buying livestock onlnie?/?

drbeeker · 03/31/2011, 11:48 AM

Does anyone have any experience with buying livestock online? I'm looking at buying a zebra catalina goby from www.liveaquaria.com

My local fish store doesn't have anything i'm real interested in but I've never bought livestock over the 'net so I'm a little nervous. Is there anything special I need to do differently than buying livestock from a fish store?

any thoughts?
thanks in advance

btw - I have a 28G biocube HQI and have sps, lps and a few inverts in there. Lots of caves and rock for it to cruise around in - it should be happy. I'm also looking at buying a purple firefish...

Trustfall990 · 03/31/2011, 11:52 AM

If you're a little nervous about buying online, you could ask your lfs if they can order it through their contacts. Sometimes they get different prices than what you would pay online.

None the less, I've had plenty of friends buy online with success. Just be sure to quarantine when they get there.

drbeeker · 03/31/2011, 11:55 AM

great thanks. I've read that its a good thing to pick the fish up right when the store gets it in so there isn't a double-acclimation within such a short period. I'll talk to them and see what they can do

thanks again

Glazner · 03/31/2011, 11:57 AM

does that goby prefer cooler tempatures??

greech · 03/31/2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbeeker

great thanks. I've read that its a good thing to pick the fish up right when the store gets it in so there isn't a double-acclimation within such a short period. I'll talk to them and see what they can do

thanks again

Either that or let them keep it for you for a couple of weeks to make sure its healthy and then take it home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glazner

does that goby prefer cooler tempatures??

I have never kept one but yes I have read a number of posts which indicate they do better in colder water and many do not have long term success in warmer temps.

To the OP, liveaquaria is regarded by many to be one of the best online sources of livestock. They also have a diver's den section which is WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). They also have a 14-day gurantee which is better than most LFSs. I would not hesitate to order from them again.

drbeeker · 03/31/2011, 12:18 PM

the regular Catalina Goby (Lythrypnus dalli) prefers 60-70 degree water but the Zebra Catalina Goby (Lythrypnus zebra) is good with 68-75 degree water. Both are very cool looking fish but I am going to keep my tank above 72 for the green chromis I already have. I'm trying to run it at a constant 74 degrees

I'm doing my research on
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...32&pcatid=1132

same place I'm thinking about buing from. It sounds like this may be a seasonal fish so am curious on that too

Sk8r · 03/31/2011, 12:22 PM

I'd advise dodging the Catalinas if you have other critters that like warmer water, or if you EVER have a temp rise in summer, because that will do for them. Especially if your tank is younger than a year and you don't know how it will do in summer, don't do it.

However Live Aquaria is a very good and clean fish source: I've never ever gotten a problem from them---had a shipping problem, but not the fish's fault.

HanoverFist · 03/31/2011, 12:23 PM

And don't forget you can usually find a TON of info regarding most retailers and their reputations on these forums. Either in the Vendor Feedback forum, the actual vendor forums or just spread throughout posts.

Pretty much every retailer out there has been critiqued at some point or another on these forums.

drbeeker · 03/31/2011, 12:32 PM

thanks everyone. Looks like I'll just be patient and stay away from the Catalinas until winter comes around.

thansk for the advice

Lynnmw1208 · 03/31/2011, 08:43 PM

liveaquaria has really nice livestock. I haven't ordered anything yet as I can't since my tank is so new, but my roommate did and the fish were healthy and beautiful. Their shipment packaging is nice as well. They ship heat packs if it's cold and cold packs if it's hot. I plan on ordering my trio of anthias from them.

C0rp · 04/01/2011, 12:18 AM

I have ordered several corals and one fish from DD and have not had a bad transaction or item yet. Top notch everything from the animals to shipping to customer service. I order almost exclusively from them now.

Toddrtrex · 04/01/2011, 10:30 AM

All but one of my current fish are from DD/LA (( with one being from "plain" LA )).

Flame dwarf angel pair
Blue C. Nox dwarf angel
SI Perc pair
Orange Stripe Prawn Goby pair
Exquisite fairly wrasse
Multicolored angel *** LA
Golden lawnmower blenny
Venustus dwarf angel

SUGO · 04/06/2011, 07:25 PM

ive purchased a bunch of livestock from live aquaria very good shipping and great customer service if anything dies and what not.

03/31/2011, 11:48 AM	#1
drbeeker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston TX Posts: 35	buying livestock onlnie?/? Does anyone have any experience with buying livestock online? I'm looking at buying a zebra catalina goby from www.liveaquaria.com My local fish store doesn't have anything i'm real interested in but I've never bought livestock over the 'net so I'm a little nervous. Is there anything special I need to do differently than buying livestock from a fish store? any thoughts? thanks in advance btw - I have a 28G biocube HQI and have sps, lps and a few inverts in there. Lots of caves and rock for it to cruise around in - it should be happy. I'm also looking at buying a purple firefish...

03/31/2011, 12:22 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd advise dodging the Catalinas if you have other critters that like warmer water, or if you EVER have a temp rise in summer, because that will do for them. Especially if your tank is younger than a year and you don't know how it will do in summer, don't do it. However Live Aquaria is a very good and clean fish source: I've never ever gotten a problem from them---had a shipping problem, but not the fish's fault. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/31/2011, 08:43 PM	#10
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	liveaquaria has really nice livestock. I haven't ordered anything yet as I can't since my tank is so new, but my roommate did and the fish were healthy and beautiful. Their shipment packaging is nice as well. They ship heat packs if it's cold and cold packs if it's hot. I plan on ordering my trio of anthias from them. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

04/01/2011, 12:18 AM	#11
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	I have ordered several corals and one fish from DD and have not had a bad transaction or item yet. Top notch everything from the animals to shipping to customer service. I order almost exclusively from them now. __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

04/01/2011, 10:30 AM	#12
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	All but one of my current fish are from DD/LA (( with one being from "plain" LA )). Flame dwarf angel pair Blue C. Nox dwarf angel SI Perc pair Orange Stripe Prawn Goby pair Exquisite fairly wrasse Multicolored angel *** LA Golden lawnmower blenny Venustus dwarf angel __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/31/2011, 11:52 AM	#2
Trustfall990 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 12	If you're a little nervous about buying online, you could ask your lfs if they can order it through their contacts. Sometimes they get different prices than what you would pay online. None the less, I've had plenty of friends buy online with success. Just be sure to quarantine when they get there.

03/31/2011, 11:55 AM	#3
drbeeker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston TX Posts: 35	great thanks. I've read that its a good thing to pick the fish up right when the store gets it in so there isn't a double-acclimation within such a short period. I'll talk to them and see what they can do thanks again

03/31/2011, 11:57 AM	#4
Glazner Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 407	does that goby prefer cooler tempatures??

03/31/2011, 12:18 PM	#6
drbeeker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston TX Posts: 35	the regular Catalina Goby (Lythrypnus dalli) prefers 60-70 degree water but the Zebra Catalina Goby (Lythrypnus zebra) is good with 68-75 degree water. Both are very cool looking fish but I am going to keep my tank above 72 for the green chromis I already have. I'm trying to run it at a constant 74 degrees I'm doing my research on http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...32&pcatid=1132 same place I'm thinking about buing from. It sounds like this may be a seasonal fish so am curious on that too

03/31/2011, 12:23 PM	#8
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	And don't forget you can usually find a TON of info regarding most retailers and their reputations on these forums. Either in the Vendor Feedback forum, the actual vendor forums or just spread throughout posts. Pretty much every retailer out there has been critiqued at some point or another on these forums.

03/31/2011, 12:32 PM	#9
drbeeker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: houston TX Posts: 35	thanks everyone. Looks like I'll just be patient and stay away from the Catalinas until winter comes around. thansk for the advice

04/06/2011, 07:25 PM	#13
SUGO Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 87	ive purchased a bunch of livestock from live aquaria very good shipping and great customer service if anything dies and what not.