Livestockusa.org or not

[scottsweet]

Hi all,

I am starting to stock my new tank and found livestockusa.org. I have bought 10 frags from AquaSD to see how they do, are in quarantine and soon to be in the new tank.

Anyone have experience on getting an Acro box from Australia from these folks vs. buying frags from the various folks like WWC, TSA and AquaSD? Would you buy the box again?

Build coming soon .

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would not think twice and just get one. What’s better, fragments or a box full of colonies?

 

[BantyRooster97]

I was actually looking over that website last night. Thinking about reaching out to some local reefers and making an order. Some of their coral and fish seem very affordable.

Take a shot and see what you get I say.

 

[scottsweet]

I was actually looking over that website last night. Thinking about reaching out to some local reefers and making an order. Some of their coral and fish seem very affordable.

Take a shot and see what you get I say.

They are very affordable. Provided you can deal with the quarantine process, you should be ok. I just wonder what will be in that box. Having colonies rather than frags is very enticing and since I have virtually nothing, the question is ...is it worth it?

I won't do anything until I see how my frags do since they are the first corals. I am back in to the hobby after a very long hiatus.

 

[SeaDweller]

Buying colonies always allows instant gratification, but growing from aquacultured frags has become rewarding in itself for me. Painfully slow.

Personally I don’t think there’ll be anything super special from the boxes.

 

[BantyRooster97]

I currently have 3 tanks, all 3 with frags and corals I've purchased from other reefers. I'm setting up a 4th and have been considering fish & coral from livestock. Not for the instant gratification but more for the chance of getting something cool and due to the crazy prices people want for fish & corals these days. This tank I'd like to do torches and those are crazy priced at the moment.... Plus, have you seen the fish prices? It's a blank slate of a tank, so I could add everything at once & let it be a QT. All my liverock is from my other tanks, so I won't have to wait on it to settle in.

 

[BighohoReef]

This thread is older but I'm curious if you ever put together the order from livestockusa.org?

 

[BantyRooster97]

I never did. I think its a great idea but the fact you have to buy an entire box, from one location in the world, for 1 person, is hard to do. I even gathered a couple of fellow reefers, but we couldn't decide on 1 box, from 1 location, that would get us all what we wanted. Plus, with the current restrictions on flights etc, the price of shipping is probably $100 higher than it had been in the past. So the price per fish went up. If you order, and have just a couple of casualties, you might be operating at a loss for that box.

I still plan on trying it. I want to source some higher end fish though.

 

[BighohoReef]

I never did. I think its a great idea but the fact you have to buy an entire box, from one location in the world, for 1 person, is hard to do. I even gathered a couple of fellow reefers, but we couldn't decide on 1 box, from 1 location, that would get us all what we wanted. Plus, with the current restrictions on flights etc, the price of shipping is probably $100 higher than it had been in the past. So the price per fish went up. If you order, and have just a couple of casualties, you might be operating at a loss for that box.

I still plan on trying it. I want to source some higher end fish though.

Thanks for the update! I was trying to put the math together on the freight, it makes sense about the higher cost due to the current restrictions. I did want to know if this was a legit seller, from what I'm reading here on the forum that seems to be the case. I'll post if I end up getting a box or two, I'm looking at corals first, no SPS, start with softies and LPS and go from there.

 

[BantyRooster97]

From what I've read Mitch, from LUSA is legit. He responded every time I emailed him.

 

[LRT]

Pretty sure you have to be a legit storefront as lusa is importer wholesaler unless they also deal with general public on that front.

 

[BighohoReef]

Pretty sure you have to be a legit storefront as lusa is importer wholesaler unless they also deal with general public on that front.

Checking into that as well. The airport pickup might negate that requirement. Working on some ideas to solve that problem though @LRT

 

[BantyRooster97]

You do not. LUSA & a couple of others have it set up to where they handle the paperwork & will sell to you as an individual, you simply pay the COD shipping fee at the end. But I'm sure this is probably on a limited small scale basis, so you don't try to compete with the retailers they service. Again, it is risky, and tough all at the same time to order a single box of coral or fish.... you could lose it all with no recourse... thats the rub.

 

[LRT]

Right on i know for sure they have a wholesale side ive been looking into. They also have a facility in cali that they import to as well. I think they do both and its most likely priced accordingly.

 

[shred5]

Thanks for the update! I was trying to put the math together on the freight, it makes sense about the higher cost due to the current restrictions. I did want to know if this was a legit seller, from what I'm reading here on the forum that seems to be the case. I'll post if I end up getting a box or two, I'm looking at corals first, no SPS, start with softies and LPS and go from there.

I have never heard anything bad about them and only good things. There have been a few others here who have done the same.

 

[shred5]

Pretty sure you have to be a legit storefront as lusa is importer wholesaler unless they also deal with general public on that front.

I do not think so, they just drop ship I think. I know they did that for liverock when it was available. Plus I have heard of others buying boxes of corals from them. I have never ordered from them though. This kind of thing was common back in the day.

I think @jda may have or know others who did.

 

[BighohoReef]

@ReeferBlaine @MERKEY @Mrmiles @Kyle Sproul - Something to think about... I was digging on their site yesterday contemplating a box of just mushrooms +some add on's, I'm on the hunt for a kryptonite eclectus (they have them), and won't stop still I have one in the tank. LOL

@LRT brotha wish you lived closer but we can arrange a shipping deal down to AZ or if you ever make it up here for family, you're going home with a box

 

[LRT]

I do not think so, they just drop ship I think. I know they did that for liverock when it was available. Plus I have heard of others buying boxes of corals from them. I have never ordered from them though. This kind of thing was common back in the day.

I think @jda may have or know others who did.

Right on. Ive been in contact with Birdman. They may very well just import and bounce them on. However I do believe there are going to be a different set of pricing.
Theory on that is boxes have to clear customs and someone is paying for that.
Now is it worked into shipping price for pick up at airport.
There's only so many international shipping hubs. Everything goes to Cali. Gets cleared through customs and then bounced to customer.
Whether all thats worked into shipping costs or price per coral idk.

 

[BantyRooster97]

Where are ya'll located? I'm freezing down here in TX! I would totally get in on a box of shrooms, also have another contact that does similar things to LUSA. I just don't need a whole box of shrooms! LOL

 

[BighohoReef]

Up in WA... Was wondering how you TX reefers were doing down there, have a few friends in Portland that got hit with a ice storm last week.. without power for 3-4 days. hand mixing and warming tank water, no fun.

Definitely would have to do a few Fancy Mushroom add on's... I'm really curious where the nicer strains of mushrooms are coming.