Coral shipment delayed - what do I do?

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

I have a hard and fast rule. If a vendor or hobbyist doesn't cover shipping delays I will not purchase from them.

 

[JosephM]

I have a hard and fast rule. If a vendor or hobbyist doesn't cover shipping delays I will not purchase from them.

Yeah that’s a smart rule. My vendor states they don’t cover them but they are breaking their policy for me thank goodness

 

[zalick]

This is the one time I’m glad I didn’t listen to some of y’all lol. I went to intercept the package and got it. At least a couple zoas are still alive with a couple other corals glowing a little bit but a lot of skeleton showing. I’m letting them sit in my tank for an hour and then we’ll get a close look at the damage

Was just about to tell you yes you can intercept! I've done it many times.

Glad it worked for you!

The zoas look like they will make it and maybe some of the others. Amazing!

 

[JosephM]

Was just about to tell you yes you can intercept! I've done it many times.

Glad it worked for you!

The zoas look like they will make it and maybe some of the others. Amazing!

Yessir. The driver was shocked when I told him it was live fish that I’ve been waiting on for 5 days. But he was super nice and got it for me. Zoas are definitely looking good, obviously a little stressed but only like 3 had slime and one had brown jelly.

 

[dennis romano]

With the weather that they predicted for the country this week, I wouldn't dream of ordering livestock this week. Either wait until next week or see if the vendor will hold it until the weather clears. Overnight shipping is taking four or five days to go cross country. Then, the package sits in an unheated delivery truck for more hours. I wouldn't want to put any fish or coral through that.

 

[JGT]

Does this hairy slime on them mean they’re dead or what?

Yes, those goners. I would take them out so it doesn’t spread to other corals. Zoa’s are indestructible. They will be what’s left along with cockroaches after the nuclear apocalypse.
I would dip. More so not to prevent any hitchhikers getting into your DT than saving the LPS.

 

[Tcook]

Well no surprises for me


These corporate delivery companies are driven by the dollar. It will be up to us to look out for these creatures and maybe not consider ordering fish during January and February.

 

[hds4216]

Well no surprises for me


These corporate delivery companies are driven by the dollar. It will be up to us to look out for these creatures and maybe not consider ordering fish during January and February.

True. I once asked @LiveAquaria to change my shipping date about 20 min after I placed the order because I looked at the weather after I placed the order (dumb of me) and they refused. Said it was “against policy” to change date/location after ordering. No surprise, fish died.

 

[JosephM]

True. I once asked liveaquaria to change my shipping date about 20 min after I placed the order because I looked at the weather after I placed the order (dumb of me) and they refused. Said it was “against policy.” No surprise, fish died.

That is crazy. You’d think they would care about the fish and understand!

 

[JosephM]

Yes, those goners. I would take them out so it doesn’t spread to other corals. Zoa’s are indestructible. They will be what’s left along with cockroaches after the nuclear apocalypse.
I would dip. More so not to prevent any hitchhikers getting into your DT than saving the LPS.

I’m leaving them in for now because I don’t know what the company will say yet. They might try to say that they aren’t considered DOA since they still have some flesh. Most of the ones with slime are all favia so I’m not too worried about them harming each other.

 

[JosephM]

Does this guy have any chance. If any were to survive i wish it were him

 

[hds4216]

Does this guy have any chance. If any were to survive i wish it were him

What is that? A hammer or torch? I’d say it looks really bad tbh.

 

[JosephM]

What is that? A hammer or torch? I’d say it looks really bad tbh.

It’s a special electric branching hammer

 

[hds4216]

It’s a special electric branching hammer

Dang, sounds expensive. You can hold on to it but I would not be hopeful.

 

[JosephM]

Dang, sounds expensive. You can hold on to it but I would not be hopeful.

Rip. Is there a way to group a bunch of photos into like a google something to send to them. It’s hard individually attaching them in an email

 

[LiveRockmia]

Little update on my torches that were shipped Thursday and got delayed. I got them today (monday) at end of day. So 4 days in transit. 1 of the 2 torches survived completely fine. The second one was mush and seemed dead for a while

 

[JosephM]

Little update on my torches that were shipped Thursday and got delayed. I got them today (monday) at end of day. So 4 days in transit. 1 of the 2 torches survived completely fine. The second one was mush and seemed dead for a while

Keep us updated on the one that isn’t so good!

 

[davidcalgary29]

With the weather that they predicted for the country this week, I wouldn't dream of ordering livestock this week. Either wait until next week or see if the vendor will hold it until the weather clears. Overnight shipping is taking four or five days to go cross country. Then, the package sits in an unheated delivery truck for more hours. I wouldn't want to put any fish or coral through that.

I think it all depends on the experience of your vendor and shipper with adverse conditions. I ordered livestock from a dealer in Edmonton ten days ago, which is a five hour drive (and eighteen hour journey by courier once it goes through a central depot). The shipment happened to coincide with the coldest weather of the season (-30C for a high!) and I had five live fish along with corals. Everything survived, and when I told the vendor, he said "I've shipped in colder weather". Those heat packs are wonders.

 

[JosephM]

I think it all depends on the experience of your vendor and shipper with adverse conditions. I ordered livestock from a dealer in Edmonton ten days ago, which is a five hour drive (and eighteen hour journey by courier once it goes through a central depot). The shipment happened to coincide with the coldest weather of the season (-30C for a high!) and I had five live fish along with corals. Everything survived, and when I told the vendor, he said "I've shipped in colder weather. Those heat packs are wonders.

That is insane, definitely an experienced guy right there! That’s super cold
And not directed towards you but what’s a reasonable timeline for vendor to respond back to emails?

 

[davidcalgary29]

That is insane, definitely an experienced guy right there! That’s super cold
And not directed towards you but what’s a reasonable timeline for vendor to respond back to emails?

I can only order from within Canada, and so can't speak to the American experience, but all vendors from which I've ordered livestock have responded to my enquiries within a day. I wouldn't deal with them otherwise.

It sure is fun telling those in the lower 48 about our temperatures, though! I had a chat with a representative (owner) from Ruby Reef Rally on Saturday, and he cackled when I told him that the temperature "wasn't too bad" at -20C. Well I mean, it wasn't too bad, because that just means a winter jacket and a tuque (and mask), instead of a parka, mukluks, and snow goggles. -30C is iffy for me, and I just find temps below -40C to be brutal.