buying fish online - Aquarium Advice

Elwood · 09-09-2005, 04:07 PM

Any experience with online fish purchases? Is it recommended?

Tiffi · 09-09-2005, 08:20 PM

I have never bought fish online and I would also never do it. Most fish are stressed enough by being transported to the fish store, living in maybe not so ideal conditions there, transporting them home and getting adapted to your aquarium conditions. If you'll also getting them shipped to you then, I don't know how careful the post office will be with the package

.

I would try to find a local fish store and buy them there. If they die although your aquarium water is good etc. you can most times give them back and get a living fish. And if you'd like to have any special kind, they can sometimes order it. My [acronym:508bf823cd="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:508bf823cd] could for example order Amano Shrimp for me.

Elwood · 09-09-2005, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the heads-up.

severum mama · 09-09-2005, 08:40 PM

I would do it if I were buying enough fish to justify the shipping cost. A lot of folks around here have had great success with sites like www.liveaquaria.com and I know they have a live arrival guarantee. Most retailers ship overnight only (at least that is my impression) so the fish really aren't in transit that long, and they use heat or cold packs as necessary to minimize stress. Plus, a lot of times it seems like online retailers have much better stock than what I would find locally, I don't know if it's like that for everyone.

coolchinchilla · 09-09-2005, 10:22 PM

Ya gotta remember that the fish were shipped to the [acronym:1d6e1dd99d="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:1d6e1dd99d] so they arrive very stressed out there too. If you get them shipped to your door, the fish only have to go through one acclimation instead of at least two.

Tiffi · 09-09-2005, 11:34 PM

I for myself like to see the fishes I am getting though before I buy them. That way I can choose the most healthy and most beautiful ones

.

severum mama · 09-10-2005, 09:41 AM

My point is, a lot of the online retailers/breeders have the most healthy and beautiful fish to begin with. And sometimes, you can at least see pics of the actual fish you are getting.

09-09-2005, 04:07 PM	#1
Elwood Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: missouri, usa Posts: 42	buying fish online Any experience with online fish purchases? Is it recommended? __________________ Elwood P. Dowd

09-09-2005, 08:28 PM	#3
Elwood Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: missouri, usa Posts: 42	Thanks for the heads-up. __________________ Elwood P. Dowd

09-09-2005, 08:40 PM	#4
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	I would do it if I were buying enough fish to justify the shipping cost. A lot of folks around here have had great success with sites like www.liveaquaria.com and I know they have a live arrival guarantee. Most retailers ship overnight only (at least that is my impression) so the fish really aren't in transit that long, and they use heat or cold packs as necessary to minimize stress. Plus, a lot of times it seems like online retailers have much better stock than what I would find locally, I don't know if it's like that for everyone. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

09-09-2005, 10:22 PM	#5
coolchinchilla Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: IA Posts: 477	Ya gotta remember that the fish were shipped to the [acronym:1d6e1dd99d="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:1d6e1dd99d] so they arrive very stressed out there too. If you get them shipped to your door, the fish only have to go through one acclimation instead of at least two. __________________ coolchinchilla a small zoo is cool!

09-10-2005, 09:41 AM	#7
severum mama Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,771 Images: 22	My point is, a lot of the online retailers/breeders have the most healthy and beautiful fish to begin with. And sometimes, you can at least see pics of the actual fish you are getting. __________________ WE CAN STAGE A RUNAWAY GOLF CART MARATHON 5 gallon, 45 gallon, and 55 gallon planted 75 gallon SA/CA cichlids 8 gallon Oceanic BioCube nano reef

09-09-2005, 08:20 PM	#2
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	I have never bought fish online and I would also never do it. Most fish are stressed enough by being transported to the fish store, living in maybe not so ideal conditions there, transporting them home and getting adapted to your aquarium conditions. If you'll also getting them shipped to you then, I don't know how careful the post office will be with the package . I would try to find a local fish store and buy them there. If they die although your aquarium water is good etc. you can most times give them back and get a living fish. And if you'd like to have any special kind, they can sometimes order it. My [acronym:508bf823cd="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:508bf823cd] could for example order Amano Shrimp for me.

09-09-2005, 11:34 PM	#6
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	I for myself like to see the fishes I am getting though before I buy them. That way I can choose the most healthy and most beautiful ones .

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