DP Tropicals

DP TROPICALS WHOLESALE / QUARANTINE PROCEDURES

Within DP Tropicals Wholesale we import and quarantine all of our fish before supplying small to medium sized pet shops and aquatic outlets with quality fish and aquatic plants.
We also offer a consolidated shipping service to larger Aquatic outlets too.
Of course DP Tropicals supplies its sister business Ely Aquatic Centre with fish and plants.

Our fish come from varied sources from all over the world but ones thing is for certain if the fish are not fit and are not feeding they are not for sale.

We will deliver within a 70 mile radius of Ely, Cambs, but Cash & Carry" customers are welcome by appointment.
Cash & Carry customers will be required to provide us with an up to date Pet Shop Licence before purchasing.

Please phone or fax us 01353 668880 for more details

Quarantine Procedures

Most fish arrive into the UK from other countries in a totally different water chemistry, i.e., the pH is different and the water could either be a lot harder or a lot softer.

Here at DP Tropicals we get a tank ready for a certain species of fish and try to get the water chemistry as close as we can to the water they will arrive in.

48 hours after arriving in our tanks we start doing gradual water changes with 'tap' water to slowly acclimatise the fish into our local water (pH 7.5-7.8). This is a gradual process which happens slowly over a period of a few days to ensure the fish do not get too stressed. Unless the fish is more delicate such as Discus which require a low pH, if that is the case they stay in a lower pH and we advise potential buyers when the fish go on sale.

Meanwhile the day after arriving the fish are offered a small amount of food, either flaked, pelleted or frozen food depending species and where they originated from, i.e., wild caught Cardinal tetras would be offered bloodworm to begin with and slowly brought on to flake foods.

Of course whilst all this is happening the fish are constantly being monitored for diseases such as white spot, fungus, fin rot and flukes. If any of the fish break out with any disease or parasite they are treated immediately, and because we only keep one species of fish per quarantine tank, disease transfer is kept to a minimum.

Once the fish are well, feeding and are in similar water conditions to our local water, they are then offered for sale.

The complete Quarantine process takes a minimum of 7 days and can last as long as 3 weeks - it all depends on how the fish adapt.