Not sure if this is the right forum to post in but I've been debating whether or not to buy a yellow watchman goby/fish in general from online or my LFS. I bought a wild caught one last week from my LFS and it died the day after from stress/shock. It had been injured in the local fish store tank as it was with no sand and a bunch of bigger fish. Its fin were damaged. I told them about it and offered to get me another wild caught watchman for half the price (I bought it for $19). However, personally, after my first fish death, I want to buy a captive bred one online. My first 3 fish, a pair of clowns, and firefish were all from the LFS. My family is telling me I shouldn't buy online (tsmaquatics) since I have to pay more for the fish, as well as $25 just to ship. Do you guys think I should just try another one from the LFS?
Buying online vs LFS
- Thread starter LordNecro
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I would go with the LFS if you can. Shipping is hard to swallow unless your putting together a large order (also tough to swallow). Just skip on it if it looks beat up like the last one. Or talk with the owner tell them what you want maybe they can order one special and put it in a QT for you so it doesnt get messed up.
WiscoFishNut
Valuable Member
My preference is to buy all fish via LFS because you have the opportunity to observe the fish before buying. That being said, I wouldn't buy a fish that showed signs of injury or sickness unless the store offered a "rescue" discount.
Thanks! Yeah the cost of shipping and the fish being fished is whats stopping me. Yeah I've been talking to them about ordering me fish (a pink streaked wrasse), but I guess it depends on what their supplier has. I'll try asking about special QT
Yeah that was my bad I didn't pay enough attention to it while at the store. I was looking for it as they messaged me telling me they got one so I was really happy and wasn't expecting injury since the other 3 I purchased are all very healthy. But yeah guess this is a lesson for me. Been waiting for a yellow watcherman goby and pink streaked wrasse for a few weeks. Also the picture didn't show signs of injury
WiscoFishNut
Valuable Member
I've seen some posts on here by folks who's LFS would actually offer a discount for rescue type scenarios, so it wouldn't hurt to ask anyhow
TheStrangler
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My LFS rubbed me the wrong way years ago so I buy exclusively online now. What you're finding is absolutely correct, that its almost never worth it to buy a single fish online when you factor in shipping costs. When I find a fish I want, I don't get it, instead it goes on a "to buy" list until there are a handful of items on that list. $25 for shipping is a lot for one fish, but if you spread it across a fish, maybe a couple of corals, some small dry goods, etc, it may work out cheaper.
jeffrey750750
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I just back from one of my local fish stores to pick up a few filter socks. When I was walking around I spotted ich on so many fish, really disappointing. I've been ordering more and more online myself. Most all my supplies I go to brs.
Ruskin
Community Member
Im with a few others, my LFS is a joke and treats customers poorly. A place I've ordered online is excellent and I can't wait to order from them again... but shipping is costly for one item. Buy enough and its free so that helps. I guess it really depends on your LFS.
Yeah definitely. For me its hard since I have a 20 gallon nano that is only 2 months old so I am hesitant to add 2 fish at the same time. I waited until my cycle was done (a month) , then added my pair of clowns, the firefish two weeks after that, and the goby (now dead), another two weeks after. Also in my scenario, from my research since I'm a noob I see most people like tsmaquatics. I was considering liveaquaria but see a bunch of hate on them. Also tsmaquatics doesn't even have a pink streaked wrasse listing
Nanorock1970
Well-Known Member
I agree with the local fish store. If you have been a regular, they should be able to accommodate your request. They might even be able to get you a captive bred one depending on their supplier. I also second the extra cost of shipping. So do you want that fish that bad that your adding $25 above the cost of the fish? Or can you order other things from them to make the cost of shipping not be so much of your order.
Well I just started my reef tank 2 months ago so I'm definitely not a regular. I have been asking to order certain fish (yellow watchman goby and pink streaked wrasse) but I was told it depends on what their supplier has. I guess yellow watchmans are easier to come by. I did ask if they could get me a captive bred but I guess their supplier only does wild caught. And as for me personally yes I don't care about the shipping cost but its not all my choice. As you guys mentioned ordering multiple things is the way to go to justify the shipping cost but sadly that won't work for me
WiscoFishNut
Valuable Member
I got lucky and found a really good LFS here. There was another one in town that I would never consider buying fish from. The shop I go to is run by a husband and wife who do it as a hobby, not to make a living. They don't have the footprint/resources to sell a ton of high end corals, but they will always special order fish for me and make sure they're healthy before they'll sell em to me. I was over there last weekend and they had some bounce mushroom corals for crazy cheap. He got a killer deal and wanted to pass the discount on to his customers. They've got a customer in me for as long as they're in business.
Unfortunately not all shops are like that
Unfortunately not all shops are like that
Nanorock1970
Well-Known Member
any stores maybe not so local you could go to? I have a few within an hour drive. Obviously I do not frequent all of them all the time but if i am on the hunt, I will take the time to call and drive around.
Sounds like an amazing LFS! Well like I mentioned I just started going to a LFS but I'm pretty sure mine does it as a living. I haven't bought any coral from them yet as they don't have high end stuff like master or hg torch, stuff like that. It's really close to me, like 5 minutes away so its pretty convenient. Reviews on other LFS around the areas don't seem to good or are freshwater focusedI got lucky and found a really good LFS here. There was another one in town that I would never consider buying fish from. The shop I go to is run by a husband and wife who do it as a hobby, not to make a living. They don't have the footprint/resources to sell a ton of high end corals, but they will always special order fish for me and make sure they're healthy before they'll sell em to me. I was over there last weekend and they had some bounce mushroom corals for crazy cheap. He got a killer deal and wanted to pass the discount on to his customers. They've got a customer in me for as long as they're in business.
Unfortunately not all shops are like that
flabryth
Community Member
Allot of LFS's get their supply from the same sources as online stores... Liveaquaria is a major wholesaler in that area. the advantage of buying a fish in person is you get to see the fish first. if you are going to QT your fish as many advocate for then there really isn't much difference, yes you can see if it eats but as anyone can tell you that doesn't mean it will eat at home or that it means its going to survive at all.
This hobby is all about risks and you gauging what you are will to take as a loss. But remember these are living animals that you are gambling with. Respect them first and foremost, give them the best opportunity to thrive (not survive) in you tank. if you are not willing to make that commitment then you might have taken up the wrong hobby.
I honestly haven't considered that, thanks for the suggestion! When looking for a LFS I literally just searched LFS around me and the one I go to is pretty good, just this one bad time. I'll start looking around for fish stores farther away
Yeah I definitely understand that. Personally I don't QT my fish when most people advise people to do. As for me I live with my family so I don't get to call the shots. Even convincing them to allow me to get a nano tank was hard. They would definitely not allow another tank using electricity (even a tiny one). When I'm in or out of college then yeah ill QT my fish but that's not an option right now. As for risks and gauging yes I understand that. Obviously I care about my fish as the whole point of this thread is to lessen the chances of having another death and having my fish/coral thrive.
flabryth
Community Member
nice get what you can...I am not Qt'ing right now. this is a skill that I am going to learn. I am getting the equipment to do so for my 150 gallon build. I do use a uv filter for biological purpose and am installing one this weekend for algae. only loss 2 animals (both dwarf angels) both die really quick, so I suspect stress was the issue. they both were eating then poof next day dead. everything else in the tank is fine so I am going to really look into these animals a see what the deal is with them.
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