I live in a really rural area. Our local fish store is crap! There are a number of fish that I would like to get when we get our tank stabilized such as rainbow varieties that are not carried at petco or petsmart, which is my only other option at about an hour away drive one way. I haven’t ever ordered fish online. Has anyone here ever ordered fish or plants online? What was your experience?
buying fish and plants online
- Thread starter prgwin00
- Start date
I've ordered live coral online. Probably in between fish and plants as far as sensitivity goes. Close to fish. It went very very smooth i was really pleased. But you must take into account where you buy from and how its being shipped.
Living in a rural area do you get good service from the Post Office, UPS, and FedEX? In most cases vendors online will use UPS and FedEx overnight to ship livestock (plants might be different because they can live longer?) or use USPS if you are really close. Just might want to think about their service to your area before you jump in.
Be sure to maximize your order to make it worth your time. Shipping sucks, everyone raises their prices now because the carriers raised prices to account for gas. So don't order like 1 fish and pay $50 shipping. If possible (smaller vendors usually) Get in contact with the seller beforehand and talk to them, just general questions maybe about their setup, their water, etc so you know where the fish is coming from. Ask for additional pictures if you can.
What kinds of fish are you looking for?
Living in a rural area do you get good service from the Post Office, UPS, and FedEX? In most cases vendors online will use UPS and FedEx overnight to ship livestock (plants might be different because they can live longer?) or use USPS if you are really close. Just might want to think about their service to your area before you jump in.
Be sure to maximize your order to make it worth your time. Shipping sucks, everyone raises their prices now because the carriers raised prices to account for gas. So don't order like 1 fish and pay $50 shipping. If possible (smaller vendors usually) Get in contact with the seller beforehand and talk to them, just general questions maybe about their setup, their water, etc so you know where the fish is coming from. Ask for additional pictures if you can.
What kinds of fish are you looking for?
Have you asked your LFS if they can order what you want? Maybe they next time they place an order they can request what you ask for. Mine is pretty good about that. In fact, yesterday I asked them to order a female pearl gourami. They had received a male and female pair recently that another customer had ordered but never bothered to go pick up. I walked out of the store with both.
I think our UPS and FedEx are pretty good. I wouldn't order anything that would be shipped via USPS. The site where I found what I want has a $30 min order so no worries about getting just one fish, unless I order an expensive one. The problem I have is that I was told not to introduce more than 5 new fish at a time. That means ordering something that costs about $6 each and the fish I want don't.
I want: 5 glowing Tetras. Five because they are schooling and I read they like to be in odd numbers of at least 5. Zebra Danios and I need an algae eater. The last one I got was probably too small for my tank and he didn't make it long.
I want: 5 glowing Tetras. Five because they are schooling and I read they like to be in odd numbers of at least 5. Zebra Danios and I need an algae eater. The last one I got was probably too small for my tank and he didn't make it long.
By the way, if you're still interested in getting some plants check out this forum. The Planted Tank Forum
I have gotten the majority of my plants from several different members for a fraction of the cost of retail outlets.
I have gotten the majority of my plants from several different members for a fraction of the cost of retail outlets.
I've sent and received both plants and fish. Most of the fish I've ordered have been from other hobbyists on Aquabid.com. It's not too bad, as long as you're home to receive the fish, and you avoid extreme temperatures in summer/winter.
Plants are always less stressful, because getting dead plants isn't as upsetting as getting dead fish. Plants can also take three-day delivery. If your LFS isn't able to order only a few plants, you may need to go that route. I believe most wholesalers need a big plant order, so your LFS may be more willing to order fish than plants for you.
Plants are always less stressful, because getting dead plants isn't as upsetting as getting dead fish. Plants can also take three-day delivery. If your LFS isn't able to order only a few plants, you may need to go that route. I believe most wholesalers need a big plant order, so your LFS may be more willing to order fish than plants for you.