Coral shipment delayed - what do I do?

[JosephM]

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.

Alright. Hopefully they’ll get back to me soon. I want to see how they’re gonna go about with replacements or whatever they wanna do.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Alright. Hopefully they’ll get back to me soon. I want to see how they’re gonna go about with replacements or whatever they wanna do.

When my earlier, pre-Christmas shipment was pandemic-delayed, Fragbox in Ontario sent me another order, no questions asked -- I just had to send them pictures of the dead corals. This is one of the reasons that I'll buy from them again.

 

[JosephM]

When my earlier, pre-shipment was pandemic-delayed, Fragbox in Ontario sent me another order, no questions asked -- I just had to send them pictures of the dead corals.

Yeah, my vendor is being very broad with their answers. All I’ve really gotten is they’ll extend their DOA policy with the delay and that they’ll take care of me.
But the delay of 4 days obviously stressed the crap out of the corals and although some are alive they’re bleaching and probably going to die so I wonder if they’ll replace those.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Yeah, my vendor is being very broad with their answers. All I’ve really gotten is they’ll extend their DOA policy with the delay and that they’ll take care of me.
But the delay of 4 days obviously stressed the crap out of the corals and although some are alive they’re bleaching and probably going to die so I wonder if they’ll replace those.

I'd ask, firmly but politely, for replacements for those too. You may have long-term issues with the corals, and if they're already stressed they're already at risk. What do they want you to do, send updates every week? I'd certainly take pictures of any mucus generation and discoloration to them to prove your point.

 

[JosephM]

I'd ask, firmly but politely, for replacements for those too. You may have long-term issues with the corals, and if they're already stressed they're already at risk. What do they want you to do, send updates every week? I'd certainly take pictures of any mucus generation and discoloration to them to prove your point.

Yeah that’s a very true point. Thank you for the tips and such. And I have an album with almost 100 pictures showing all the damage, discoloration, brown jelly, bleaching, mucus, etc

 

[wonroc]

why is thread sooo long. the question at hand is the same as what do i do if my wife is late. cry like a baby

 

[JosephM]

why is thread sooo long. the question at hand is the same as what do i do if my wife is late. cry like a baby

Idek why it’s long lol. Everybody that had their shipments delayed are chiming in too and I’m enjoying it. Definitely a good answer to the question

 

[VermontReefs]

I am also one of the 20+ effected from this.

I agree that, as long as Fedex keeps them in a temp controlled area, it should be OK. More harmful is if they get left on the delivery vehicle for a long period (at least here in Indiana where it is very cold now)

Having 22 corals in there could be a bonus too, as it would take a bit longer for that much water to cool down.

Having inside knowledge of both FedEx & UPS it’s an incredibly high probability your boxes are sitting at a dock inside of a tractor trailer. Shipments are rarely stored inside a facility they just pass through processing and sit in destination trailer until departure.

Please note if you’re checking tracking in the middle of the night say after 1am it won’t be updated leaving the facility until arrives at Dest facility for final sort. Therefore it could actually be on its way. Keep an eye for your local sort facility that’s how you know it’s gonna arrive. Confusing yes. Good luck

 

[Natedogg1978]

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.

That stinks, what is the blue/black fish on the right?

 

[SaltISlife]

So I guess now my question is.... is there anyway I can track down the truck and ask them to get my package out? Or is that not allowed?

I did that with ups once.. pulled the driver over and got my fish from him

 

[JosephM]

I did that with ups once.. pulled the driver over and got my fish from him

I was about to drive 30 min away but luckily right as I was about to leave I noticed he was on the highway heading to my town. Ended up catching him at the post office disposing of some boxes. Went super smooth

 

[Tcook]

That stinks, what is the blue/black fish on the right?

That's a female Bellus angel (Genicanthus bellus). Quite hard to come by.

 

[Natedogg1978]

That's a female Bellus angel (Genicanthus bellus). Quite hard to come by.

 

[JosephM]

Another update for you guys. Vendor has gotten back to me. They are extending their DOA for me even more. They told me to just contact them again in a week or two with a final tally. I think that is wonderful customer service so that I don’t think something will make it and end up dying. I asked him if a bleached coral counts as a DOA so we will see what he says.

 

[hds4216]

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.

The lower 48 can get that cold! It was -23 F (-31 C) where I was a few nights ago.

 

[JosephM]

The lower 48 can get that cold! It was -23 F (-31 C) where I was a few nights ago.

Coldest it’s gotten this winter for me was like 15-20° F. Im happy about that though because I have to work outside at night lol

 

[JosephM]

They’re all goners
Any of the ones that did have some flesh left are literally bleaching more and more by the hour
Still holding out for the zoas. Might do an iodine dip in a couple days if they don’t open up

 

[hds4216]

That sucks. Very sorry to hear.

 

[JosephM]

That sucks. Very sorry to hear.

I thought at least a couple of the favias would pull through but they’re degenerating so quickly. I didn’t even know corals could bleach that quick. The chalice literally bleached 1/4” in like an hour. The one good thing is the vendor responded back saying anything that I didn’t think was healthy they would replace so very good customer service on their side.

 

[davidcalgary29]

So sorry to hear about this. However! I'd suggest this: take pics of the frags, and then take them out of that tank and put them in another one (or in a bucket), along with a powerhead or powerstone and heater and adequate lighting, and then wait awhile. Some of those frags probably will survive. If they die, though, they could mess up your parameters for your other corals, and you don't want that.