Need some advice

[Cichlid Dad]

Need some advice, I order a la Lakers and a bower banki and received them today. I got them right in an whii opened the box it had a heat pack. The water was very warm I mean warm. It looks like it killed the corals. This was ordered from one of the best known dealers in coral. How do I document any of this and get replacements. There were also 5or6 little Star fish when I went to open the bag. See photos. I've never had a problem in the past. Please advise.

 

[MnFish1]

would contact the vendor asap, good you have pictures

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I sent an email I hope that works
Thank you, any idea on the star fish?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I would say dead. Sad it was a large frag

 

[FishTruck]

I hate shipping in hot or cold weather. Hot packs and cold packs are wildcards.

In my experience, though, the vendors will try to make things right, especially if you take a water temp and photograph and time - in these situations. This feedback also should help them fine tune their shipping tactics against the weather.

My personal new habit is- LFS during winter and hot summer - online only when the temps are between 70 and 80 degrees between me and the vendor. Much less hassle and disappointment.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I would say dead. Sad it was a large frag

That was fast. I always take a few pictures as it arrives, luckily you got it from a well know coral dealer, and that's why they are probably so well known they should take care of you, summer time with weird cold pockets in the country, sounds like they should have gone with the ice pack, its a 50/50 shot some times in the year.

Those look like brittle starfish they can be good for clean up crew and overall biome, but some consider them "pest" I have a few in my tanks from frags they don't bother to much they hide in rocks all day at that size, sometimes they annoy polyps as their arms stick out of rock holes, if I had seen them I may not have added them, but overall not an issue.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Thank you everyone, I also have 75% of my coral from the same dealer so that should help.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Ok time for an update. After just a few emails and photos sent I received my replacements today. Better than my first ones. And arrived in good shape. WWC is a stand up company and will continue buying coral from them.