We're do you buy your fish?

[Reef man 89]

Hey everyone I want to buy some fish and want to know we're do you buy your fish? Store or online? What online dealer have you had a good experience with? want a good packed box, and the biggest part a healthy fish.
Thank you all for the help

 

[Salty1962]

Zoacollector has very good quality and prices.
NY Aquatics has nice stock as well.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Nothing beats seeing a fish in person for me, so a good lfs is what I would choose. But I have had good experiences with NY Aquatic and LADD, and have heard good things about Zoacollector and Reefwise.

 

[jsker]

I like the LFS(local fish store) most will order a fish per your request.

 

[Reef man 89]

I agree with nothing beats seeing a fish in person but the closest lfs to me,last time I went in the fish did not look good and healthy and some tanks had dead fish in them. So I don't want to take A chance with them

 

[eatbreakfast]

I agree with nothing beats seeing a fish in person but the closest lfs to me,last time I went in the fish did not look good and healthy and some tanks had dead fish in them. So I don't want to take A chance with them

Remember, the same thing could be happening at online distrutors, but you don't have the benefit of seeing it and opting out.

 

[Reef man 89]

Remember, the same thing could be happening at online distrutors, but you don't have the benefit of seeing it and opting out.

That's very true,that's why I want to see what the reefing community has for input on this subject. Like what online vendor they had a bad experience with, and what ones they had a good experience with.
Thank you all for the input greatly appreciated

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have purchased from online as well as the LFS. I REALLY like to buy from places that have a good QT process in place.

 

[MCooper]

One thing people seem confused about is LiveAquaria vs. Divers Den on LiveAquaria. They have the SAME EXACT QT process I have been told many times by the employees that work at LiveAquaria and Divers Den.

 

[Brew12]

That's very true,that's why I want to see what the reefing community has for input on this subject. Like what online vendor they had a bad experience with, and what ones they had a good experience with.
Thank you all for the input greatly appreciated

The dirty little secret among large online retailers is that many of them never even see the fish you order. They give the order to the large distributors along with shipping instructions and the fish you get come straight from them.
If you ever order something online, look at the shipping address it comes from. Odds are it will be from California regardless of where you ordered it from.

 

[LatinKing]

Online have more selection

 

[LatinKing]

I have purchased from online as well as the LFS. I REALLY like to buy from places that have a good QT process in place.

Agree on the QT. However maybe 1 of 10 lfs might have a QT system.

 

[Brew12]

One thing people seem confused about is LiveAquaria vs. Divers Den on LiveAquaria. They have the SAME EXACT QT process I have been told many times by the employees that work at LiveAquaria and Divers Den.

I have seen official literature from Live Aquaria that contradicts what you have been told. Divers Den does have excellent QT process from what their literature states. Their non-Divers Den fish normally ship directly from their importer and don't go through a true QT process.

 

[MCooper]

I have seen official literature from Live Aquaria that contradicts what you have been told. Divers Den does have excellent QT process from what their literature states. Their non-Divers Den fish normally ship directly from their importer and don't go through a true QT process.

I have seen it on the site state that as well, so that is why I called and asked. I got this from 4 various employees so would think something is up.
I would like to think Divers Den is better QT process , but they told me (all 4 times) it is just a different facility with WYSIWYG

 

[Brew12]

I have seen it on the site state that as well, so that is why I called and asked. I got this from 4 various employees so would think something is up.
I would like to think Divers Den is better QT process , but they told me (all 4 times) it is just a different facility with WYSIWYG

Here is Live Aquaria explaining how when you order fish from them it comes straight from the importer, they do not handle them. They do have employees at the importer who select and package the fish.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=115

Here is Live Aquaria explaining their Divers Den procedures.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=425

 

[MCooper]

Here is Live Aquaria explaining how when you order fish from them it comes straight from the importer, they do not handle them. They do have employees at the importer who select and package the fish.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=115

Here is Live Aquaria explaining their Divers Den procedures.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=425

I am not debating that as I have seen this also. I am just stating what 4 various employees told me on the phone. Seems very odd to me so just letting everyone know what I was told.
Trust me I want to believe it also and don't think they would lie, so was hoping to hear from other people on your side as well.

I try to get from Divers Den as much as possible if not from LFS.

 

[MCooper]

To make sure I wasn't going nuts just called and asked and was again told same for both sites and all facilities!

 

[Brew12]

I am not debating that as I have seen this also. I am just stating what 4 various employees told me on the phone. Seems very odd to me so just letting everyone know what I was told.
Trust me I want to believe it also and don't think they would lie, so was hoping to hear from other people on your side as well.

I try to get from Divers Den as much as possible if not from LFS.

Seems odd that their employees would tell you something that is contrary to what their own documentation claims. I can't help but wonder if they just don't know any better.

I like my LFS but I would never buy something from them without putting it through my own QT. But then, I feel that way about every retailer. Live Aquaria's even recommends to QT their Divers Den fish. They realize that even if they do their best, their methods are not foolproof.

The day someone guarantees 100% healthy and parasite free fish is the day I may change that practice.

 

[Brew12]

To make sure I wasn't going nuts just called and asked and was again told same for both sites and all facilities!

I don't know what to say to that. They don't even own a facility in California but that is where most of their non Divers Den fish ship from.

 

[LatinKing]

Hmmmm smell fishy...sound like they don't have a QT System! Good practice any fish purchase anywhere should be QT, unless your buying from someone you know that had the fish for a couple months in there system.