I've usually gone between LFS's or online ordering but I wanted to ask if anyone else has ordered fish for their systems and which sites did you use? I'm trying to get some fish that aren't too common or are hard to come by. This is why I use these two methods. I would appreciate learning what others here use when they are looking for "out of the ordinary".
Ordering Fish (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter N1ceDrgn
- Start date
Kepler
Former: Koletang
You can request most fish at an LFS and they will track them down for you.
Bob1
Senior Member
Foster and Smith is a good one. Bluezooaquatics.com has a good reputation.
The one good thing at the LFS you get to see what you are buying.
The one good thing at the LFS you get to see what you are buying.
Kepler
Former: Koletang
And make sure they are eating.
I've had random luck at Petco, I do not shop there very often though and the fish I'm looking for is pretty rare. I'm trying to find a juvenile Black Spot Tang (Acanthurus Bariene). I have ordered from Live Aquaria before and had decent luck but there selection is limited. Locally, I only give my business to OD and on occasion Wet World to include Murray's Aquatech. I've talked to Vince at OD and the only ones that show on the vendor lists are mature juvenile's or adults. I haven't checked into BlueZooAquatics yet though. Does JJWhiteBoy still work at Petco in Minnetonka?
I've gone back and checked with LiveAquaria and their stock information is what I thought. They offer the fish but don't show any numbers. With BlueZooAquatics, they also offer the fish and a size close to what I'm looking for but again, no numbers or actual availability.
1 thing about Petco is if you do order a fish through them that they will NOT hold it for you.....they will call you and let you know it's arrived but, if someone else happens to walk past it and buy it before you get there...its gone. Kinda frustrating they wont hold it at least a few hours on a special order. Maybe Minnetonka has a different policy. I have had fairly good luck though with the other things I've bought there.
There is only one petco i would go thou is minnetonka.
Thanks for the site. I checked out Nyaquatic.com and they do have (2) Bariene's listed but they are both larger than I would like to find. I will keep checking though. As for Petco, that is the only one I buy livestock from.
Everything get dipped or treated before it enters my tank but when it comes to Petco, that has been the only one I've been in, where the livestock is pretty good to start with.
Everything get dipped or treated before it enters my tank but when it comes to Petco, that has been the only one I've been in, where the livestock is pretty good to start with.
I've ordered almost exclusively from Live Aquaria/Divers Den and most likely will continue to as I continue to stock. Customer service is great, warranty is solid. 99% of my problems are from my own doing. I pushed them a little via email for help getting a butterfly to eat and only got canned answers, calling in I think would have been better. I wasn't too worried about the butterfly coming around which he has.
One of the biggest draw for me to Live Aquaria/DD is there selection. Naturally LFS just can't match it. If I didn't have dedicated QT tank(s) things would be a different story. QT for disease is on thing, I find QT more useful to get a stressed fish eating and some fat on it's bones in a stress free environment.
Live Aquaria is basically just straight from the wholesaler Quality Marine with a better warranty than most. One needs to be prepared for a newly imported species. Frankly, the prices are a little high for straight from a wholesaler.
Most LFS gave me BS answers on some of the fish I was looking for, basically not worth their time was the answer I got. Pissed me off, and I agree financially for the one sale it most likely wasn't going to be in their financial best interest. Relationships go past one sale but so be it.
I don't know much about the fish./size your looking for but I think the best course of action would be to start calling around. Don't go by what's on the websites, you need to call and start trying to make some connections.
I'll spare everyone my rant on Petco as I need to get back to work.:censor:
One of the biggest draw for me to Live Aquaria/DD is there selection. Naturally LFS just can't match it. If I didn't have dedicated QT tank(s) things would be a different story. QT for disease is on thing, I find QT more useful to get a stressed fish eating and some fat on it's bones in a stress free environment.
Live Aquaria is basically just straight from the wholesaler Quality Marine with a better warranty than most. One needs to be prepared for a newly imported species. Frankly, the prices are a little high for straight from a wholesaler.
Most LFS gave me BS answers on some of the fish I was looking for, basically not worth their time was the answer I got. Pissed me off, and I agree financially for the one sale it most likely wasn't going to be in their financial best interest. Relationships go past one sale but so be it.
I don't know much about the fish./size your looking for but I think the best course of action would be to start calling around. Don't go by what's on the websites, you need to call and start trying to make some connections.
I'll spare everyone my rant on Petco as I need to get back to work.:censor:
deneed4spd
Senior Member
Whoa - Petco Minnetonka has been great to work with. Jason orders me anything I want from their list and will even call me when its in and hold it for couple days until I can come get it. Not to mention no one can beat their pricing. Even beats LA. Also, if they get something and its not eating or isnt within your specs, you dont even have to buy it. Best of both worlds. Now only if they would offer 14 day warrenty. That would be awesome!
I have been browsing around the internet for a couple weeks now and I'm still wading through sites for old shops I can think of out in San Diego even. I gravitate to shops and people I've done business with, before I try someone or someplace new. I'm always interested in learning about new places though.
LA does have a nice selection but I have not found who I'm looking for there. As for Petco, I may stop out there soon and see if Jason is around. It's been a long while since I've been in there. The last time I was there, I took home a Tennenti or Lietenant Tang. Which is now a resident at OD. When it comes down to it, my Achilles will always win out. I do not mind growing out Tangs though. They are nice to look at and they always leave my system, healthy, quite large and very colorful. OD has never had a problem finding one of my healthy fish a home.
This time around, I am looking for a permanent resident, the Bariene. I plan to move out of my apartment in the near future and at that time, I will get my 250g set back up and there will be plenty of room for my Achilles and the Bariene.
LA does have a nice selection but I have not found who I'm looking for there. As for Petco, I may stop out there soon and see if Jason is around. It's been a long while since I've been in there. The last time I was there, I took home a Tennenti or Lietenant Tang. Which is now a resident at OD. When it comes down to it, my Achilles will always win out. I do not mind growing out Tangs though. They are nice to look at and they always leave my system, healthy, quite large and very colorful. OD has never had a problem finding one of my healthy fish a home.
This time around, I am looking for a permanent resident, the Bariene. I plan to move out of my apartment in the near future and at that time, I will get my 250g set back up and there will be plenty of room for my Achilles and the Bariene.
Skip
Senior Member
Were you the one that brought it in the white bucket and it had broke some SPS off when you were trying to catch it? If so, LT has been happily residing in our 120, a great addition thus far!
Yes, that would be me. Vince and I have a running joke that I take in a raise difficult tang's, get them to a healthy size and coloration and then bring them in to him. This next run though, with the Bariene, will be a permanent resident in my own system. I'm planning to have my 250g set back up by the time it's growing into a adult. I hope it's doing well in your system!
Skip
Senior Member
Ya that's what Vince was telling me so it helped support my purchase of him. Good luck on your next!
SmnParish
Senior Member
LA shows the general sizes of their fish, smallest size available right now is 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches
Yes, Thank you. I've already contacted them asking for email notification of when a small or tiny sized fish arrives. I've also tried scouring eBay as well. So far I've only found 1 vendor that lists them. I'm hoping for some type of good news.
Platypus777
Senior Member
DONT USE Aquacon AKA Aquatic Connection. They have hits on BBB and I ordered from them once. BIG mistake. Check the BBB before you do anything. With that said, Live aquaria has been nothing but great for my purchases.