Thoughts on Live Aquaria
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
It is run as a wholly owned enterprise so much of Dr Fosters/Live Aquaria is run the same way it always has.
OP
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ReefTalk
Active Member
Good because I hate Petco being involved in fish, they neglect their fish. And run tanks with ich and every time I go their I see fish with ich.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
Petco was sold shortly after they acquired Live Aquaria.
http://www.cppib.com/en/public-media/headlines/2015/cvc-petco.html
http://www.cppib.com/en/public-media/headlines/2015/cvc-petco.html
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I'm guessing Lionfish is correct. Most of what you order from Live Aquaria is managed by their wholesaler. It is the same group that supplies fish to Petco so they come from the same source and are just handled differently at the retail level.
Divers Den would be fish Live Aquaria has accepted direct receipt of, and are listed separately.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Yup. Their IPO looked like it would fail so they sold it to a group of private investors and a pension fund. Dr Fosters/Live Aquaria was a part of that sale and went with the parent company.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
I don't know how they have it set up right now, but at the wholesalers they had their own dedicated set of people to cherry pick the stuff for them.
A hedge fund basically owns them now.
A hedge fund basically owns them now.
Lionfish Lair
Renee
That wholesaler sends cool stuff to their Rhinelander facility to QT and put on DD.
GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I have purchased from LA (DD) three times now and have been satisfied each time with the quality of fish and the customer service.
I can't resist but to caution you against blanket statements. I take pride in caring for the fish and tanks at my store and always do the best I can for them. That includes ordering from wholesalers that I know have better quality fish. However I do know that my store is an exception from most.
I can't resist but to caution you against blanket statements. I take pride in caring for the fish and tanks at my store and always do the best I can for them. That includes ordering from wholesalers that I know have better quality fish. However I do know that my store is an exception from most.
jgvergo
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My experience with Live Aquaria has been superb. I have ordered fish and corals (mostly fish though). They have always arrived it absolutely fantastic condition. Based on my experience, I recommend them unconditionally.
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Yup.
Yes, they are owned by a hedge fund, but the whole thing operates on it's own in Wisconsin. The Live Aquaria side of things is really an ordering system and a customer service center. The live stock sold by Live Aquaria comes straight from those wholesalers in Los Angeles.
At the same site in Wisconsin is the "coral farm", and things sold from it are all done on the Diver's Den side of things.
I do not know if this has changed these days under common ownership, but Petco online sales used to come from a different wholesaler in Los Angeles that Live Aquaria does NOT use. Certain Petco stores DID used to get live stock from the same wholesalers that Live Aquaria use, but that was on a store-by-store basis.
LParker480
Community Member
I've bought from live aquaria a couple times and have always had success. I only had a problem once when buying a fish that I purchased as being 3"-4" and ended up being closer to 2.5". Other than that everything was good.
There live stock doesnt come from live aquaria yes petco owns them like a parent company just like when foster smith bought ffexpress and turned it to live aquaria and then they add the divers den petco just get the profits i have never had a bad experience with them if something came doa they refunded no problem if u qt u should b ok
Lionfish Lair
Renee
The last 3 fish I received from Diver's Den were sick, unfortunately. I will be trying again, but only when I have the time to treat another sick fish, should it come in that way. The customer service wasn't so hot either and it not what I'm used to. Their first response was a canned response and didn't make sense with my situation.... sort of like they didn't speak English. I had to go through Facebook to get to a different set of people. I've bought the majority of my fish from them and never had these issues before.... hopefully it's transient.
jeffrey holloway
Active Member
I give Live Aquria 10 on corals & fish. Bought 3 large clowns, 2 snow flakes and a false peculier from petco. I knew going into this there could be issues and there was. But I was ready, and they are all healthy now. I couldn't beat the price, 3 large clown for under 60 bucks! They have been in QT for 30 days and I will keep them there for 30 more.
cpschult
Valuable Member
Had issues with clams and a few fish. I'll continue to buy from them with their customer service. 14 day guarantee is tough to beat. I do like zoa collector as well, had good experience with fish from them
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
Not a true qt though, more of a two week observation. And LADD will bring in from other suppliers than just Quality Marine.
