Anyone ever order fish online (aquabid.com)? Whats the survival rate on Priority Mail (3-days)? USPS express is only guaranteed by the 2nd day and costs twice as much as priority mail. I can get 8 Pseudotropheus saulosi for $24 total (including priority shipping) on aquabid right now. Seems better than $6/per ($46+ tax) at my LFS. Is it worth the risk?
Ordering fish online
- Thread starter phin
- Start date
With exception of one of my species, all of my fish were bought off of folks on aquabid. I've only lost one fish in transit (a microrasbora) that I suspect was damaged while being netted as it had a long 'dent' along most of its body.
I've only ordered from established folks with good feedback, just to make sure there was a good chance of a good outcome.
I upgraded one shipment to overnight due to the expense of the fish and their sensitivity (a rare-ish oto). Otherwise, I've done the Priority Mail. I live near my post office, so I try to go down to pick the box up first thing in the morning so that it doesn't ride around in a truck all day. I've had fish arrive just fine without the morning pick-up too.
I've only ordered from established folks with good feedback, just to make sure there was a good chance of a good outcome.
I upgraded one shipment to overnight due to the expense of the fish and their sensitivity (a rare-ish oto). Otherwise, I've done the Priority Mail. I live near my post office, so I try to go down to pick the box up first thing in the morning so that it doesn't ride around in a truck all day. I've had fish arrive just fine without the morning pick-up too.
I have ordered quite a few fish online and have never had any problems.
I did purchase some apistos on aquabid a few years ago and another member here ordered from the same dealer as I on the same day and he had all sorts of problems. You can also google the sellers username and if they have negative feedback posted some were else it may show up. The seller myself and that other member bought from had alot of issues/complaints posted on other fish forums. The problem was when his arrived dead he had a hell of a time getting replacements and it took a while for the seller to even respond. Both were shipped next day air due to it being in winter. Search for posts by alter40 if you want to read about his ordeal.
Make sure they have a live arrival guarantee and make sure you clearly know the terms and conditions of that, many will guarantee the fish but the buyer has to pay the shipping charges again.
All of my other orders have been priority mail and I have never had issues, be sure you can be home on the day you expect them because some mail carriers wont leave them at your door even if the sender doesnt requires a signature.
I did purchase some apistos on aquabid a few years ago and another member here ordered from the same dealer as I on the same day and he had all sorts of problems. You can also google the sellers username and if they have negative feedback posted some were else it may show up. The seller myself and that other member bought from had alot of issues/complaints posted on other fish forums. The problem was when his arrived dead he had a hell of a time getting replacements and it took a while for the seller to even respond. Both were shipped next day air due to it being in winter. Search for posts by alter40 if you want to read about his ordeal.
Make sure they have a live arrival guarantee and make sure you clearly know the terms and conditions of that, many will guarantee the fish but the buyer has to pay the shipping charges again.
All of my other orders have been priority mail and I have never had issues, be sure you can be home on the day you expect them because some mail carriers wont leave them at your door even if the sender doesnt requires a signature.
Great, thanks.
When my tank is finished cycling I will probably buy one group of p. Saulosi from aquabid and have my LFS order me another group of them. Hopefully this way I'll have more genetic diversity. I'll take the most dominate male from the two groups and the 4 or 5 best looking females. Should make for a strong breeding colony.
The rest I'll just feed to my dog.
Just kidding, I'll either take them back to my LFS for credit or trade them through my local aquarium club.
When my tank is finished cycling I will probably buy one group of p. Saulosi from aquabid and have my LFS order me another group of them. Hopefully this way I'll have more genetic diversity. I'll take the most dominate male from the two groups and the 4 or 5 best looking females. Should make for a strong breeding colony.
The rest I'll just feed to my dog.
Just kidding, I'll either take them back to my LFS for credit or trade them through my local aquarium club.
Never used auabid but I know that liveauaria does a very good job at shipping and packaging. They put mine in striafoam and then ice packs to keep the fish from getting stressed out. But of course the UPS guy can't read and put the box with the arrow pointing down.......but online is fine for buying fish, just make sure its somone thats done it before!
