Buying Fish Online In The Uk

[Tag2008]

Hi Guys,

Is it wise to buy fish online?

I have spoken to a few folks in LFS and they all say they would never do this?

I can see that you dont see the fish your buying but would the fish from a wholesaler be in poor condition?

What are the pros and cons of doing this?

The reason I ask is my LFS seem to have loads of fish but never what rocks my boat and I always ask can you order me something or when is your next deleivery comming ? whats on order??

I tend to feel from past experience I end up buying the fish the shop keeper wants me to have and not what I alwasys want...

Im not looking for anything too obscure but I cant get gold severums and the like from my LFS and cichlids are in short supply, Its swordtails, mollys and discus that they seem to stock up on and they charge the earth for their fish too....Prices seem to have jumped up in the fish in this last while...

Any thoughts on this are appreciated..If you have bought fish online in the UK where did you go and was it worth it?
Tag

 

[orange shark]

I like many on here have bought from www.trimar.co.uk

The guy is brilliant, and all fish that i have bought from there have been in perfect condition, and if they arent they give you a guarentee anyway!

 

[ollyhtafc]

A disadvantage is expence. Although fish usually seem cheaper online, postage and packaging is sometimes as much as £15.

 

[piranhadan]

Lets face it people in you LFS are going to say that as they want your cash.
Theres lots of web based shops out there, some pretty good, some not so great.
It just a case of askin people which ones they have used and what their experiances have been.
Alot will depend on the type of fish you wish to buy.

 

[simonmac2]

hi tag,

the other thing to bear in mind is the carrier used and how close you are to their nearest depot. that will probably determine the condition you are going to get them in. I know where you are coming from (lived on the Moray coast for years and it always took ages for anything to arrive)

us islanders have it even worse - most online co's won't ship (because of the time taken and therefore the stress to the fish)

speak to the various online co's and see who they use and how they can get stuff to you as quickly as poss.

sorry can't be more help

 

[smudger72]

Just thought I would add something to this.
I was desperate for Brackish fish none of my LFS's would even order any in for me.
I ended up buying from Wholesale tropicals who are on the tropical fishfinder website.
Absolutely superb , well packed with loads of heat packs all the fish were in great condition when they arrived even though it was in the middle of the cold spell we had in January.

 

[lesbro]

hello i am new to fish keeping.and computers any way I bought fish on line from a supposed reputable dealer the fish that i orderd were not the ones that arrived they were very small as iff they had just came out of the hatchery .even diffrent spicies when i phoned up to complain they pointed out small print that they couldchange the order iff they did not have the fish requested. SO please be carefull no matter how repitable they seem check every detail of thire policys from dead on arival and exchange to refunds .Also they seem great bargins untill the postage is slapped on DONT get caught out lesbro

 

[poohbear1]

I've never bought fish online but if you stay near haddington there is a great lfs there.
The guy likes fish more than people and will only sell fish if you know what you are talking about.
He has a wide variety and can order some others in if they are available