Buying Livestock On-line

texhorns98 · 12/08/2008, 10:40 AM

I'm sure this thread has been seen a hundred times, but it's the newbie forum and I'm sure we have new people here daily.

Any favorites out there for purchasing livestock? I'm VERY nervous doing this, but my LFS wants $160 for a fish I can get for much, much less on-line. How does it usually work? Do you need to schedule to be home the entire day of delivery, I guess?

gws76 · 12/08/2008, 10:51 AM

I've done it before. Yes, I had to be at home since it was overnight shipping. I could have had it shipped to my work, but then the fish would have had to stay in the bag until I got home. Less stress if you get it at home and go right to acclimation.

The pruchase I made was from live aquaria. They ship and pack your fish great. The only draw back is that you might still end up paying the same amount, due to the overnight shipping cost.

marks4470 · 12/08/2008, 10:55 AM

Hi,

I'm a new to, but I did buy some crabs and snails from Smith and Foster and they all arrived alive except for 1 crab and 1 snail. They gave me instant credit for them. I told them Friday delivery and thats when they showed up, but yes, you pretty much have to hang around until Fedex gets there. One thing I did notice is that my shipment came from Florida, and I live in washington State, and the water was very cold when they arrived. The heat packs had stopped working. If they had been fish, I dont think they would have made it. Maybe they pack fish different, but not sure.

lkc · 12/08/2008, 11:37 AM

My LFS got in an order of 100 yellow clowns. They came in cold and still. He thought they were all dead so he set them aside to dispose of later. He came back an hour later, they had warmed up and were swimming around!

mg426 · 12/08/2008, 11:52 AM

WWW.liveaquaria.com

crvz · 12/08/2008, 11:52 AM

Most everything I buy is online these days, I've never had an issue with it (though it is getting a bit cold right now). Matter of fact, I just ordered some stuff from pacificeastaquaculture to be shipped today.

Most of the time, I like to ship a HOLD-AT-LOCATION, because then I can go pick it up right when the fedex or UPS place opens up (usually 9am). This limits the stress on the fish and then I'm not sitting around the house. Any reputable online dealer will be very familiar with how to do this, but call them to figure it out.

Just wondering, which fish are you looking for?

freestone · 12/08/2008, 12:12 PM

I too have used liveaquaria. I was always happy with them. Any problems were always taken care of..(refund, replacement, or credit). Depending on what you order sometimes its better to get locally. I save the online orders for when I plan to get several things, so I can save on the shipping.

texhorns98 · 12/08/2008, 12:23 PM

I'm just noticing that there is no savings on one or two items. The fish I'm looking for is a Blue Spot Jawfish. My LFS wants $150, but I get a 10% discount for being in the local reef club. Most websites are $99, but then $30-$35 to ship. Oddly enough, the one thing I would have NEVER considered ordering on-line ends up being a deal compared to my LFS...LIVE ROCK! My store charges $8.99/lb. Can you trust anything would be alive after shipping though?

Good call on the ship to a hold location. If I end up ordering anything, I'll definitely have them do that. That way, no unnecessary bumping around on a truck!

Tswifty · 12/08/2008, 01:37 PM

www.reefhotspot.com

crvz · 12/08/2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by texhorns98
Can you trust anything would be alive after shipping though?

With live rock? Yeah, alive enough. You'll surely have more die-off during shipping, as most folks ship "moist" (at best...), but it wouldnt extend the cycle all that much. You surely won't get fully cured live rock with this method.

Stray32 · 12/08/2008, 02:21 PM

Never had a problem and have tried a few different websites and RC members.

Definitely choose HOLD AT LOCATION! Good luck.

agreeive?fish · 12/08/2008, 03:32 PM

texhorns98.. you made a stament that yo were noticing there were no savings on just one or 2... well that depends on the fish you want because if i was to buy a yellow tang(any size) on line and had it shipped it would still be cheaper than i can get one localy...

I have used live aquaria for most of my online orders (divers den section) and have always been very pleased with fish recieved

jpkboca · 12/08/2008, 03:41 PM

How much does your LFS charge for a yellow tang? The shipping alone on a yellow tang is more then they are sold for locally here.

Quote:

Originally posted by agreeive?fish
texhorns98.. you made a stament that yo were noticing there were no savings on just one or 2... well that depends on the fish you want because if i was to buy a yellow tang(any size) on line and had it shipped it would still be cheaper than i can get one localy...

I have used live aquaria for most of my online orders (divers den section) and have always been very pleased with fish recieved

texhorns98 · 12/08/2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by agreeive?fish
texhorns98.. you made a stament that yo were noticing there were no savings on just one or 2... well that depends on the fish you want because if i was to buy a yellow tang(any size) on line and had it shipped it would still be cheaper than i can get one localy...

I have used live aquaria for most of my online orders (divers den section) and have always been very pleased with fish recieved

A yellow tang is usually $60-$70.

lesleybird · 12/08/2008, 04:04 PM

If they ship Fedex like live aquaria they can sent it to your nearest 24 hour Kinko's Fedex location just get the address of the Kinkos so they send it to the right one. Lesley

texhorns98 · 12/08/2008, 04:11 PM

I'm not sure if they charge shipping by the fish or by the order (within reason). But for what I can buy my Blue Spot Jawfish, plus shipping is just about what I can buy it at the LFS for.

agreeive?fish · 12/08/2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpkboca
How much does your LFS charge for a yellow tang? The shipping alone on a yellow tang is more then they are sold for locally here.

$86.67 with tax and it dont matter if its the size of a dime or the size of a dinner plate

James77 · 12/08/2008, 07:54 PM

While price may be similar after shipping, especially 1 or 2 items, what kind of live guarantee do you get locally?
Live aquaria gives a 14-day, no questions guarantee on most everything, even a 30-day on their captive corals. No LFS that I know of around me has ANY guarantee. If they do, it is 1 or 2 days.

dalston · 12/08/2008, 08:42 PM

I highly recommend vividaquariums.com. Best customer service I have come across and will contact you and schedule when you will be home so they arrive that day

plateboy3293 · 12/09/2008, 09:32 PM

Or you good could purchase some corals with your order to lower the price on each item thats. How I go such as a leather is 55 where I am but its 45 online so I take 10 from shipping and add it to the price eventually I use up all the shipping and order my last item and feel great.

fantasyint · 12/10/2008, 12:53 AM

Your post is in violation of the terms and conditions of use of this web site and has been edited. Further violations will result in revocation of your posting privileges.

tubsy3 · 12/10/2008, 04:00 AM

IME ordering online is hit or miss. I have tried live aquaria, marine depot and a few others. I have had some shipments come in great health with no problems. I have also had nearly entire shipents die within a few days. If you are worried I would jsut go with live aquaria since they have the 14day guarantee. You lose shipping but it is better than nothing.

yongwooi · 12/10/2008, 04:35 AM

i bought my stuff from marinedepotlive. They have good customer service. Don't have any issue with them.

Ranchhand02 · 12/10/2008, 09:07 AM

I have had good luck with ordering on saltwaterfish.com. I have had several shipments through them. They guarantee them to stay alive for 15 days or they will credit your account if they die. Almost everything in my tank came from them. I ordered my live sand and rock online to and I have had good luck with it.

12/08/2008, 10:40 AM	#1
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Buying Livestock On-line I'm sure this thread has been seen a hundred times, but it's the newbie forum and I'm sure we have new people here daily. Any favorites out there for purchasing livestock? I'm VERY nervous doing this, but my LFS wants $160 for a fish I can get for much, much less on-line. How does it usually work? Do you need to schedule to be home the entire day of delivery, I guess?

12/08/2008, 10:51 AM	#2
gws76 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: El Reno, OK Posts: 1,691 Blog Entries: 2	I've done it before. Yes, I had to be at home since it was overnight shipping. I could have had it shipped to my work, but then the fish would have had to stay in the bag until I got home. Less stress if you get it at home and go right to acclimation. The pruchase I made was from live aquaria. They ship and pack your fish great. The only draw back is that you might still end up paying the same amount, due to the overnight shipping cost. __________________ "Let there be Rock!" ~ Bon Scott 2010-2011 COMAS POTM Chairman Current Tank Info: 150 gal. Starphire Mixed Reef

12/08/2008, 11:52 AM	#5
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	WWW.liveaquaria.com __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

12/08/2008, 11:52 AM	#6
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	Most everything I buy is online these days, I've never had an issue with it (though it is getting a bit cold right now). Matter of fact, I just ordered some stuff from pacificeastaquaculture to be shipped today. Most of the time, I like to ship a HOLD-AT-LOCATION, because then I can go pick it up right when the fedex or UPS place opens up (usually 9am). This limits the stress on the fish and then I'm not sitting around the house. Any reputable online dealer will be very familiar with how to do this, but call them to figure it out. Just wondering, which fish are you looking for? __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

12/08/2008, 12:12 PM	#7
freestone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Middletown, New York Posts: 211	I too have used liveaquaria. I was always happy with them. Any problems were always taken care of..(refund, replacement, or credit). Depending on what you order sometimes its better to get locally. I save the online orders for when I plan to get several things, so I can save on the shipping. __________________ Scot Current Tank Info: 75g w/ 29g sump with refugium, mag 9.5 return, 2-koralia #3, 1 Koralia nano, EuroReef Rs80 skimmer, PhosBan Reactor 150, T5 lighting:(2) 24w tru 10,000k, (2) 54w tru 10,000k, (2) 54w tru actinic

12/08/2008, 10:55 AM	#3
marks4470 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SPOKANE WA Posts: 44	Hi, I'm a new to, but I did buy some crabs and snails from Smith and Foster and they all arrived alive except for 1 crab and 1 snail. They gave me instant credit for them. I told them Friday delivery and thats when they showed up, but yes, you pretty much have to hang around until Fedex gets there. One thing I did notice is that my shipment came from Florida, and I live in washington State, and the water was very cold when they arrived. The heat packs had stopped working. If they had been fish, I dont think they would have made it. Maybe they pack fish different, but not sure.

12/08/2008, 11:37 AM	#4
lkc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tarpon Springs Posts: 269	My LFS got in an order of 100 yellow clowns. They came in cold and still. He thought they were all dead so he set them aside to dispose of later. He came back an hour later, they had warmed up and were swimming around!

12/08/2008, 12:23 PM	#8
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	I'm just noticing that there is no savings on one or two items. The fish I'm looking for is a Blue Spot Jawfish. My LFS wants $150, but I get a 10% discount for being in the local reef club. Most websites are $99, but then $30-$35 to ship. Oddly enough, the one thing I would have NEVER considered ordering on-line ends up being a deal compared to my LFS...LIVE ROCK! My store charges $8.99/lb. Can you trust anything would be alive after shipping though? Good call on the ship to a hold location. If I end up ordering anything, I'll definitely have them do that. That way, no unnecessary bumping around on a truck!

12/08/2008, 01:37 PM	#9
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	www.reefhotspot.com __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

12/08/2008, 02:21 PM	#11
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	Never had a problem and have tried a few different websites and RC members. Definitely choose HOLD AT LOCATION! Good luck. __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

12/08/2008, 03:32 PM	#12
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	texhorns98.. you made a stament that yo were noticing there were no savings on just one or 2... well that depends on the fish you want because if i was to buy a yellow tang(any size) on line and had it shipped it would still be cheaper than i can get one localy... I have used live aquaria for most of my online orders (divers den section) and have always been very pleased with fish recieved

12/08/2008, 04:04 PM	#15
lesleybird Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 392	If they ship Fedex like live aquaria they can sent it to your nearest 24 hour Kinko's Fedex location just get the address of the Kinkos so they send it to the right one. Lesley

12/08/2008, 04:11 PM	#16
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	I'm not sure if they charge shipping by the fish or by the order (within reason). But for what I can buy my Blue Spot Jawfish, plus shipping is just about what I can buy it at the LFS for.

12/08/2008, 07:54 PM	#18
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	While price may be similar after shipping, especially 1 or 2 items, what kind of live guarantee do you get locally? Live aquaria gives a 14-day, no questions guarantee on most everything, even a 30-day on their captive corals. No LFS that I know of around me has ANY guarantee. If they do, it is 1 or 2 days. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

12/08/2008, 08:42 PM	#19
dalston Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,336	I highly recommend vividaquariums.com. Best customer service I have come across and will contact you and schedule when you will be home so they arrive that day __________________ The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine - Abraham Lincoln An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one - George Mikes

12/09/2008, 09:32 PM	#20
plateboy3293 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsborough, New Jersey Posts: 1,038	Or you good could purchase some corals with your order to lower the price on each item thats. How I go such as a leather is 55 where I am but its 45 online so I take 10 from shipping and add it to the price eventually I use up all the shipping and order my last item and feel great. __________________ Wars come and go but my soldiers stay eternal Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bow

12/10/2008, 12:53 AM	#21
fantasyint Moved On Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 4	Your post is in violation of the terms and conditions of use of this web site and has been edited. Further violations will result in revocation of your posting privileges. Last edited by rbaker; 12/10/2008 at 05:17 AM.

12/10/2008, 04:00 AM	#22
tubsy3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 49	IME ordering online is hit or miss. I have tried live aquaria, marine depot and a few others. I have had some shipments come in great health with no problems. I have also had nearly entire shipents die within a few days. If you are worried I would jsut go with live aquaria since they have the 14day guarantee. You lose shipping but it is better than nothing.

12/10/2008, 04:35 AM	#23
yongwooi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san francisco Posts: 281	i bought my stuff from marinedepotlive. They have good customer service. Don't have any issue with them.

12/10/2008, 09:07 AM	#24
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	I have had good luck with ordering on saltwaterfish.com. I have had several shipments through them. They guarantee them to stay alive for 15 days or they will credit your account if they die. Almost everything in my tank came from them. I ordered my live sand and rock online to and I have had good luck with it.