We're do you buy your fish?

[Jimbo662]

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

+1. I tried LiveAquaria several times with no luck...I've still got a $100 credit with them after the last order was either DOA or died within 2 days. Too skiddish to try another order. :-(

 

[Jd120988]

Live aquaria dd out of Wisconsin is ok I had 1 bad experience from them and it was on a bta that I believe got too hot in shipping thanks to ups taking there time delivering. Believe it or not I've gotten the best results from saltwaterfish.com arrived alive and stayed alive every time. Lfs is the best option as long as they have good qt like others have stated. I've never tried NY aquatics but i think I'll head over to them now and see what they have .

 

[Bruce Burnett]

I don't have a LFS within 2.5 hours from me, so most but not everything, corals and fish have been mail order. Some livestock does not ship well and even those that do it seems that how they get handled during shipping makes a big difference. I had a shipment of 6 various fish from unique corals and 5 of them died within warranty period, they gave store credit no problem. My next purchase was for 8 various fish and they are all still alive 5 months later. Both shipments all fish looked good no external sign of disease all drip acclimated over several hours, all eating and nothing apparent when the ones from one shipment died. My conclusion was mishandling during shipment. So if you buy mail order be sure they have a decent warranty that they make their boxes marked livestock clearly and know you may have some losses

 

[eatbreakfast]

Just an FYI for anybody getting fish shipped to them. A long drip acclimation exposes fish to a dangerous amount of ammonia. It doesn't pose a problem during the shipping process because the CO2 produced by the fish can't escape, which lowers the ph of the water. This in turn renders the ammonia harmless. However, once the bag is opened the CO2 can escape, the ph rises, and the ammonia becomes toxic again. This contact with ammonia can cause permanent damage to the gills, so even if the fish survives a long acclimation it may still die a few days later.

Shipped fish need to get out of the water in the bag as soon as possible.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Just an FYI for anybody getting fish shipped to them. A long drip acclimation exposes fish to a dangerous amount of ammonia. It doesn't pose a problem during the shipping process because the CO2 produced by the fish can't escape, which lowers the ph of the water. This in turn renders the ammonia harmless. However, once the bag is opened the CO2 can escape, the ph rises, and the ammonia becomes toxic again. This contact with ammonia can cause permanent damage to the gills, so even if the fish survives a long acclimation it may still die a few days later.

Shipped fish need to get out of the water in the bag as soon as possible.

I change out 50% fairly fast with tank water then fast drip until volume is double and pull out 50% every 30 minutes then net out into tank. The day of my shipment with fish loss was also a day we had 120 degree temps and next day service is between 6pm and 9pm so it was the worse combination.

 

[Willz]

@Reefwise all the way. There is an excellent conditioning process in place and the fish and inverts I have rec'd came in happy and eating day one. I have another order coming on Tuesday. Great prices, good customer service and, above all, fat, healthy fish!

 

[govolsguy31]

I change out 50% fairly fast with tank water then fast drip until volume is double and pull out 50% every 30 minutes then net out into tank. The day of my shipment with fish loss was also a day we had 120 degree temps and next day service is between 6pm and 9pm so it was the worse combination.

Does shooting some Prime immediately in the bag upon opening it help with this too? That's what I've heard of others doing. Might help buy you some time to drop.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

Does shooting some Prime immediately in the bag upon opening it help with this too? That's what I've heard of others doing. Might help buy you some time to drop.

I don't know if it helps others can chime in, but I use it when I bag stuff and when I acclimate.

 

[MCooper]

@Reefwise all the way. There is an excellent conditioning process in place and the fish and inverts I have rec'd came in happy and eating day one. I have another order coming on Tuesday. Great prices, good customer service and, above all, fat, healthy fish!

That store Reefwise looks unreal and have heard nothing but great things!

 

[4FordFamily]

NYAquatic, Divers Den, PetSolutions.com, Live Aquaria. In that order.

When "pieces of the ocean" has fish they do a GREAT job as well. NYAquatic and pieces of the ocean are vendors here

 

[LatinKing]

In the past I've never had success buying fish from a LFS. Almost all LFS when they get new stock its goes straight into there f/s display tank after an hour of drip acclimation, there was no QT system in the store. Realistically, a LFS can't afford to QT an order of fish for 2 weeks. Firstly, the wholesaler is not going to guarantee the order, not good for the retailer. That is why a LFS needs to get rid of the inventory ASAP.

Example; Shipped > Bali > wholesaler > LFS > tank, seriously those fish are super stress and usually will die as soon as you acclimate the fish in your system, or within 1 day to a week. Personally, I rather buy a fish from someone getting out of the hobby, or someone here selling, less risk. Recently, I've been lucky to know someone that is a retailer and when the fish arrives it goes straight in my tank, it's not 100% but nothing is I'm sure you agree. Knowing someone or looking for a deal .....in the event if my fish die, it will not hurt my pocket so much. My 2 cents.

 

[BigHildy53]

My two orders from Vivid Aquariums have been positive. Rabbit fish, wrasse and lots of snails. I like the size of the snails I've received.

 

[blueface]

Reefwise is my choice for rare stuff even though it's a 5 hour drive one way it's well worth it. LFS for the normal stuff. Still prefer to see the fish I purchase in person.

 

[Empress]

Does shooting some Prime immediately in the bag upon opening it help with this too? That's what I've heard of others doing. Might help buy you some time to drop.

That all depends on if the supplier put anything in the bag as some do put stress coat in the shipping bag before they ship out. Good idea to call and ask.

 

[becks]

In the U.K. We don't have anything like live aquaria. I get my fish from my lfs who will order me anything I want on his next order. All his fish go into his QT system for two weeks to de stress after the shipping process, it's not bullet proof obviously but I think it's the reason why any fish I have purchased which can be tricky to get to eat have always eaten from day one.

 

[spllbnd2]

I have always tried to support my lfs. With that said I am not opposed to ordering inline IF the fish has gone through a complete QT process such as divers den.

As for Live Aquaria vs Divers Den, anything that is shipped out from Florida or California with them is direct from the wholesaler. Anything shipped out from Wisconsin would be direct from Dr. F&S themselves.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[eatbreakfast]

The DD protocol is more of an observation, not a true qt.

 

[Justin D]

The Reef corner and NY aquatic are the best

 

[LatinKing]

The Reef corner and NY aquatic are the best

Justin i lived in the Bronx many years ago and have purchase from NY Aquatics if he still sell out of his garage..terrible fish. Expensive an all of my fish dies. He has copper in his system.

 

[Uwharrie]

LFSs ( not really local to me but at least in the same state) and Petco.