JeffK
- #1
I read many posts from people who mention they’ve never ordered livestock online before. Some may find it strange to get fish in the mail. Some balk at the price of shipping. Some prefer to see the fish they’re getting for themselves before they buy. Some may just be hesitant to do something they’ve never done before.
IMO, the best situation is when you have an excellent LFS with a knowledgeable staff with whom you can form a good relationship. They steer you away from mistakes. They educate you on fish compatibility, appropriate tank sizes, aquascaping, etc. When you’re looking for fish they don’t normally carry, they do their best to get them for you. Some of us are lucky enough to have such a store, but many of us do not.
There’s always the “big box” stores, right? Petco, Petsmart, Walmart, and others. Some of these are actually really good stores. They carry lots of different fish, have all sorts of supplies, and GUARANTEE their fish for 30 days or your money back (at least that’s what my Petco does). Some have really clean, bright tanks, while others seem to have 1-2 dead fish in many tanks. Some have a knowledgeable staff, and some sell oscars to people with 10 gallon tanks as long as they “fill the tank with water and let it sit over-night before you add any fish.” IMO, these stores can go either way - it’s a crapshoot. I’ve had great success buying certain fish from these places, but then with some fish I find myself driving back and forth, taking advantage of that money back guarantee.
If you don’t have a helpful LFS, and the big box stores frustrate you as much as they frustrate me sometimes, there is another option - ordering fish online. Like anything else, you have to do your research, because some places are better than others. Look for reviews on the sites you come across. Check feedback on eBay and aquabid. Ask around here on fishlore. Probably more than half of my fish through the years have been dropped off on my doorstep. I live in PA, yet I’ve repeatedly ordered fish from Ohio, Florida, Utah, and Oregon. Sometimes overnight shipping, and other times priority 2-3 day shipping. In the past 3 years (when I finally got the nerve to order online), I’ve received 36 fish in the male (I think I’ve counted everyone), with just one bad experience. In fact, except for that one bad experience, I never lost a fish that I ordered online. I don’t still have them all, as some have been rehomed, but IME the fish I’ve bought online have been much healthier and more colorful than those I’ve bought at my LFS.
Sometimes, it’s not even more expensive… Praecox rainbows at my Petco cost $8.99 plus tax, so that would be $38.12 for 4 fish. Since I always question the health of their stock, I decided to order 5 from aqua bid for $20 plus $17 Priority 2 day shipping. When my fish arrived, the seller had thrown in an extra to make 6, so I got 6 of them for $37 instead of paying $38.12 for 4 at Petco (and I’m more confident in the health of these fish moving forward. I’m not trying to pick on Petco here - they just happen to be my only local option. During the summer months, when temps are steady in the 60-90 degree range, overnight shipping is not really necessary as the places I’ve ordered from know what their doing regarding the prepping, packing and shipping of fish. Even if they end up a day or two late, the fish are typically fine.
My point is just to encourage people to go ahead and order fish online if they’re on the fence about doing so. IME, the sellers answer all your questions relatively quick (ask questions before you buy - if you don’t hear back from them, maybe it’s best to keep looking). I’ve been thrilled with practically all my experiences. Many of the sellers tend to be small businesses - if you don’t have a good LFS to support, this is another way to support a small business. Places like trinsfish, msjinkzed, imperial tropicals, wet spot tropicals, and first coast tropical fish are the ones I’ve used most often. Many of the sellers on aqua bid are breeders who really put a lot of care into their fish. If your LFS can’t get that “must have” fish for your tank, take it upon yourself to get it. It’s really not that difficult. Research your sellers first, and you can get more or less any fish for your tank!
IMO, the best situation is when you have an excellent LFS with a knowledgeable staff with whom you can form a good relationship. They steer you away from mistakes. They educate you on fish compatibility, appropriate tank sizes, aquascaping, etc. When you’re looking for fish they don’t normally carry, they do their best to get them for you. Some of us are lucky enough to have such a store, but many of us do not.
There’s always the “big box” stores, right? Petco, Petsmart, Walmart, and others. Some of these are actually really good stores. They carry lots of different fish, have all sorts of supplies, and GUARANTEE their fish for 30 days or your money back (at least that’s what my Petco does). Some have really clean, bright tanks, while others seem to have 1-2 dead fish in many tanks. Some have a knowledgeable staff, and some sell oscars to people with 10 gallon tanks as long as they “fill the tank with water and let it sit over-night before you add any fish.” IMO, these stores can go either way - it’s a crapshoot. I’ve had great success buying certain fish from these places, but then with some fish I find myself driving back and forth, taking advantage of that money back guarantee.
If you don’t have a helpful LFS, and the big box stores frustrate you as much as they frustrate me sometimes, there is another option - ordering fish online. Like anything else, you have to do your research, because some places are better than others. Look for reviews on the sites you come across. Check feedback on eBay and aquabid. Ask around here on fishlore. Probably more than half of my fish through the years have been dropped off on my doorstep. I live in PA, yet I’ve repeatedly ordered fish from Ohio, Florida, Utah, and Oregon. Sometimes overnight shipping, and other times priority 2-3 day shipping. In the past 3 years (when I finally got the nerve to order online), I’ve received 36 fish in the male (I think I’ve counted everyone), with just one bad experience. In fact, except for that one bad experience, I never lost a fish that I ordered online. I don’t still have them all, as some have been rehomed, but IME the fish I’ve bought online have been much healthier and more colorful than those I’ve bought at my LFS.
Sometimes, it’s not even more expensive… Praecox rainbows at my Petco cost $8.99 plus tax, so that would be $38.12 for 4 fish. Since I always question the health of their stock, I decided to order 5 from aqua bid for $20 plus $17 Priority 2 day shipping. When my fish arrived, the seller had thrown in an extra to make 6, so I got 6 of them for $37 instead of paying $38.12 for 4 at Petco (and I’m more confident in the health of these fish moving forward. I’m not trying to pick on Petco here - they just happen to be my only local option. During the summer months, when temps are steady in the 60-90 degree range, overnight shipping is not really necessary as the places I’ve ordered from know what their doing regarding the prepping, packing and shipping of fish. Even if they end up a day or two late, the fish are typically fine.
My point is just to encourage people to go ahead and order fish online if they’re on the fence about doing so. IME, the sellers answer all your questions relatively quick (ask questions before you buy - if you don’t hear back from them, maybe it’s best to keep looking). I’ve been thrilled with practically all my experiences. Many of the sellers tend to be small businesses - if you don’t have a good LFS to support, this is another way to support a small business. Places like trinsfish, msjinkzed, imperial tropicals, wet spot tropicals, and first coast tropical fish are the ones I’ve used most often. Many of the sellers on aqua bid are breeders who really put a lot of care into their fish. If your LFS can’t get that “must have” fish for your tank, take it upon yourself to get it. It’s really not that difficult. Research your sellers first, and you can get more or less any fish for your tank!