SW fish wholesalers?

DamselHook · 04/10/2007, 08:38 AM

i am begining to finally put together my fish store but am having some trouble finding a good SW fish supplier. Does anyone have any ideas about that? Please help me out.

seapug · 04/10/2007, 09:01 AM

Quality Marine in Los Angeles is one of the largest domestic wholesalers in the country.

jgoodrich71 · 04/10/2007, 09:12 AM

There are many out there, and I have several that I look to for different items. If you are on here asking for that kind of information, you are in the very beginnings.

coast2coast7390 · 04/10/2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
Quality Marine in Los Angeles is one of the largest domestic wholesalers in the country.

can you just walk in or do you have to mail order???

robwsup · 04/10/2007, 10:14 AM

QM is a large one. There are several out there.

Generally, people that have good suppliers won't let the names go too easily, as there are not a bunch of good ones anywhere.

fareforce · 04/10/2007, 10:51 AM

Check with your suplliers. Make sure they know who is getting their fish, and how. A LFS up here just found out that the suplier they were using used cyanide to cathc fish. Once she received the fish they would only last about 1 week, then die. They changed suppliers, and now everything is great!

Fishdisease · 04/10/2007, 10:54 AM

I dont know a lot about wholesalers but I know I'd support ORA Farms as much as I could as they tank breed all of their fish.

http://www.orafarm.com/

Proaquatix also is a wholesaler that tank breeds all of their fish.

http://www.proaquatix.com/

chacha · 04/10/2007, 11:26 AM

Liveaquaria.com. Good price, great quality

seapug · 04/10/2007, 12:44 PM

Wholesalers will not let you walk in the door without at DBA, tax ID, and proof that you own a retail location. Don't even try. If you live in LA and are looking for good deals, there's a huge place in Inglewood right off Manchester I used to go to all the time but I can't recall the name (getting old). If you pay $20/year "membership" you get most of the stuff half price. They usually have a good selection of corals and fish but definitely have the best live rock you can find in the area. 4.50/lb for fiji live rock with all kinds of life on it. A friend of mine once got a piece of LR there for 10 bucks with a brain coral, zoas, and a night anemone on it. One of the few things I really miss about living in LA.

jgoodrich71 · 04/10/2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robwsup
QM is a large one. There are several out there.

Generally, people that have good suppliers won't let the names go too easily, as there are not a bunch of good ones anywhere.

The more people that order from a wholesaler, the less likely one is to get their order filled. That is why you will not get any answers from anyone that does have a good supplier. You just have to experiment for yourself, and take your losses just as we did!

DamselHook · 04/10/2007, 04:26 PM

i have researched alot just wanted to see if some of you said some of the names i have seen, and apparently you have no idea and therefore just basically told me to figure it out on my own, thanks for nothing. For those that gace me names thank you, and to all those that just basically told me nothing, thanks for nothing.

seapug · 04/10/2007, 07:39 PM

welcome to the wonderful world of retail....

serum153 · 04/10/2007, 10:07 PM

I would think that one who is just about ready to open their fishstore would have already found a supplier, since you would have wanted to get an idea of the overhead before you dumped your money in the place for nothing, but what do I know.

Anyways...Check out fisheadsinc. or something like that. I expect a pm once your up and running, so that I can get $100 off my order since I gave you a great supplier.

seapug · 04/11/2007, 09:09 AM

see what I mean? You haven't even opened up yet and people are already asking for discounts.

jgoodrich71 · 04/11/2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DamselHook
i have researched alot ...

Hopefully more than you researched for your tanks. You have had your tank less than a year, and your ready to open a store?

Why don't you list the wholesale vendors you have, and I will tell you if I've ordered from them before. And, most will want references from your dry good supplier as well. I suppose you already have your dry good supplier lined up since you didn't ask for any?

(The search button is a wonderful tool)

luke33 · 04/11/2007, 10:48 AM

Are you just thinking of opening a store...as it says your a student? Maybe for your business plan for a class? There are many good suppliers out there, just make sure the QT before they ship the fish to you. Thats all the advice i have for ya.

mallyk · 04/11/2007, 11:11 AM

Sea Dwelling Creatures, Quality Marine, Exotic Reef Imports, A & M Aquatics are just a few i've used. Sea Dwelling is one of my faves.

kenny77 · 04/11/2007, 05:50 PM

PM me I have a big list. I'm working on my LFS and been researching for wholesaler. from all US and Pacific.

Before you even try to see the prices and everything. you will need your tax id number.

jeeperrs · 04/11/2007, 06:06 PM

Well I hope your store does well. I always have to laugh at those who have done this for so long and forget that they had to start too. The fish business is no different from any other business and you will have to make some mistake to help you learn. But just as all the old school people on here saying it can't be done, they did it when technology was not nearly as good as it is now, so you can too. Also, on a good side note, you won't be learning the old practices that are not used anymore, so here soon you will be the expert and they will just be old

Good luck with it!

04/10/2007, 08:38 AM	#1
DamselHook Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arkansas Posts: 17	SW fish wholesalers? i am begining to finally put together my fish store but am having some trouble finding a good SW fish supplier. Does anyone have any ideas about that? Please help me out.

04/10/2007, 09:01 AM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Quality Marine in Los Angeles is one of the largest domestic wholesalers in the country. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/10/2007, 09:12 AM	#3
jgoodrich71 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 849	There are many out there, and I have several that I look to for different items. If you are on here asking for that kind of information, you are in the very beginnings. __________________ "For some reason I can't blow right." ~ crp "By the way Brian, nice colon." ~ Orchids Current Tank Info: 65 gal reef

04/10/2007, 10:14 AM	#5
robwsup Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 2,434	QM is a large one. There are several out there. Generally, people that have good suppliers won't let the names go too easily, as there are not a bunch of good ones anywhere. __________________ Robert Current Tank Info: I own a LFS, so a bunch!

04/10/2007, 10:51 AM	#6
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	Check with your suplliers. Make sure they know who is getting their fish, and how. A LFS up here just found out that the suplier they were using used cyanide to cathc fish. Once she received the fish they would only last about 1 week, then die. They changed suppliers, and now everything is great! __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/10/2007, 10:54 AM	#7
Fishdisease Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 311	I dont know a lot about wholesalers but I know I'd support ORA Farms as much as I could as they tank breed all of their fish. http://www.orafarm.com/ Proaquatix also is a wholesaler that tank breeds all of their fish. http://www.proaquatix.com/ __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: I've got an empty 180 in my basement...and the build has begun! Check out my thread.

04/10/2007, 11:26 AM	#8
chacha Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 50	Liveaquaria.com. Good price, great quality __________________ 75g Reef; 30g Fuge/Sump 2-150W HQI 14K;2-96W Actinic (Main) 1-96W 50/50 (Fuge) Current Tank Info: 75g reef; 30g Refugium

04/10/2007, 12:44 PM	#9
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Wholesalers will not let you walk in the door without at DBA, tax ID, and proof that you own a retail location. Don't even try. If you live in LA and are looking for good deals, there's a huge place in Inglewood right off Manchester I used to go to all the time but I can't recall the name (getting old). If you pay $20/year "membership" you get most of the stuff half price. They usually have a good selection of corals and fish but definitely have the best live rock you can find in the area. 4.50/lb for fiji live rock with all kinds of life on it. A friend of mine once got a piece of LR there for 10 bucks with a brain coral, zoas, and a night anemone on it. One of the few things I really miss about living in LA. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009. Last edited by seapug; 04/10/2007 at 12:56 PM.

04/10/2007, 04:26 PM	#11
DamselHook Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arkansas Posts: 17	i have researched alot just wanted to see if some of you said some of the names i have seen, and apparently you have no idea and therefore just basically told me to figure it out on my own, thanks for nothing. For those that gace me names thank you, and to all those that just basically told me nothing, thanks for nothing.

04/10/2007, 07:39 PM	#12
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	welcome to the wonderful world of retail.... __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/10/2007, 10:07 PM	#13
serum153 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reno Posts: 584	I would think that one who is just about ready to open their fishstore would have already found a supplier, since you would have wanted to get an idea of the overhead before you dumped your money in the place for nothing, but what do I know. Anyways...Check out fisheadsinc. or something like that. I expect a pm once your up and running, so that I can get $100 off my order since I gave you a great supplier.

04/11/2007, 09:09 AM	#14
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	see what I mean? You haven't even opened up yet and people are already asking for discounts. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/11/2007, 10:48 AM	#16
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Are you just thinking of opening a store...as it says your a student? Maybe for your business plan for a class? There are many good suppliers out there, just make sure the QT before they ship the fish to you. Thats all the advice i have for ya.

04/11/2007, 11:11 AM	#17
mallyk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Senacaville, Ohio Posts: 99	Sea Dwelling Creatures, Quality Marine, Exotic Reef Imports, A & M Aquatics are just a few i've used. Sea Dwelling is one of my faves.

04/11/2007, 05:50 PM	#18
kenny77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 2,792	PM me I have a big list. I'm working on my LFS and been researching for wholesaler. from all US and Pacific. Before you even try to see the prices and everything. you will need your tax id number. __________________ "There's plenty of water in the universe without life, but nowere is there life without water" - Sylvia A. Farle, Project Director Sustainable Seas Expedition Kenny Current Tank Info: 24g nano. 60 cube in progress

04/11/2007, 06:06 PM	#19
jeeperrs Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 572	Well I hope your store does well. I always have to laugh at those who have done this for so long and forget that they had to start too. The fish business is no different from any other business and you will have to make some mistake to help you learn. But just as all the old school people on here saying it can't be done, they did it when technology was not nearly as good as it is now, so you can too. Also, on a good side note, you won't be learning the old practices that are not used anymore, so here soon you will be the expert and they will just be old Good luck with it!