the pond a bit
>sooner than I planned since s/he looked healthy. A quick cleaning and
>100% water change and the betta went into the quarantine tank for the week.

Glad it worked. By quick cleaning, do you mean a thorough antiseptic
cleaning; or do you mean vacuuming, but preserving the cycled
properties of the tank?

[Elaine T]

David wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 07:49:13 GMT, Elaine T >
> wrote:
>
>
>>>Hi Elaine,
>>>I've read all this discussion about bettas and their different
>>>personalities, not just of themselves but in interacting with other
>>>species as well. I'm wondering if this technique might possibly save
>>>a lot of aquarist-angst in tank-matching with them? You have bettas,
>>>and I am just learning about them myself, with a couple recently
>>>acquired. I really don't know anything at all about African Cichlids,
>>>but do you think it might be worth a try with bettas?
>>>
>>>How did you end up handling your betta vacation care issue? (I will
>>>be needing to address this same problem soon.)
>>
>>Hard to know about a trap and bettas. You can't tell what is going to
>>go after those flowing fins. I had cardinal tetras (which I think of as
>>an extremely peaceful fish) immediately go after a red betta I put in a
>>community tank once.
>
>
> You have hit upon my point precisely! What I am wondering is, with
> all of your hands-on experience, (which I don't have), do you think
> that there might have been any difference in the tetras' behaviour if
> you had put the betta in an introduction cage for, say, a week or two,
> before releasing him into the community?

I'm not the person to ask about bettas in communities, really. I've
kept a betta for many years, but after the cardinal tetra disaster I
bought a 2 gallon hex and heater and that's where my male bettas live.
Sometimes, if I have spare room in a community tank, I'll try putting
something in with the betta. If the mix doesn't work, the fish go into
the community.

As for my cardinals turned pihrana, I believe that would have happened
with or without a trap. I think it was an "ooh - food!" kind of
reaction. I was able to put a red cambodian female betta into the same
tank with no problems so short red fins were not food.
>
>>As for vacation, I ended up putting the young shubunkin that was in my
>>little 2 gallon cycled quarantine/hospital tank into the pond a bit
>>sooner than I planned since s/he looked healthy. A quick cleaning and
>>100% water change and the betta went into the quarantine tank for the week.
>
>
> Glad it worked. By quick cleaning, do you mean a thorough antiseptic
> cleaning; or do you mean vacuuming, but preserving the cycled
> properties of the tank?
>
I rinsed everything and cleaned all the mulm out of the thin layer of
pea gravel, but left the clump of java moss and sponge filter untouched.
If a fish is healthy after quarantine (usually 3 weeks, but this one
went for 2) I don't worry about disinfecting the tank. IMO, there's not
much point, since the fish is going into one of the display tanks with
all its bacteria, parasites, and virii anyway.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><