Buying fish online

[enricosonic]

This seems risky, yet there are several, seemingly quite reputable sellers. Who has experience buying fish online? How are the fish packaged, temperature protected, etc? I have to wonder how long can they sit outside on a front porch in 40°-50° temperatures.

The Wet Spot in Portand, OR is fairly close to where I am in Seattle and offers far greater selection and greater numbers than my LFS. My LFS for example doesn't stock yoyo loaches (as well as other fishes) in the sufficient numbers recommend be kept together. The Wet Spot offers this.

Any opinions/experience you have I'd love to hear.

 

[OliveFish05]

I have had 4 axolotls shipped online, and once I had a group of Guppies shipped. Koi too. Each time, the fish are double bagged, tucked into a box that is lined with styrofoam, and shipped within 4 days. Most places only offer live arrival guarantee if you write within two hours of delivery, so they should not sit on your porch long at all. Most places ship with a heat pack depending on the temps.

 

[enricosonic]

I have had 4 axolotls shipped online, and once I had a group of Guppies shipped. Koi too. Each time, the fish are double bagged, tucked into a box that is lined with styrofoam, and shipped within 4 days. Most places only offer live arrival guarantee if you write within two hours of delivery, so they should not sit on your porch long at all. Most places ship with a heat pack depending on the temps.

I contacted The Wet Spot and they guarantee the live arrival under similar terms. No one can guarantee the power that stress will have on the fish during shipment but their referrals and ratings are quite good. I'll likely give them a shot.

Thanks

 

[SomethingsFishy24]

My Red shoulder sev, my Lemon BN pair, countless shrimp, Dwarf Acaras, Emperor tetras, and tapajos Geos all came from Aquaticarts.com. They are awesome. The fish come shipped overnight with a hot or cool pack depending on the weather. Mine have sat out on the porch for a few hours in fair weather before or on the kitchen table until I got home to float them. Have lost none of the fish, they are usually eager to eat the evening after I get them settled and they have all been truly beautiful specimens. They are very conscious of the safety of their live stock, have an awesome selection and are really kind.

 

[Nicodemus]

I have had good experiences with "aqua huna" they have a great DOA and shipping is flate rate of 12.99 as of a couple weeks ago.

 

[enricosonic]

I forgot to update this, but I did buy four angelfish from The Wet Spot a couple of weeks ago. They arrived in a styrofoam lined box with heat packs and each fish was double-bagged with an oxygen tab inside. One is a timid runt of the litter sort but they're all in very good health.