cg49me

What is everyone's opinion on this? Has anybody actually ever done it? It seems a bit odd to me - I can't imagine whatever you get would be pleased for the duration of the ride, especially if they were getting thrown around with a whole bunch of other packages.

Thing is... (There's always a "but"...) I really want some more cherry shrimp now that my 10gal is finally cycled (or very close, anyway), and my LFS won't have any for several weeks. I also took the last of their stock of amano shrimp for my 29gal, and I'd like to get just a few more of those as well.

*edit*

Just to get a complete discussion going... Go ahead and throw your opinions of buying fish (not just inverts) and plants up too!

Drew 43920

I did it, things went fine.............

Red1313

Depeends where you buy. I've never purchased online but I've read a few threads and make sure you've got a good company.

NUMB3RS

I personally wouldn't buy online because you don't get to pick the fish YOU want. I would want the best looking shrimp but online you dont get to pick! I would be paitent and wait for the LFS to get them in. If they are not healthy then would I go to the extent of buying a fish online.

mathas

I've bought both fish and plants online.

I think I would only do fish again if it were something my local store couldn't order and I just had to have.

I would order plants online again in a heartbeat. Many good plant sites (APC, PlantedTank, PlantGeek) have sale/trade forums where you can see exactly what plant you're getting, and often what tank it comes out of.

CHoffman

I'm going to be buying all my mbuna off aquabid...I'm gettting wild caught or F1's ...You can't find those at a LFS...It depends on the situation..With yours i would just wait, It's not like they will never have them plus with something like shrimp sellers online aren't taking individual pics of the shrimp you'll be getting like they do with fish..

ray_sj

As far as I know, all LFS routinely get their fish shipped to them. Some even from overseas. So the fish should be ok if they are handled properly after shipment.

That said, if you have a LFS with quality, healthy stock, that would be my first choice. There's no shipping cost, you can see what they look like, and the LFS has acclimated them to the local water conditions.

If you are looking to breed a certain type of fish, or you can't get them at the LFS, then online is a good alternative. Places such as Liveaquaria.com have a much larger selection than most LFS by me. Aquabid is also a good place to look for fish online. I just got several guppies from there, and they were very healthy.

agabr123

i'd be much quicker to buy inverts online than fish. with inverts, i don't really "pick" them out, i just say i want six ghost shrimp or whatever it is and they give me six (actually 8-10 because they don't want to count). a lot of times they'll give you extras since some of them won't make it in shipping.

fish are different, i've never ordered fish online from a commercial website. i definitely would from aquabid or a forum or something, but i'd be a little hesitant otherwise.

cg49me

Oooh... Good point. The water around here is mega-hard (8.2-8.4).

ray_sj

Yep, mine too. I really like neon tetras, and one LFS buys them by the hundreds and acclimates them. I think they must have the process figured out!

cg49me

Well, I went to the FS today to return a breeding tank I'd bought over the weekend, and they'd already received some shrimp for the week, including cherry! I asked for 12 (they gave me 13!), and at least three of them are pregnant!