Live Aquaria Diver's Den experience

[Tapio]

I have noticed lately there have been reports of a decline in quality of stuff (I'm mostly interested in SPS) from Diver's Den. One thing is pests, but usually that can be dealt with by dipping. I am actually mostly concerned about their corals on their web site, WYSIWYG, looking either purple or sickly green, whether it is described as blue, purple, red or whatever. Some people say the stuff they receive is brown or not true to the picture or description.

I know it is generally better to start with frags from farmed corals, but that is not the purpose of this thread. At least I want to obtain somewhat larger pieces than 1 " frags sometimes.

What is your experience? I have never ordered from them just looked and sometimes being tempted to order.

 

[Zoaddicted]

All those stores in southern california and you want to buy from Live Aquaria?

Aside from the carpet nems they get, their corals can be best described as bread and butter.

Ive heard several horror stories about their wysiwyg fish. Fish showing up with eyes missing.

 

[Akida17th]

I've had great experiences with DD and LA. I've never had any trouble even when something went wrong. It's been a few years since I last ordered from them so they may have gone down hill since then especially since their now owned by Petco. Their customer service was always adequate for me though.

 

[Reef Fever]

been a few years but DD fish i purchased were always in good health

got a few corals that weren't bad either

 

[ReefMadScientist]

You're better off buying your fish from Petco. That is where DD and LR get them from anyway. Same supplier.

 

[Jlobes]

You're better off buying your fish from Petco. That is where DD and LR get them from anyway. Same supplier.

same supplier? possible. same QT/handling protocol, probably not.

many stores and retailers use "the same supplier", does not mean they all have the same quality livestock.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

same supplier? possible. same QT/handling protocol, probably not.

many stores and retailers use "the same supplier", does not mean they all have the same quality livestock.

Petco is LiveAquaria.

 

[Tapio]

All those stores in southern california and you want to buy from Live Aquaria?
.

You would be surprised how little of the really good stuff trickles down to LFS here in San Diego. Larger good quality SPS almost never. When they do, many stores chop them up into tiny frags to maximize profits. The LFS store scene is pretty sad IMO. There are a few exceptions but larger SPS never.
Haven't been to LA/Orange county stores lately so can't speak for them.

 

[Jlobes]

Petco is LiveAquaria.

actually, I think LA is petco. i do realize petco purchase/merged with LA, but that does not indicate that both store/facilities use the same protocol and wholesalers. and at this point, its speculation and assumptions on both our parts. However, I do hope LADD, would keep up with their longstanding rep and qt protocol, which varies greatly from petco.

Its like saying toyota and lexus are the same. Sure, they have the same parent company and similar offerings, but a lexus is a much nicer vehicle, with better options, service, "quality", etc.
petco is toyota, and LADD is lexus.

 

[hybridazn]

You're better off buying your fish from Petco. That is where DD and LR get them from anyway. Same supplier.

Just about every retail fish place use the same suppliers, be it quality marine, sea dwelling and so on. Its how the stores handle them is where the differences are.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

actually, I think LA is petco. i do realize petco purchase/merged with LA, but that does not indicate that both store/facilities use the same protocol and wholesalers. and at this point, its speculation and assumptions on both our parts. However, I do hope LADD, would keep up with their longstanding rep and qt protocol, which varies greatly from petco.

Its like saying toyota and lexus are the same. Sure, they have the same parent company and similar offerings, but a lexus is a much nicer vehicle, with better options, service, "quality", etc.
petco is toyota, and LADD is lexus.

That's fair.

I know a few people who wait for Petco to get their orders in. Before they put the fish in their tanks, they buy it before and still in the bags.

 

[Joshky]

Last few purchases with DD (since merger) have been kind of a disappointing. I'm not done ordering (yet), but I have personally seen quality go from amazing to run of the mill. I have gotten good stuff in, but quality consistency has been all over the place.

One thing I have noticed is picture quality has really gone to crap on some of their coral photography, overly blue tones making their "greens" look super blue/aqua when in reality it looks nothing like the photo.

It's really sad to see such a great place to shop go down hill, I hope they can bounce back.

 

[Bryman]

Any other good options? I still remember the days of flyingfishexpress

 

[Jlobes]

Just about every retail fish place use the same suppliers, be it quality marine, sea dwelling and so on. Its how the stores handle them is where the differences are.

agreed. however, the "relationship" you have with your supplier, definitely affects the quality of product you receive. This is consistent in almost any industry, be it livestock, culinary goods, raw materials etc.
speaking from experience...the better stuff, usually goes to the "guy" who sells the most/the supplier likes the most.

 

[MounteeFrag]

That's fair.

I know a few people who wait for Petco to get their orders in. Before they put the fish in their tanks, they buy it before and still in the bags.

I do that exact thing. Never an issue.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Just ordered 4 pieces from the Diver's Den. Three acros and a pocillopora colony. There was two crabs on the colonies. I got rid of one and kept the other since it was a porcelain crab. The size was great for the price. The pocillopora came in the best out of all of them in terms of color accuracy from the photo and overall health. I had one that looked like a bonsai that came in. The inside seems bleached a tad, but the overall colony looked fine.

When I dipped everything I did not "see" anything come off. All corals are in quarantine still though.

 

[veselym]

Last time I ordered from LA my fish came in riddled with flukes...I was very disappointed with the quality so I order elsewhere now

all fish were ordered from DD where they claim to QT for a month, you could see flukes in their eyes

 

[Reefloco760]

Petco sells salt water fish??

 

[Jlobes]

Petco sells salt water fish??

some do, some dont. depends on the store, the management and the area

 

[evolved]

You're better off buying your fish from Petco. That is where DD and LR get them from anyway. Same supplier.

Not true on the same supplier. Sometimes true, but typically not.