Super low salinity from Live Aquaria

Cflip · Jul 6, 2017

I just got a fish from them today. Wish I would have seen this sooner!

TerraFerma · Jul 6, 2017

What did LA say about the salinity? I've done a lot of FW dips and I can't imagine anything surviving 1.004 overnight. Particularly in a shipping bag. Thats on the low low end of brackish SG.

Lovetoclown · Jul 6, 2017

I have have ordered a bunch of fish from LA over the last several months for my 300g, and all fish have been at 1.018. Unless they were diver den, then it's 1.025.

saltyhog · Jul 6, 2017

Somebody dipped water out of the wrong container in the shipping room! I don't see how that fish could have been saved.

I've received a lot of fish from LA and DD and they have all been 1.017-1.018 from LA and 1.024-1.025 from LA. This is not typical for them in my experience.

Hate this happened, I would definitely contact them about it.

SaleenCB · Jul 7, 2017

This is horrible. Have received a lot of fish and inverts in the past from LA and DD but it has been a while. Sounds like Petco is really dropping the ball further than what I initially thought they would. Sorry for the loss of your fish. Senseless death!!

eatbreakfast · Jul 7, 2017

Friday24 said:
Raising the salinity that fast is not good. Even with properly increasing salinity over 24-48hrs from hypo you should have a strong power head going to increase oxygen levels. Oxygen saturation is a lot lower at 1.024 than 1.004. I think the only chance he would have had is if you would had matched your TTM water to his dropped him in and gradually increased salinity over a couple days.

Oxygen levels wouldn't have been enough of an issue. Think of it as someone that is at sea level traveling to an altitude of Denver. You will tire out easier during exertion, but you won't begin to suffocate as soon as you got off the plane.

swensos · Jul 7, 2017

They have fantastic customer service, IME. Sorry this happened. Is the anthias still alive?

boozeman27 · Jul 7, 2017

swensos said:
They have fantastic customer service, IME. Sorry this happened. Is the anthias still alive?

No, he died last night. LA is sending another overnight. I hope the second arrives in better shape

TerraFerma · Jul 7, 2017

boozeman27 said:
No, he died last night. LA is sending another overnight. I hope the second arrives in better shape

Which is awesome - but what did they say about the 1.04 SG on the first one?

dh350twin · Jul 8, 2017

JOKER said:
I have not been happy with my orders lately from them. they are definitely not up to par from what they once were. low salinity plus DOA for me recently.

I agree. Past 3 purchases just bad

jasonrusso · Jul 23, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Reef water is 1.026, so do you mean 1.004? Did you calibrate to 0 or the 35ppt? I don't think the reading is accurate. LA is almost always 1.017-18.

Yes, the last 2 shipments from LA were 1.017. I set my QT up beforehand now.

ca1ore · Jul 23, 2017

I order from LA/DD frequently; latter is always 1.025, former at lowest, 1.017. Just got anthias last week - 1.018. Something odd must have happened in this case. BTW, while it appears 'fashionable' to bash them post-Petco purchase, I have noted no material differences frankly (other than charging sales tax, which was going to happened regardless).

Friday24 · Jul 24, 2017

I've only ever purchased from DD, I've never had salinity problems with the shipments. I have however received DOA and several completely and partially incorrect shipments. Out of the last 10 purchases post petco I've had one of those issues with 7 of them. Before petco I never had any issues. I continue to purchase from them because in every case they reimbursed me, and the animals I do receive are very healthy

JOKER · Jul 24, 2017

I received a shipment from DD with 2 DOA and one that didn't make the night. Salinity was 1.027. Checked twice at 77°. I know sometimes you lose fish in shipment, but I can honestly say after many years ordering from LA I have probably lost more since the change. I hope they get everything in order because I have always liked dealing with them.

ca1ore · Jul 24, 2017

I do get the occasional DoA, but in many dozens of orders, both before and after Petco, not a single mis-ship. User error me thinks.

eatbreakfast · Jul 25, 2017

Considering that the fish from LA are coming direct from a wholesaler, not owned by Petco. I don't see how the Petco acquisition of the customer service side of things had any change in how fish are handled or cared for from LA.

Friday24 · Jul 25, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Considering that the fish from LA are coming direct from a wholesaler, not owned by Petco. I don't see how the Petco acquisition of the customer service side of things had any change in how fish are handled or cared for from LA.

The DD fish do not come from the wholesaler, they come from a different facility that LA uses to condition select fish that are then sold at a slight premium.

eatbreakfast · Jul 25, 2017

Friday24 said:
The DD fish do not come from the wholesaler, they come from a different facility that LA uses to condition select fish that are then sold at a slight premium.

That is LADD in Wisconsin. The regular LA come straight from a wholesaler(Quality Marine)

Scurvy · Jul 28, 2017

I also just received a shipment with ultra low levels. I didn't test immediately but after maybe 10 minutes of dripping I had a salinity of 1.011. One of my three fish seems to be handling acclimation ok but the other two are iffy after an hour plus. I'm up to 1.020 after 75 minutes of dripping.

eatbreakfast · Jul 28, 2017

Scurvy said:
I also just received a shipment with ultra low levels. I didn't test immediately but after maybe 10 minutes of dripping I had a salinity of 1.011. One of my three fish seems to be handling acclimation ok but the other two are iffy after an hour plus. I'm up to 1.020 after 75 minutes of dripping.

I would get them out of the shipping water. They have been exposed to ammonia for a long time now.