Where to buy fish?

Tutto · 11/02/2011, 08:33 AM

Hey,

I set up my 55 gallon tank about a week ago, and kick started the cycle with a raw shrimp. I am thinking the cycle should be complete in a month or so.

I have a 10 gallon QT I am going to set up in the next few days, and I heard that a good thing to do on your first couple fish is to start them in QT 3-4 weeks before your DT finishes cycling, that way when its done, you have already quarantined them for 3-4 weeks.

I have a quick questions, where do you guys recommend I buy fish? I have heard mixed reviews on chain stores (Petco/Petsmart). I have a sketchy LFS that are very unknowledgable, but I have another one thats a 35 minute drive that I think it a good one.

Where do you guys reccommend? Online? Chains? LFS? Im looking to get a pair of Clowns, will they do alright together in a 10 gallon QT? or should I split them up?

Thanks!

firebirdude · 11/02/2011, 09:58 AM

I used to think that an LFS is the only way to go. I didn't like the idea of my fish being bagged up for a few days in a box while shipping across the US. Until I wised up and realized the LFS's get them in a very similar way. The fish have probably had roughly the same amount of stress inflicted on them either way.

The advantage of buying from the LFS is that you can see/inspect the exact fish you're buying. But on that note, if you buy from a reputable online dealer, they generally never do anybody wrong. And if the fish arrives dead, they replace them.

So all in all, I'd buy from either. I'd probably check my LFS first to see if they have what I'm looking for and at what price. If I'm looking for something specific, I'd just order it online. Livestock generally seem to be about the same price online anyway. It's dry goods that are far cheaper.

And yes your clowns should be fine together.

Sugar Magnolia · 11/02/2011, 10:28 AM

A lot of people have had great success with Liveaquaria and Diver's Den online.

stevek480 · 11/02/2011, 12:00 PM

I've ordered a bunch of fish from petsolutions.com and never had a problem. When possible though, I try to buy from the LFS when it makes sense to support them because I do have a pretty good one. Some fish are harder to find at LFS though, so I've bought them online.

countrykat · 11/02/2011, 12:59 PM

My LFS charges about 3 to 4 times more than what retail should be. I travel about 30 minutes to another lfs to get hardware and the occasional fish. Other than that I get my fish online from blue zoo. They are a sponsor of this site. I have also heard good about live aqaria but have never ordered from them.

jeff@zina.com · 11/02/2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tutto

...I have another one thats a 35 minute drive that I think it a good one.

You already knew your answer.

Jeff

Zappo · 11/02/2011, 02:31 PM

If you have a petco near you that sells saltwater livestock, they can be a good place for placing orders. The prices are hard to beat and you don't have to worry about their high school flunky killing your fish if you're able to pick it up the morning it arrives. Some stores even give a 10% discount for picking things up before they're removed from shipping bags. It's like ordering online without the extra $50 for shipping.

The lfs is always the way to go if you want a delicate fish that needs to be observed before purchasing it, but common stuff is just so much cheaper at the chain stores.

Southreef · 11/02/2011, 07:17 PM

I would say the LFS if only for the fact that you can go and ask them questions face to face. My LFS has been a sounding board for me to learn from and verrrrrry rarely I get to teach them something

00Warpig00 · 11/02/2011, 09:22 PM

I have to give kudos to liveaquaria. I have two pairs of fish in my QT right now. Both pairs seem to be doing very well. They are beautiful and I had NO trouble with feeding. In fact just for grins I fed the tank just a touch of food only an hour after they were in the QT tank and two of the four ate right away. the other two ate at the next morning's feeding. All four fish were in great shape, and have outlived their warranty. In fact I'm only a couple weeks away from moving them to the DT. I will surely buy from them again. It was my first experience with them and I am very pleased. The water in the bags they were in after a cross country trip was nearing 2 ppm of ammonia but they were still doing ok.

Nick

moondoggy4 · 11/03/2011, 01:05 PM

Its easy to get fish in So Cal, from LFS and wholesllers they can get you what you want, but if your selection is limited I would buy from one of the sponsors here. If you are going to cycle your tank just get damsels for now until you figure out what you are doing and I would just get those from the LFS.

blt · 11/03/2011, 01:43 PM

If you've got a good LFS, they should be at the top of your list. They don't need to be the only place you get fish from, but they should be the first place you check.

Avoid the sketchy LFS though.

stevek480 · 11/03/2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

Its easy to get fish in So Cal, from LFS and wholesllers they can get you what you want, but if your selection is limited I would buy from one of the sponsors here. If you are going to cycle your tank just get damsels for now until you figure out what you are doing and I would just get those from the LFS.

That is incorrect, there's no reason to cycle with live fish. Just putting in live rock will initiate the cycle, and raw shrimp can speed things up.

Sk8r · 11/03/2011, 04:07 PM

Never use a live fish to cycle a tank: it hurts their internal organs and it's cruel, besides being an inferior method to just adding fishfood without the fish.

MrTuskfish · 11/03/2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Never use a live fish to cycle a tank: it hurts their internal organs and it's cruel, besides being an inferior method to just adding fishfood without the fish.

+1 Live fish for cycling used to be common; until about 20 years ago. Some info just doesn't go away and I'd avoid any LFS that suggests it. There is absolutely nothing a damsel wlll do for the cycle that fish food, a dead shrimp, or any other suitable source of marine stuff that will rot won't do. (What was the movie with the line "My name is Fester, it means to rot'')? Plus, you won't have the problem of removing the damsel when you discover what little monsters most of them are.

To the OP: I'd sign up for the daily Diver's Den e-mails at live Aquaria, they often have great pairs of mated clowns. They may be a bit pricey for 1st fish, but the e-mails are always great. IMO, LA (and all the Dr.s Foster & Smith companies) are the best run businesses, of any kind, in existence. Quite a flowery statement, I know. Every fish I've kept for years is from them, their customer service and guarantee is outstanding. I've been very happy with the few fish I've gotten from Blue Zoo too.

VoiceInTheDeser · 11/03/2011, 04:38 PM

I'll just add my voice to the list of people with good experience from Liveaquaria. I was skeptical at first, but as a few others have said, it's more or less how the lfs's receive their fish anyway.

MrTuskfish · 11/04/2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoiceInTheDeser

I'll just add my voice to the list of people with good experience from Liveaquaria. I was skeptical at first, but as a few others have said, it's more or less how the lfs's receive their fish anyway.

Actually; when you buy from LA; fish are bagged, shipped & require acclimation one less time than fish you buy at the LFS.

11/02/2011, 08:33 AM	#1
Tutto Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Killingly, CT Posts: 120	Where to buy fish? Hey, I set up my 55 gallon tank about a week ago, and kick started the cycle with a raw shrimp. I am thinking the cycle should be complete in a month or so. I have a 10 gallon QT I am going to set up in the next few days, and I heard that a good thing to do on your first couple fish is to start them in QT 3-4 weeks before your DT finishes cycling, that way when its done, you have already quarantined them for 3-4 weeks. I have a quick questions, where do you guys recommend I buy fish? I have heard mixed reviews on chain stores (Petco/Petsmart). I have a sketchy LFS that are very unknowledgable, but I have another one thats a 35 minute drive that I think it a good one. Where do you guys reccommend? Online? Chains? LFS? Im looking to get a pair of Clowns, will they do alright together in a 10 gallon QT? or should I split them up? Thanks!

11/02/2011, 10:28 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	A lot of people have had great success with Liveaquaria and Diver's Den online. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

11/02/2011, 12:00 PM	#4
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	I've ordered a bunch of fish from petsolutions.com and never had a problem. When possible though, I try to buy from the LFS when it makes sense to support them because I do have a pretty good one. Some fish are harder to find at LFS though, so I've bought them online. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

11/02/2011, 09:22 PM	#9
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	I have to give kudos to liveaquaria. I have two pairs of fish in my QT right now. Both pairs seem to be doing very well. They are beautiful and I had NO trouble with feeding. In fact just for grins I fed the tank just a touch of food only an hour after they were in the QT tank and two of the four ate right away. the other two ate at the next morning's feeding. All four fish were in great shape, and have outlived their warranty. In fact I'm only a couple weeks away from moving them to the DT. I will surely buy from them again. It was my first experience with them and I am very pleased. The water in the bags they were in after a cross country trip was nearing 2 ppm of ammonia but they were still doing ok. Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

11/03/2011, 04:07 PM	#13
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Never use a live fish to cycle a tank: it hurts their internal organs and it's cruel, besides being an inferior method to just adding fishfood without the fish. __________________ 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%.

11/02/2011, 09:58 AM	#2
firebirdude User and Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,836	I used to think that an LFS is the only way to go. I didn't like the idea of my fish being bagged up for a few days in a box while shipping across the US. Until I wised up and realized the LFS's get them in a very similar way. The fish have probably had roughly the same amount of stress inflicted on them either way. The advantage of buying from the LFS is that you can see/inspect the exact fish you're buying. But on that note, if you buy from a reputable online dealer, they generally never do anybody wrong. And if the fish arrives dead, they replace them. So all in all, I'd buy from either. I'd probably check my LFS first to see if they have what I'm looking for and at what price. If I'm looking for something specific, I'd just order it online. Livestock generally seem to be about the same price online anyway. It's dry goods that are far cheaper. And yes your clowns should be fine together.

11/02/2011, 12:59 PM	#5
countrykat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 303	My LFS charges about 3 to 4 times more than what retail should be. I travel about 30 minutes to another lfs to get hardware and the occasional fish. Other than that I get my fish online from blue zoo. They are a sponsor of this site. I have also heard good about live aqaria but have never ordered from them.

11/02/2011, 02:31 PM	#7
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	If you have a petco near you that sells saltwater livestock, they can be a good place for placing orders. The prices are hard to beat and you don't have to worry about their high school flunky killing your fish if you're able to pick it up the morning it arrives. Some stores even give a 10% discount for picking things up before they're removed from shipping bags. It's like ordering online without the extra $50 for shipping. The lfs is always the way to go if you want a delicate fish that needs to be observed before purchasing it, but common stuff is just so much cheaper at the chain stores.

11/02/2011, 07:17 PM	#8
Southreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 188	I would say the LFS if only for the fact that you can go and ask them questions face to face. My LFS has been a sounding board for me to learn from and verrrrrry rarely I get to teach them something

11/03/2011, 01:05 PM	#10
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Its easy to get fish in So Cal, from LFS and wholesllers they can get you what you want, but if your selection is limited I would buy from one of the sponsors here. If you are going to cycle your tank just get damsels for now until you figure out what you are doing and I would just get those from the LFS.

11/03/2011, 01:43 PM	#11
blt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 205	If you've got a good LFS, they should be at the top of your list. They don't need to be the only place you get fish from, but they should be the first place you check. Avoid the sketchy LFS though.

11/03/2011, 04:38 PM	#15
VoiceInTheDeser Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 286	I'll just add my voice to the list of people with good experience from Liveaquaria. I was skeptical at first, but as a few others have said, it's more or less how the lfs's receive their fish anyway.

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