Ordering Fish Online?

[Synna]

As we moved from a large city where we had 3-4 LFS to use for our fish purchases, to now a remote area with only a small Petco anywhere near, we are having troubles finding what places online might be the "top 5" locations to actually order live fish from.
Corals, chaeto, inverts, phyto, and copepods we seem to be able to find numerous options, but not so much fish.

Couple things we are trying to consider within reasonable price ranges. (sorry I'm not currently in the market for a fish over $1000)

1. Where to buy Biota & ORA captive bred options? Are there any stores that actually carry these for online purchases? We would like to support these the best we can for helping our wild populations!

2. Quarantining processes, or fish that are "pre-quarantined"? Are there reliable online places that have a quarantine /pre-treatment option?

3. Reputation, reliability, quality of inhabitants, along with helpful services and communications? We like to ask questions, review a store's running parameters so we can anticipate potential problems, acclimation, etc to help any new inhabitants be as healthy and successful in the stressful changes of shipping and transfer as we can.

There's been a lot of ups and downs in the hobby and it's ever changes/fluctuation due to our naturally changing environments.
I've seen a lot of negative out there, stores shutting down, questionable business practices and procedures etc.

I know people compile "best of "2019" type lists. Does anyone have anything like this for saltwater fish in an online store capacity?
Anyone have recommendations based on the above?

Thank you all!

 

[SteveEreef]

It is my understanding that these would be good ones.

Quarantine FishLLC
Humblefish Aquatics
Marine collectors
Bay Bridge Aquarium

 

[Synna]

It is my understanding that these would be good ones.

Quarantine FishLLC
Humblefish Aquatics
Marine collectors
Bay Bridge Aquarium

I appreciate any recommendations thank you!

Checked these out

Bay Bridge Aquariums = had nothing at all in the saltwater fish section.
HumbleFish Auatics = appears to be shut down temporarily due to a move they are doing.
Marine Collectors= was quite a bit out of my affordable price ranges.
Quarantine Fish LLC = no selections and I'm still deciding what type of fish to even buy. Without seeing any, I can't really decide on anything either.

 

[Billldg]

This is the type of question that you will get a a ton of answers to. My favorite online store just shut down, , so aqualocker is unavailable. I am very picky on expensive fish for obvious reason. I QT everything before it go's into my DT. I just ordered 2 Diamond Tail Flasher wrasses, expensive fish to say the least from @NYAquatic, and I must say they have impressed me. The fish are lively, they ate withing a few hours, and have great color

 

[H2OMG]

As we moved from a large city where we had 3-4 LFS to use for our fish purchases, to now a remote area with only a small Petco anywhere near, we are having troubles finding what places online might be the "top 5" locations to actually order live fish from.
Corals, chaeto, inverts, phyto, and copepods we seem to be able to find numerous options, but not so much fish.

Couple things we are trying to consider within reasonable price ranges. (sorry I'm not currently in the market for a fish over $1000)

1. Where to buy Biota & ORA captive bred options? Are there any stores that actually carry these for online purchases? We would like to support these the best we can for helping our wild populations!

2. Quarantining processes, or fish that are "pre-quarantined"? Are there reliable online places that have a quarantine /pre-treatment option?

3. Reputation, reliability, quality of inhabitants, along with helpful services and communications? We like to ask questions, review a store's running parameters so we can anticipate potential problems, acclimation, etc to help any new inhabitants be as healthy and successful in the stressful changes of shipping and transfer as we can.

There's been a lot of ups and downs in the hobby and it's ever changes/fluctuation due to our naturally changing environments.
I've seen a lot of negative out there, stores shutting down, questionable business practices and procedures etc.

I know people compile "best of "2019" type lists. Does anyone have anything like this for saltwater fish in an online store capacity?
Anyone have recommendations based on the above?

Thank you all!

Reefs4less.com is definitely worth a look. Prices are outstanding. If you're someone who understands proper acclimation skills, you can order without the extended guarantee and save a lot of cash. Selection is on point.

 

[nezw0001]

I've had great luck with NYAquatic

 

[Synna]

This is the type of question that you will get a a ton of answers to. My favorite online store just shut down, , so aqualocker is unavailable. I am very picky on expensive fish for obvious reason. I QT everything before it go's into my DT. I just ordered 2 Diamond Tail Flasher wrasses, expensive fish to say the least from @NYAquatic, and I must say they have impressed me. The fish are lively, they ate withing a few hours, and have great color

I did read about the Aqualocker as well and that it was also recently closed.
I expect many answers and actually am welcoming to that idea.

Of course, I've seen the"usual" google search types:
Liveaquaria
Aquarium Creations Online
Saltwaterfish.com
SaltyUnderground

I just haven't ordered fish online before so I'm cautious and nervous.
I feel like fish are so much more touch and go.
We have implemented our own quarantine processes ourselves too.

Corals, Inverts, Pods, Phyto I haven't really had trouble with (unless it was my own doing! LOL)

 

[lilgrounchuck]

My petco lets folks tag things to their orders. May be worth talking to the folks in charge of aquatics and see if they’ll do the same. The one here orders a lot from ORA.

 

[Billldg]

I did read about the Aqualocker as well and that it was also recently closed.
I expect many answers and actually am welcoming to that idea.

Of course, I've seen the"usual" google search types:
Liveaquaria
Aquarium Creations Online
Saltwaterfish.com
SaltyUnderground

I just haven't ordered fish online before so I'm cautious and nervous.
I feel like fish are so much more touch and go.
We have implemented our own quarantine processes ourselves too.

Corals, Inverts, Pods, Phyto I haven't really had trouble with (unless it was my own doing! LOL)

I get Berghia nudis from Salty Underground.

 

[reeplay87]

I really don't trust my own ability to quarantine properly or safely for my fish. Divers Den, TSM Aquatics, BlueZooAquatics, and Marine Collectors all have some type of quarantine process. I doubt it is as effective as what some members do, but I've never had any issues personally from BlueZoo or Divers Den. The issue though is that the shipping itself can be highly stressful to the fish.

 

[Peace River]

You asked about ORA fish. I have successfully purchased them through LiveAquaria (look for their ORA section) and they were shipped directly from ORA. IME, their fish have always been well packaged and healthy. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[lilgrounchuck]

You asked about ORA fish. I have successfully purchased them through LiveAquaria (look for their ORA section) and they were shipped directly from ORA. IME, their fish have always been well packaged and healthy. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Since LA is owned by petco now that’s Probably why my petco gets so much from them. Tagging on to the local petco order will at least save you shipping costs, and since it’s part of their order they deal with any doa issues.

 

[zoomonster]

I've had some issues with LiveAquaria since Petco got them but still a pretty good option especially since they are constantly spamming out discount codes plus free shipping at 199. Plus like someone said if you order ORA stuff it ships direct from ORA in FL. Being Petco they do charge sales tax now and they added a $10 box charge.

 

[User1]

As we moved from a large city where we had 3-4 LFS to use for our fish purchases, to now a remote area with only a small Petco anywhere near, we are having troubles finding what places online might be the "top 5" locations to actually order live fish from.
Corals, chaeto, inverts, phyto, and copepods we seem to be able to find numerous options, but not so much fish.

Couple things we are trying to consider within reasonable price ranges. (sorry I'm not currently in the market for a fish over $1000)

1. Where to buy Biota & ORA captive bred options? Are there any stores that actually carry these for online purchases? We would like to support these the best we can for helping our wild populations!

2. Quarantining processes, or fish that are "pre-quarantined"? Are there reliable online places that have a quarantine /pre-treatment option?

3. Reputation, reliability, quality of inhabitants, along with helpful services and communications? We like to ask questions, review a store's running parameters so we can anticipate potential problems, acclimation, etc to help any new inhabitants be as healthy and successful in the stressful changes of shipping and transfer as we can.

There's been a lot of ups and downs in the hobby and it's ever changes/fluctuation due to our naturally changing environments.
I've seen a lot of negative out there, stores shutting down, questionable business practices and procedures etc.

I know people compile "best of "2019" type lists. Does anyone have anything like this for saltwater fish in an online store capacity?
Anyone have recommendations based on the above?

Thank you all!

Biota and captive bred/raised fish please check out pacific east aquaculture. Dr. Mac only sells captive raised fish. I've ordered a Yellow Assessor and Matted Filefish. Both very well packed and arrived on time. No visible signs of health issues and the two I ordered are doing very well. If you have a question on the fish or one not listed send a email to ask about it. He even recently sold 3 of the BIOTA captive bred/raised Millseed butterfly fish - at a great price to boot.

I've also purchased a lot of corals from him. Also doing well and no visible signs of pests or nasty hitch hikers. Friendly business who has been supporting the hobby and aquaculture side for many many years.

 

[Peace River]

Although I have not purchased fish from them yet, Algae Barn also sells Biota fish.

 

[Gharris527]

As we moved from a large city where we had 3-4 LFS to use for our fish purchases, to now a remote area with only a small Petco anywhere near, we are having troubles finding what places online might be the "top 5" locations to actually order live fish from.
Corals, chaeto, inverts, phyto, and copepods we seem to be able to find numerous options, but not so much fish.

Couple things we are trying to consider within reasonable price ranges. (sorry I'm not currently in the market for a fish over $1000)

1. Where to buy Biota & ORA captive bred options? Are there any stores that actually carry these for online purchases? We would like to support these the best we can for helping our wild populations!

2. Quarantining processes, or fish that are "pre-quarantined"? Are there reliable online places that have a quarantine /pre-treatment option?

3. Reputation, reliability, quality of inhabitants, along with helpful services and communications? We like to ask questions, review a store's running parameters so we can anticipate potential problems, acclimation, etc to help any new inhabitants be as healthy and successful in the stressful changes of shipping and transfer as we can.

There's been a lot of ups and downs in the hobby and it's ever changes/fluctuation due to our naturally changing environments.
I've seen a lot of negative out there, stores shutting down, questionable business practices and procedures etc.

I know people compile "best of "2019" type lists. Does anyone have anything like this for saltwater fish in an online store capacity?
Anyone have recommendations based on the above?

Thank you all!

For fish saltwater fish.com
Copods is AlgaeBarn.com

 

[CK00020]

That sucks, I am kind of in the same boat, before I started reefing the fish store I would go to was foster and smith that owned liveaquaria, but once petco bought it they shut down the retail store that was onsite and now I can’t even pick up fish locally. That’s where petco comes in, I wouldn’t up any wet item they sell

 

[Synna]

I will have to check in with our local Petco. They have said they could order fish for us and make sure NOT to put them in their local tanks for us to pick up in a timely fashion. This is something we will have to consider.

I will also check out Pacific East Aquaculture

I'll have to let you know what we experience when we do order!

 

[Tom Davey]

I just got an order from Alge Barn. So far looking good Fis are acclimating now. W will see how they do.