Shipping Fish

generaltoaster · 03/27/2013, 04:55 PM

A week or so ago, I ordered some fish online for the first time. A pearly jawfish and a yellow wrasse.
I put them in and they seemed to be doing fine. The wrasse was out of the sand within one day and the pearly had constructed a nice burrow. But now they are both dead. I don't know if I want to order from online dealers anymore,

Is it the fact that they were shipped or was my tank just not ready?

Breadman03 · 03/27/2013, 05:06 PM

We would need to know at least the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temp, and salinity or sg of your tank to know if those were issues.

I have gotten livestock from Live Aquaria twice and was quite satisfied with both orders, and they have a very good reputation along with at least a few other online vendors, so I wouldn't say that online vendors are bad.

humaguy · 03/27/2013, 05:42 PM

Most of my purchases over the past approx. 25 years have been from online vendors and divers- so mail/shipping plays a huge part, at least from my perspective , with the hobby...rarely are there are problems with shipping but it does happen...all lfs get at least some of their livestock by mail...dd is killer and I highly recommend them...pia is also fantastic and bz too...
can you provide details about your tank?
sorry to hear about your losses- that always hurts...but don't give up...good luck!

humaguy · 03/27/2013, 05:43 PM

ps...do you have a qt?

pinnatus · 03/27/2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humaguy

dd is killer

Maybe not the best choice of words, under the circumstances

generaltoaster · 03/27/2013, 09:16 PM

my ammonia was near zero but not quite. I believe the situation was the same for nitrate. pH: 8.1 salinity: 1.023/4

generaltoaster · 03/27/2013, 09:18 PM

my tank seemed to be in check. I have some softies doing well in it. its a 29gal biocube. the specimen were fairly small and I hear on occasion that can cause them to be less tough/adaptable.

MellowReefer · 03/27/2013, 09:31 PM

I bought a wrasse from LiveAquaria that died a few weeks after I got it. It was very small and seemed weak when I got it. I searched around and found several sources saying that wrasses seem to do worse after shipping then most fish. So when I buy another wrasse I'll wait for my LFS to get one and have it for a week or more. I recently purchased 3 from blue zoo and one was DOA and the other two (a tang and a goby) are doing well. I will try first to get fish from LFS that are doing well there, and order online only if I want a more rare fish I can't find at the LFS.

I really like your cat picture btw - my cat looks almost exactly like yours.

moatdaddy · 03/27/2013, 09:45 PM

How old is the tank.

generaltoaster · 03/27/2013, 10:14 PM

I had purchased the tank from a previous owner who had it for about six years, it was running when I purchased it. I've had it for about two months I think.

generaltoaster · 03/27/2013, 10:15 PM

thanks and thank you

Deinonych · 03/27/2013, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MellowReefer

I bought a wrasse from LiveAquaria that died a few weeks after I got it. It was very small and seemed weak when I got it. I searched around and found several sources saying that wrasses seem to do worse after shipping then most fish. So when I buy another wrasse I'll wait for my LFS to get one and have it for a week or more. I recently purchased 3 from blue zoo and one was DOA and the other two (a tang and a goby) are doing well. I will try first to get fish from LFS that are doing well there, and order online only if I want a more rare fish I can't find at the LFS.

Interesting. I ordered a McCosker's Flasher Wrasse from LA last week and it was DOA. The bag was foul-smelling when I opened it, so the fish must have died almost immediately after being packed. I ordered another one and it arrived intact. Fortunately, the replacement is doing really well in QT and eating like a pig.

humaguy · 03/28/2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinnatus

Maybe not the best choice of words, under the circumstances

lol, I did hesitate when I typed that...

MrTuskfish · 03/28/2013, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humaguy

Most of my purchases over the past approx. 25 years have been from online vendors and divers- so mail/shipping plays a huge part, at least from my perspective , with the hobby...rarely are there are problems with shipping but it does happen...all lfs get at least some of their livestock by mail...dd is killer and I highly recommend them...pia is also fantastic and bz too...
can you provide details about your tank?
sorry to hear about your losses- that always hurts...but don't give up...good luck!

Me too. I haven't bought a fish at a LFS in many years, never will either. You can search the forum for LA threads, positives outnumber negatives at least 10 to 1.

hybrid · 03/29/2013, 02:27 PM

i don't know how buying from online is better than personally picking out a fish from a lfs where you can monitor the fishes behavior & most important appetite it all comes down to where you live and access to quality stores not all lfs are the same just like online vendors here in the tri state area we have access to unlimited stores some of the best in the country with proper quarantines & maintenence regimens where they can hold a fish from 2 weeks to a month if your a valued customer i only order from online if i am looking for specimens that can't be found locally for me what makes this hobby the most thrilling is taking the drive to all my local stores & absorbing all the live stock & hanging out with some of the stores employees witch grants you access to huge discounts & first access to rare finds

SloppyWhenWet · 03/29/2013, 02:39 PM

Its all what works for you. Its the voodoo of reefing.

MellowReefer · 03/29/2013, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybrid

i don't know how buying from online is better than personally picking out a fish from a lfs where you can monitor the fishes behavior & most important appetite it all comes down to where you live and access to quality stores not all lfs are the same just like online vendors here in the tri state area we have access to unlimited stores some of the best in the country with proper quarantines & maintenence regimens where they can hold a fish from 2 weeks to a month if your a valued customer i only order from online if i am looking for specimens that can't be found locally for me what makes this hobby the most thrilling is taking the drive to all my local stores & absorbing all the live stock & hanging out with some of the stores employees witch grants you access to huge discounts & first access to rare finds

Gotta love you no-punctuation posters...I wonder when you talk, do you even take a breath?

I agree with what you said though; it's easier to make sure you're getting a healthy fish. If you're lucky enough to have good LFS near you.

hybrid · 03/29/2013, 03:17 PM

lol normally i am not much for words

Mrscribbled · 03/29/2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by generaltoaster

my ammonia was near zero but not quite. I believe the situation was the same for nitrate. pH: 8.1 salinity: 1.023/4

Ammonia close to zero isn't good enough. Must be at zero.

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

sandwi54 · 03/30/2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrscribbled

Ammonia close to zero isn't good enough. Must be at zero.

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

+1. Saltwater fish must have zero ammonia. They cannot stand even a little.

Your tank was not cycled and that's most likely what killed the fish.

Cubbies · 03/30/2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandwi54

+1. Saltwater fish must have zero ammonia. They cannot stand even a little.

Your tank was not cycled and that's most likely what killed the fish.

+2 and you also mentioned nitrite being in the same lines which is another toxin for the fish. Remember nothing in this hobby happens fast and it is for a reason.

MrTuskfish · 03/30/2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybrid

i don't know how buying from online is better than personally picking out a fish from a lfs where you can monitor the fishes behavior & most important appetite it all comes down to where you live and access to quality stores not all lfs are the same just like online vendors here in the tri state area we have access to unlimited stores some of the best in the country with proper quarantines & maintenence regimens where they can hold a fish from 2 weeks to a month if your a valued customer i only order from online if i am looking for specimens that can't be found locally for me what makes this hobby the most thrilling is taking the drive to all my local stores & absorbing all the live stock & hanging out with some of the stores employees witch grants you access to huge discounts & first access to rare finds

I am far from any city, but have never seen or known of any LFS that used a proper (IMO) quarantine regimen. This would be totally cost-prohibitive. Their idea of quarantine just means they keep it and feed it. I'll bet all of their tanks are on the same system too. I hope nobody uses a LFS keeping a fish as an alternative to a quarantine by the hobbyist.

humaguy · 03/30/2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

I am far from any city, but have never seen or known of any LFS that used a proper (IMO) quarantine regimen. This would be totally cost-prohibitive. Their idea of quarantine just means they keep it and feed it. I'll bet all of their tanks are on the same system too. I hope nobody uses a LFS keeping a fish as an alternative to a quarantine by the hobbyist.

I agree....no lfs will keep a fish in a qt for the length of time that dd does...the bandit I recently got from dd was in KK office tank for around 3 months...most of the lfs I have been in over the last 30 years were frightening..there are some good ones out there but even they will not donate the time or expense on qt livestock...

MrTuskfish · 03/30/2013, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humaguy

I agree....no lfs will keep a fish in a qt for the length of time that dd does...the bandit I recently got from dd was in KK office tank for around 3 months...most of the lfs I have been in over the last 30 years were frightening..there are some good ones out there but even they will not donate the time or expense on qt livestock...

Yeah, not really knocking all the LFS; competing with online vendors & Fed-Ex isn't easy. Very few LFS will match the customer service or guarantee that LA and all the DFS companies do. I think they have the the finest C.S. of any business, in any field, that I've ever dealt with. For all the stressaphobica; LA fish are bagged and transported less than LFS fish too.

gsiegel · 03/30/2013, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humaguy

I agree....no lfs will keep a fish in a qt for the length of time that dd does...the bandit I recently got from dd was in KK office tank for around 3 months...most of the lfs I have been in over the last 30 years were frightening..there are some good ones out there but even they will not donate the time or expense on qt livestock...

Ot but congrats on the bandit! Saw it on DD.

Agree on DD/LA being great. Acclimating a bellus asPassword 1167 for the office? we speak. I use them for the most common fish, but still use my LFS for the more common fish. I am fortunate to have a LFS I trust, but still love DD/LA

03/27/2013, 04:55 PM	#1
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	Shipping Fish A week or so ago, I ordered some fish online for the first time. A pearly jawfish and a yellow wrasse. I put them in and they seemed to be doing fine. The wrasse was out of the sand within one day and the pearly had constructed a nice burrow. But now they are both dead. I don't know if I want to order from online dealers anymore, Is it the fact that they were shipped or was my tank just not ready? __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

03/27/2013, 09:16 PM	#6
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	my ammonia was near zero but not quite. I believe the situation was the same for nitrate. pH: 8.1 salinity: 1.023/4 __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

03/27/2013, 09:18 PM	#7
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	my tank seemed to be in check. I have some softies doing well in it. its a 29gal biocube. the specimen were fairly small and I hear on occasion that can cause them to be less tough/adaptable. __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

03/27/2013, 09:31 PM	#8
MellowReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 854	I bought a wrasse from LiveAquaria that died a few weeks after I got it. It was very small and seemed weak when I got it. I searched around and found several sources saying that wrasses seem to do worse after shipping then most fish. So when I buy another wrasse I'll wait for my LFS to get one and have it for a week or more. I recently purchased 3 from blue zoo and one was DOA and the other two (a tang and a goby) are doing well. I will try first to get fish from LFS that are doing well there, and order online only if I want a more rare fish I can't find at the LFS. I really like your cat picture btw - my cat looks almost exactly like yours. __________________ Current tank: 125 Gallon Mixed Reef set up February 2012

03/27/2013, 10:14 PM	#10
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	I had purchased the tank from a previous owner who had it for about six years, it was running when I purchased it. I've had it for about two months I think. __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

03/27/2013, 05:06 PM	#2
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	We would need to know at least the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temp, and salinity or sg of your tank to know if those were issues. I have gotten livestock from Live Aquaria twice and was quite satisfied with both orders, and they have a very good reputation along with at least a few other online vendors, so I wouldn't say that online vendors are bad.

03/27/2013, 05:42 PM	#3
humaguy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Ct, NYC Posts: 8,218	Most of my purchases over the past approx. 25 years have been from online vendors and divers- so mail/shipping plays a huge part, at least from my perspective , with the hobby...rarely are there are problems with shipping but it does happen...all lfs get at least some of their livestock by mail...dd is killer and I highly recommend them...pia is also fantastic and bz too... can you provide details about your tank? sorry to hear about your losses- that always hurts...but don't give up...good luck!

03/27/2013, 05:43 PM	#4
humaguy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Ct, NYC Posts: 8,218	ps...do you have a qt?

03/27/2013, 09:45 PM	#9
moatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Panama City beach florida Posts: 848	How old is the tank.

03/27/2013, 10:15 PM	#11
generaltoaster no. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 304	thanks and thank you __________________ Hannah Dokter 2017 MARS Board --- CURE HD. Current Tank Info: 100gal salt with 34gal display refugium, 70gal planted freshwater

03/29/2013, 02:27 PM	#15
hybrid Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 123	i don't know how buying from online is better than personally picking out a fish from a lfs where you can monitor the fishes behavior & most important appetite it all comes down to where you live and access to quality stores not all lfs are the same just like online vendors here in the tri state area we have access to unlimited stores some of the best in the country with proper quarantines & maintenence regimens where they can hold a fish from 2 weeks to a month if your a valued customer i only order from online if i am looking for specimens that can't be found locally for me what makes this hobby the most thrilling is taking the drive to all my local stores & absorbing all the live stock & hanging out with some of the stores employees witch grants you access to huge discounts & first access to rare finds __________________ 8ft 300 mixed reef,ati sunpower with led,mp60's ,tunze 6100,atb external 12.5,super reef octopus 5000 ext,bf 6000 return,200gal sump refugium with 125 gallon sump

03/29/2013, 02:39 PM	#16
SloppyWhenWet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 166	Its all what works for you. Its the voodoo of reefing.

03/29/2013, 03:17 PM	#18
hybrid Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 123	lol normally i am not much for words __________________ 8ft 300 mixed reef,ati sunpower with led,mp60's ,tunze 6100,atb external 12.5,super reef octopus 5000 ext,bf 6000 return,200gal sump refugium with 125 gallon sump