Cultivated Reef fish buying feedback

[mikemathis555]

I’m contemplating my first online fish purchase, and wanted to go the route of purchasing from a vendor who provides quarantined fish. I found Cultivated Reef from coral recommendations and found they have fish as well.

Their customer service department says their fish are quarantined since they are captive bred and come directly from the breeder into isolated tanks.

Anyone have negative experiences with either Cultivated Reef or this style of quarantined fish?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

I’m contemplating my first online fish purchase, and wanted to go the route of purchasing from a vendor who provides quarantined fish. I found Cultivated Reef from coral recommendations and found they have fish as well.

Their customer service department says their fish are quarantined since they are captive bred and come directly from the breeder into isolated tanks.

Anyone have negative experiences with either Cultivated Reef or this style of quarantined fish?

'quarantine' can mean many things, and I've ordered from R2R partner TSM Aquatics because theirs includes medications (more like 'hospital' treatments). This link is very informative and could be used as reference as few others seem to go to their lengths:

TSM Aquatics - The Largest Saltwaterfish Store In The Country!

Welcome to the new TSM Aquatics forum on Reef2Reef. We were formerly known as TSM Corals founded by Ray Casper. TSM Aquatics is located at 1 Enterprise Court Sewell, NJ 08080 and is the largest retail store open to the public that sells saltwaterfish and corals in the country! TSM operates...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mikemathis555]

'quarantine' can mean many things, and I've ordered from R2R partner TSM Aquatics because theirs includes medications (more like 'hospital' treatments). This link is very informative and could be used as reference as few others seem to go to their lengths:

TSM Aquatics - The Largest Saltwaterfish Store In The Country!

Welcome to the new TSM Aquatics forum on Reef2Reef. We were formerly known as TSM Corals founded by Ray Casper. TSM Aquatics is located at 1 Enterprise Court Sewell, NJ 08080 and is the largest retail store open to the public that sells saltwaterfish and corals in the country! TSM operates...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you…I’m aware that quarantine can mean a lot of things, this is why I asked Cultivated Reef about their process. I’m also aware that TSM and Dr. Reef offer these types of Hospital services. Unfortunately, I’m not willing to spend to TSMs order minimum and they don’t have the type of fish I was looking for.

I’m specifically asking about people’s experiences with Cultivated Reef fish.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Thank you…I’m aware that quarantine can mean a lot of things, this is why I asked Cultivated Reef about their process. I’m also aware that TSM and Dr. Reef offer these types of Hospital services. Unfortunately, I’m not willing to spend to TSMs order minimum and they don’t have the type of fish I was looking for.

I’m specifically asking about people’s experiences with Cultivated Reef fish.

TSM does a lot of fish special orders and $150 adds up fast - just a couple saltwater fish. They didn't have what I wanted either, but I put request in, they found & began medicating and I'll have fish in October. Closer to delivery they'll confirm what my new fish like to eat so I have it on hand.

Sorry I have to defer to others on Cultivated Reef fish, but a quick search of this site using keywords "Cultivated Reef experience" pulls up many mentions including these selected at random (from near top of results):

Cultivated Reef

Yet another satisfying experience with @Cultivated Reef. I ordered a handful of corals that arrived on time, well packaged and identified, and had a very sweet looking bonus coral included in the shipment. Thank you for making it a great experience.

www.reef2reef.com

My Cultivated Reef experience

I ordered two clownfish from Cultivated Reef and I just wanted to say if you have a hard time finding fish, maybe even coral give then a try ! Shops where I live had a hard time getting the fish I wanted. I was helped by holly who had excellent customer service ! If you’re looking for soemthing...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mikemathis555]

TSM does a lot of fish special orders and $150 adds up fast - just a couple saltwater fish. They didn't have what I wanted either, but I put request in, they found & began medicating and I'll have fish in October. Closer to delivery they'll confirm what my new fish like to eat so I have it on hand.

Sorry I have to defer to others on Cultivated Reef fish, but a quick search of this site using keywords "Cultivated Reef experience" pulls up many mentions including these selected at random (from near top of results):

Cultivated Reef

Yet another satisfying experience with @Cultivated Reef. I ordered a handful of corals that arrived on time, well packaged and identified, and had a very sweet looking bonus coral included in the shipment. Thank you for making it a great experience.

www.reef2reef.com

My Cultivated Reef experience

I ordered two clownfish from Cultivated Reef and I just wanted to say if you have a hard time finding fish, maybe even coral give then a try ! Shops where I live had a hard time getting the fish I wanted. I was helped by holly who had excellent customer service ! If you’re looking for soemthing...

www.reef2reef.com

Well my Fluval 13.5G isn’t going to support multiple fish additions at the moment, so the $150 min really is a barrier.

I searched before I posted as well, and found many satisfied people with the experience, many with corals. I would really like to get some feedback from people who have fish purchased from Cultivated Reef, and how they have fared now that they’ve had them for a while.

 

[Bribo12]

I have 2 clowns I got from them and they have been a bill of health. they just turned a year old and are doing great. They were packaged well in two separate bags when I got them.

 

[BadSquishy]

Oh man.. I misread your title… I thought you were saying they were buying people’s feedback- as in trying to pay people to leave good reviews. That’s not what you meant at all. Is it possible to change your post title?

 

[mikemathis555]

I have 2 clowns I got from them and they have been a bill of health. they just turned a year old and are doing great. They were packaged well in two separate bags when I got them.

thanks! The clowns you mention are the ones from your build thread? Were they about 1-1.25” when you got them? How big are the a year later?

 

[New&no clue]

Cultivated Reef is local to me, and I've been there personally several times to get corals. They are great. However, they don't actually have fish there. They get them all from Sea&Reef, which is another local company here. I have never bought fish from Cultivated Reef, but I have gotten fish from Sea&Reef, and they are great fish. My pair of clowns are from them, and I've had them 2+ years now.

 

[mikemathis555]

Cultivated Reef is local to me, and I've been there personally several times to get corals. They are great. However, they don't actually have fish there. They get them all from Sea&Reef, which is another local company here. I have never bought fish from Cultivated Reef, but I have gotten fish from Sea&Reef, and they are great fish. My pair of clowns are from them, and I've had them 2+ years now.

Nice. I assume the clowns are the ones in some of the photos in your build thread correct?

 

[Tamberav]

I bought a clownfish from them years ago and it was very healthy although mislabeled. It was labeled as a percula on the website but I received an occy

Sustainable Aquatics is another good place for clowns since you can buy directly from them and they also have WISIWYG clowns.

 

[Bribo12]

thanks! The clowns you mention are the ones from your build thread? Were they about 1-1.25” when you got them? How big are the a year later?

They are! They were both about an inch when I got them. The female is now about 2.75 inches and id say the males around 2.

 

[New&no clue]

Nice. I assume the clowns are the ones in some of the photos in your build thread correct?

Yes, the black and white ones. I also have a pair of snowflakes in another tank from them.

 

[Chrisv.]

@mikemathis555 did you end up buying from them? If so, would you mind sharing your feedback?

 

[Blandon]

I’m contemplating my first online fish purchase, and wanted to go the route of purchasing from a vendor who provides quarantined fish. I found Cultivated Reef from coral recommendations and found they have fish as well.

Their customer service department says their fish are quarantined since they are captive bred and come directly from the breeder into isolated tanks.

Anyone have negative experiences with either Cultivated Reef or this style of quarantined fish?

I haven’t purchased fish from them, only coral.
Holly was extremely fair and helpful on that front.

 

[MtnDewMan]

I had a great experience with @Cultivated Reef . Got these beauties from them and I couldn't be happier with them. They are gorgeous. Came nicely packed and very healthy.

Recent Clown Purchase

A few days old, so far so good. A few little beauties. One Lighting Maroon, One Gold Nugget, and One Thunder Maroon. Can't wait to see them mature.

www.reef2reef.com