Fish shipping mortality rate

A777flygirl · Nov 9, 2017

I ordered my first fish online from Liveaquaria to have it arrive upside down with its mouth open dead...

I am wondering what the survivability rate is for shipping Fish?

This was very upsetting and I don't know if I want to try it again but the awesome selection on line when you live so far awasy from any LFS is so tempting.

Thanks for your input!

VietExtender · Nov 9, 2017

I’ve ordered from live aquaria, saltwaterfish, and pet solution. My ranking for these sites are: pet solution, live aquaria, then saltwaterfish. I usually get more doa (mainly wrasses) with saltwaterfish and live aquaria than with pet solutions. Could be that pet solutions add a ton more water with bigger bags.

eatbreakfast · Nov 9, 2017

Some species ship worse than others, but less than 10% mortality has been my experience, regardless of provider.

ca1ore · Nov 9, 2017

I'd agree, about 10% ..... as long as FEDEX isn't delivering LOL. For some reason, where I live they are almost incapable of delivering ontime. Still waiting for my 10:30 am overnight box ..... sigh. Hopefully not DoA.

swensos · Nov 9, 2017

ca1ore said:
I'd agree, about 10% ..... as long as FEDEX isn't delivering LOL. For some reason, where I live they are almost incapable of delivering ontime. Still waiting for my 10:30 am overnight box ..... sigh. Hopefully not DoA.

I thought it was just Brooklyn Fedex that was terrible...

VietExtender · Nov 9, 2017

ca1ore said:
I'd agree, about 10% ..... as long as FEDEX isn't delivering LOL. For some reason, where I live they are almost incapable of delivering ontime. Still waiting for my 10:30 am overnight box ..... sigh. Hopefully not DoA.

It’s the opposite for me [emoji33]. FedEx comes to me earlier and UPS even had a machine malfunction which caused my order of corals come a day later.

ca1ore · Nov 9, 2017

VietExtender said:
It’s the opposite for me [emoji33]. FedEx comes to me earlier and UPS even had a machine malfunction which caused my order of corals come a day later.

I think it depends a lot on where you live. I avoid FEDEX like the proverbial plague because they frequently screw up (when I saw my BlueZoo shipment was coming via FEDEX I doth groan). UPS is almost perfect.

ash9965 · Nov 9, 2017

got a great anemone from Divers Den Live aquaria still doing great and a couple of fish that lasted a few days but maybe not their fault - who knows

Rattooth · Nov 10, 2017

I have had excellent results with all on line dealers. I have used Live Aquaria the most. Maybe one dead fish in twenty years.

JOKER · Nov 10, 2017

I was experiencing a lot of DOA or they would last a day or two with live aquaria in the last month or so. I have one fish living out of 14. It is still doing well in QT. I just ordered from bluezoo, and all arrived alive. I will use them now.

4FordFamily · Nov 10, 2017

Let’s remember that LFS get fish shipped to them in bags, often from the same sources that LA and Petsolutions (both come direct from Quality Marine and never see either facility, believe it or not) come from.

Unfortunately, DOA happens. I’ve had the fewest DOA with @NYAquatic and Divers Den (separate location that ships from their Wisconsin location, not from QM directly). But for Divers Den this makes sense, as they go through separate quarantine.

Deinonych · Nov 11, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Some species ship worse than others, but less than 10% mortality has been my experience, regardless of provider.

This has been my experience as well.

chipmunkofdoom2 · Nov 11, 2017

I have ordered fish from Unique Corals to Live Aquaria to individual hobbyists. Not a single mortality in about a dozen or more fish shipped.

North Borders · Nov 22, 2017

I've ordered from LA a few times and haven't had a single DOA yet.

jhatfield · Nov 25, 2017

4FordFamily said:
Let’s remember that LFS get fish shipped to them in bags, often from the same sources that LA and Petsolutions (both come direct from Quality Marine and never see either facility, believe it or not) come from.

Unfortunately, DOA happens. I’ve had the fewest DOA with @NYAquatic and Divers Den (separate location that ships from their Wisconsin location, not from QM directly).

I’m betting we would be pretty disheartened to see the morality rate through the whole supply chain. 50% maybe?

4FordFamily · Nov 25, 2017

jhatfield said:
I’m betting we would be pretty disheartened to see the morality rate through the whole supply chain. 50% maybe?

Oh I’m sure it’s high. Not sure it’s that high but fit some species that’s probably about right!

Radman73 · Nov 25, 2017

JOKER said:
I was experiencing a lot of DOA or they would last a day or two with live aquaria in the last month or so. I have one fish living out of 14. It is still doing well in QT. I just ordered from bluezoo, and all arrived alive. I will use them now.

I'm at 3 of 8 still alive right now. Anthais have been dropping due to what appears to be a bacterial infection. This is over the last 8 days. Disheartening to say the least. Out of ten total from LA none have been DOA however.

eatbreakfast · Nov 25, 2017

It shouldn't be anywhere near 50% overall, otherwise it would be insustainable.

ca1ore · Nov 25, 2017

I'm not so sure about that. If you take the number of fish collected initially from the ocean as the denominator and the number of fish still alive initially in consumers tanks as the numerator, I'd bet it's actually worse than 50%. Buddy of mine who used to run a fish wholesale business always figured that less than 1 in 10 fish collected were still alive after one year.

jhatfield · Nov 27, 2017

I'd like to see the same innovation in livestock (fish specifically) as there is in the rest of the hobby. Every couple months there's a new module for a reef controller, new additive, DC pump, etc. but hobbyists are still purchasing diseased fish where all involved accept that nothing is able to be done on the collection, wholesale and retail side to ensure the health of the animal.

Barring some technical advance in treatment or testing; if the innovation came in the form of paid services like a quarantine/treatment upon purchase would be a step in the right direction. Or, a guarantee that captive bred fish are kept separate from wild fish at the wholesaler/retailer.

My understanding is that whatever is done by wholesalers and retailers is strictly cosmetic to ensure the appearance of a healthy fish prior to purchase.(?) This would be completely unacceptable if it were applied to any other livestock purchase. I wouldn't even consider adopting a dog from the humane society if it came with the assumption of mange and worms but included handy instructions for an extended quarantine procedure and medications.