Canada Fish Help

[Chef Mateo]

Hi, I really wish I lived in the U.S.A. because of LiveAquaria. Does anyone know of a good online fish vendor in Canada. I've searched for a while but, found nothing even as half as good as liveaquria. Also, are there any good custom aquarium stores in Canada. If there are no cheep ones I may order from Custom Aquariums. Has anyone bought any of their tanks
Thanks.

 

[Nosaj82]

I have used Aquarium Illusions in Edmonton Alberta for my fish and have had nothin but success. They are a small business with experienced personal and great customer service. Link to there site is below.

https://www.aquariumillusions.com

 

[Chef Mateo]

I have used Aquarium Illusions in Edmonton Alberta for my fish and have had nothin but success. They are a small business with experienced personal and great customer service. Link to there site is below.

https://www.aquariumillusions.com

Looks like a very nice site with good stock. Wondering if they ship to outside of Alberta to B.C. couldn't find shipping on their website. Fish do look great with pretty good prices for Canada

 

[Cory]

What about jlaquatics? They are in bc.

 

[Chef Mateo]

What about jlaquatics? They are in bc.

Thank you so much hadn't discovered this site in my research.

 

[Kyl]

Where are you located?

 

[Chef Mateo]

Where are you located?

I live in B.C. (British Columbia) Canada

 

[Chef Mateo]

Hi, also could I add to this my stocking list just would like your opinions here it is:

Hi, I'm looking to have my first reef tank and I've done plenty of research but, would like to know your guys opinions on having certain fish in my tank. (I did have another post for 120 but, decided to switch to 180. It will be a 180. This tank will be more of a minimalist approach with only a few corals for this big of a tank although, I will have enough live rock for a dragonet. Each fish will be added month by month. I added the length in inches to the end of each fish.
No matter what getting:
2 Designer Clowns (most likely frostbite or snowflake) - 3"
1 Dragonet/Mandarin Goby (I understand the feeding challenges will try to purchase one already eating flake or frozen but, will get pods if not) - 4"
1 Green Clown Goby (could be cut from this list but, would love him) - 1.75"
1 Fairy Wrasse (most likely orange-back fairy wrasse, substitutes could be velvet multicolor, ruby head or bluehead) - 3.5", 5.5", 5", 5"

Inverts (I am getting):
Banded Coral Shrimp (would probably be this or flame hawkfish sadly)
Blood Red Fire Shrimp (same as above)
Tuxedo Urchin
Turban Snail
Nassarius Snail
Hermit Crabs (possibly depending on fish)

Corals/Anemones (I am getting):
Zoanthids (3 Types)
Spotted Mushroom (2)
Green Toadstool Mushroom Leather
Green Star Polyp
Long Tentacle Anemone (2)

Interested in:
Flame Hawkfish (was on my first stocking list but removed him because of my inverts but, would love 1) -4"
Flame Angelfish (again was on my stocking list just worried about reef compatibility) -4"
Dwarf Fuzzy Lion (not really sure bout this one just like the look but, there are a lot of risks) -7"
Other Reef Safe Wrasses (love the look of many of them just wouldn't want them to eat my inverts) -3"-7"
I do specifically like the Dusky Wrasse (but, am unsure of inverts and coral with that one)
Latticed Butterfly (really love it but probably will eat my corals) - 6"
Any type of Firefish (more of a filler fish would get if my preferred options couldn't work) - 3"
Would love a tang such as (Blonde)Naso Tang, Powder Blue or Achilles
Chalk Bass (same conditions as firefish) - 3"
Also any reef safe triggers? Love Humu Humu but know they can't really be in a reef, don't wanna risk any inverts/coral for a trigger though.
Any other corals you guys recommend (probably would only add 1-2 more for my list).

Any more suggestions would be awesome Thank You!

 

[Kyl]

I live in B.C. (British Columbia) Canada

Lower mainland? If so, J&L is by far the best place for livestock in terms of a LFS. However, there are other options including private sellers / home based business in the GVRD as well.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Lower mainland? If so, J&L is by far the best place for livestock in terms of a LFS. However, there are other options including private sellers / home based business in the GVRD as well.

Thanks I did look at J.L. and it is wonderful so much selection and great prices Thanks!

 

[andrewkw]

J&L is your best bet as already mentioned. You're never going to find a live aquaria in Canada. The only problem with J&L is their online ordering system is 20 years old. They just post pdf fish lists and rarely do wysiwyg. This should not discourage you from ordering, it just means you have to exchange a few emails and phone calls with them and there is no painless order today arrive tomorrow option. They are very reputable and their shipping prices are outstanding. Very few places in Canada even ship airport to airport which is much better then UPS/Fedex.

The biggest problem is if you are in a small location you're not going to be able to get stuff shipped to you overnight. I wish I learned this before I moved to an isolated location. I was shocked to learn fedex and ups don't exist where I am and everything is outsourced to local carriers.

 

[Chef Mateo]

J&L is your best bet as already mentioned. You're never going to find a live aquaria in Canada. The only problem with J&L is their online ordering system is 20 years old. They just post pdf fish lists and rarely do wysiwyg. This should not discourage you from ordering, it just means you have to exchange a few emails and phone calls with them and there is no painless order today arrive tomorrow option. They are very reputable and their shipping prices are outstanding. Very few places in Canada even ship airport to airport which is much better then UPS/Fedex.

The biggest problem is if you are in a small location you're not going to be able to get stuff shipped to you overnight. I wish I learned this before I moved to an isolated location. I was shocked to learn fedex and ups don't exist where I am and everything is outsourced to local carriers.

Okay thanks for the heads up.

 

[JoshH]

Miricles Aquariums if you're looking for a custom tank, the only thing I've ordered online is coral from Canada coral but I've heard there livestock is in rough shape.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Miricles Aquariums if you're looking for a custom tank, the only thing I've ordered online is coral from Canada coral but I've heard there livestock is in rough shape.

Okay Thanks. Will check their website out also, will look at Canada coral.

 

[Kyl]

Apparently Fishlybusiness is going to be doing Canadian orders in the future, so that may actually be our first "Liveaquaria" type vendor up here that will guarantee past DOA. If you're on Facebook the local B.C. groups are the most active place and there are some vendors that post on them quite regularly.

Reef and Saltwater Aquariums of British Columbia - Community group, has some vendor posts typically on Fridays.

CORAL HOARDERS buy/sell/auction THE ORIGINAL(West coast. British columbia) - Mostly private coral sellers, some very nice, named SPS typically posted.

In terms of livestock I've purchased from The Marine Experience out of Edmonton (my clams, some sps / lps frags) this past January and the shipping service was excellent (to Purloator depot). The owner, Neil is pretty active on the Reef FB group I mentioned above. I live 10 minutes from J&L so most of my fish have been purchased in person so can't comment on their website / shipping.

 

[JoshH]

Apparently Fishlybusiness is going to be doing Canadian orders in the future

This would be pretty interesting, they have some great stock but I bet it would cost a fortune to get things across the border

 

[Chef Mateo]

Apparently Fishlybusiness is going to be doing Canadian orders in the future, so that may actually be our first "Liveaquaria" type vendor up here that will guarantee past DOA. If you're on Facebook the local B.C. groups are the most active place and there are some vendors that post on them quite regularly.

Reef and Saltwater Aquariums of British Columbia - Community group, has some vendor posts typically on Fridays.

CORAL HOARDERS buy/sell/auction THE ORIGINAL(West coast. British columbia) - Mostly private coral sellers, some very nice, named SPS typically posted.

In terms of livestock I've purchased from The Marine Experience out of Edmonton (my clams, some sps / lps frags) this past January and the shipping service was excellent (to Purloator depot). The owner, Neil is pretty active on the Reef FB group I mentioned above. I live 10 minutes from J&L so most of my fish have been purchased in person so can't comment on their website / shipping.

That would be nice if they started shipping to Canada. Also, it's only a half an hour drive to J&L so, I would buy in person. Thanks for the info about Fishybusiness and the groups.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Miricles Aquariums if you're looking for a custom tank, the only thing I've ordered online is coral from Canada coral but I've heard there livestock is in rough shape.

Have you got a tank from Miracles Aquariums? Just wondering on quality will be buying 180 gal.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Apparently Fishlybusiness is going to be doing Canadian orders in the future, so that may actually be our first "Liveaquaria" type vendor up here that will guarantee past DOA. If you're on Facebook the local B.C. groups are the most active place and there are some vendors that post on them quite regularly.

Reef and Saltwater Aquariums of British Columbia - Community group, has some vendor posts typically on Fridays.

CORAL HOARDERS buy/sell/auction THE ORIGINAL(West coast. British columbia) - Mostly private coral sellers, some very nice, named SPS typically posted.

In terms of livestock I've purchased from The Marine Experience out of Edmonton (my clams, some sps / lps frags) this past January and the shipping service was excellent (to Purloator depot). The owner, Neil is pretty active on the Reef FB group I mentioned above. I live 10 minutes from J&L so most of my fish have been purchased in person so can't comment on their website / shipping.

Do they have most of the stock on their stocking list in-store? Wondering since I'm checking it out this weekend and looking for a couple of fish. They say to call in advance but just wanna know. Thanks.

 

[Kyl]

For J&L check these lists, though there are typically fish not listed on that, or the quantities aren't accurate:

http://www.jlaquatics.com/media/newsletter/stocklist/FISH_LIST.pdf

http://www.jlaquatics.com/media/newsletter/stocklist/INVERT_LIST.pdf

If you want something specific, or see it on the list, call to confirm imo.