Buying Fish

[loachman]

Generally, go to your reputable LFS for common/inexpensive fish. It'll be cheaper and you can "hand" select the fish.

For rare items, online is much more attractive. Some LFS will special order items, but the options are just larger at online retailers than even the best brick and mortar LFS. For the rare fish, the shipping/cost ratio isn't as unfavorable as well since the price of the fish is higher.

 

[Inchworm]

Since you can't see the fish when you buy them from an online seller, don't hesitate to send as many emails as it takes to ask questions. If they have a picture of a fish online, ask them if it's the one they are actually going to send you. If not, you will want to know if the ones you will receive are fully grown adults or just how big they will be. Ask if they are wild caught fish or ones they bred themselves. Depending on the type of fish you are buying, and your own requirements, these questions, and/or many others, might be important. A reputable seller will take the time to answer everything and offer advice if needed.

If you are buying at an auction, such as AquaBid or eBay, pay attention to the feedback the seller has received from the customers who bought from him. If it's from an online fish store, you could try posting to see if anyone else has dealt with them and what they think of their purchases. When you are buying something sight unseen, reputation is everything!

Above all, pay whatever it costs to get your fish sent by overnight delivery. This is not the place to save money. If you try, there is always an increased chance that your fish will arrive sick or dead. Even if the dealer gives a money back guarantee, it's usually voided if you don't use the fastest means of delivery.

 

[omega59]

i will try and take the bus to a local shop and see what they have.. it will take about 3hrs to get there and then back home atleast* i looked a variouse websites that sell fish and i do not feel satisfied.. many do not ship to canada

 

[eschaton]

The biggest issue I see with purchasing fish online is the shipping cost, which (in the U.S.) is a minimum of $30 for overnight delivery. The most economical thing to do is buy as much stock at once as possible from one vendor. However, the most sensible thing to to stocking-wise is slowly purchase fish and introduce them in small groups. So you have a choice between risking a mini-cycle or paying far more than the real cost of fish at a LFS.

Personally, I purchased online twice from retailers. Franks Aquarium was quite nice, with most of the fish surviving for quite some time, but most of the stuff I bought from AZgardens died off within a month of purchase.

 

[Meds081603]

I am not familiar with franks. I have heard lots of bad things about AZgardens. Aquabid is a good way to get fish too!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi omega59

Three hours is a long trip to buy fish, but you should have no problems if you get them packed right. I suggest that you bring a cooler or styrofoam box with you to transport them in. Depending on the weather where you live, you might want to look into how to use a heat pack.

The two issues you will need to deal with are heat and oxygen. If you ask them to package your fish in large enough bags, with one third water and two thirds air space, they should be fine. Explain to the lfs manager what your needs are and he will help you. If you are lucky enough not to have to buy from a chain store, you will be better off since the owner and clerks will know more about what they are doing.

If you are in doubt about what you need to do, telephone the shop and talk to the person who will be serving you. He should know what the local weather conditions are going to be and if you will need to take any extra precautions regarding heat packs. Done right, the trip will be more uncomfortable for you than it will be for the fish.

 

[omega59]

sounds like a big hassle haha.

 

[goosej13]

Does anyone know of some good online fish stores in ontario??

 

[Inchworm]

sounds like a big hassle haha.

It IS a big hassle!