Buying Fish Online

[Audfish]

I was considering getting a flame angelfish off the internet (saltwaterfish.com) because they only charge $40 while my LFS charges $60 for the fish. Has anyone had any success/horror stories with ordering fish off the internet? Any success/horror stories with this particular dealer?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Usually there aren't any problems with fish off the internet. I've used liveaquaria.com for freshwater fish, they're shipping is a little high but they have great customer service and the fish are ALWAYS healthy when I get them.

 

[zeo]

I was considering getting a flame angelfish off the internet (saltwaterfish.com) because they only charge $40 while my LFS charges $60 for the fish. Has anyone had any success/horror stories with ordering fish off the internet? Any success/horror stories with this particular dealer?

damn thats cheap, I think the cheapest I've seen in the uk is about £60 ($120)

 

[kkyyllee]

it will cost more after shipping then at ur lfs

 

[littleme1969]

Having got both fresh water and marine fish by overnight courier I would say buy from your local shop and pay a bit more. Marine fish are easily stressed and the only fish Ive ever lost overnight have been marine and the ones that survive too ages to eat and get over the stress. Also you can see what you are getting and can make an instant decision if its healthy or not. I would only use online places if like me you have no localmarine fish outlet and so have no choice.

 

[SkiFletch]

it will cost more after shipping then at ur lfs

Agreed. Although, to reiterate, saltwaterfish.com and liveaquaria are reputable dealers for purchasing livestock online. Also if you buy enough at once (think group or local club order) you get great breaks on shipping and things become much cheaper

 

[Danno]

Well I think that is all depends on where you live. I live an hour and a half away from a fish store. When you add the gas and time ratio into the shipping charges, and the online saving, it makes more sence for me to get them off of the internet.

I basically get all of my stuff from liveaquaria.com. I just order in large bundles, i.e $150+ : maybe once every 2 to 3 months.

 

[drag]

ive ordered 3 times from saltwaterfish.com and have been 110% satified with there service and stock. my next big order is coming from saltwaterfish.com

 

[Lynden]

I have ordered around a dozen fish, plus many more invertebrates (including two corals) from a website and I get them shipped by bus (takes around 24 hours on a good day; have waited nearly thirty before) and never have any of the livestock died as a result.

Once in winter my cleaner shrimp and Niger Trigger came off the bus in a near torpor state, but they soon recovered; still, it is worth taking extra caution in extreme weather.