Fish By Mail

[TheHolding]

Has anyone on here ever ordered fish online?

I'm looking at ordering some fish from Directtropicals.co.uk, anyone in particular used these?

They offer an arrive alive guarantee which is good and I'm only considering this because none of the LFS have any of the fish I want and they won't order them in as none have a brackish setup tank!

Really want GSP's!

 

[Big_eyes]

Ordered from them a few times and planning on ordering off them again this week.

Never had any issues with delivery or fish health. Whenever they've delivered to me the guy has opened them up to make sure they're alive before he leaves.

Would recommend them

 

[TheHolding]

Ordered from them a few times and planning on ordering off them again this week.

Never had any issues with delivery or fish health. Whenever they've delivered to me the guy has opened them up to make sure they're alive before he leaves.

Would recommend them

Thanks for the response will definately order next week.

They seemed really friendly and helpful on the phone it's just good to get a buyers opinion

 

[Twinklecaz]

I've been considering this too for the same reasons. The only thing I don't like is that you don't get to inspect them for health before you actually get them but you reckon these people are really good do you Big Eyes?

 

[minxfishy]

Have ordered online from several places, have used direct tropicals on a couple of occassional, mixed results, all have arrived alive (cept one that was killed because they were not bagged seperately), not always the correct species though and some have died several weeks later.

I prefer to use wildwoods (google tropical fish finder uk) not had a problem with them or the fish or the wrong fish species.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Thanks! I just looked at Direct and they don't have the fish I want either!

 

[Big_eyes]

Have ordered online from several places, have used direct tropicals on a couple of occassional, mixed results, all have arrived alive (cept one that was killed because they were not bagged seperately), not always the correct species though and some have died several weeks later.

I prefer to use wildwoods (google tropical fish finder uk) not had a problem with them or the fish or the wrong fish species.

Wouldn't fish dying a few weeks later be more likely a fault or issue of your own?

 

[minxfishy]

Doubtful as nothing wrong with the stats (when I say several weeks later, die in QT after 2 weeks), In some cases the stock was ok, in other quite poor quality. My main issue with them was sending the wrong stock and not bagging them seperately, for example, when you order 2 blue acara and they send (in the same bag) 1 blue acara and 1 texas cichlid, you obviously have a dead blue acara and then a texas cichlid which you have to then house appropriately (requiring a seperate tank at the time as didnt mix with current stock), whilst they happily replaced, I was still left in a position of having a fish that I didnt want and didnt mix with current stocking.

Thats just one order obviously and others have been ok, you always take a risk with ordering fish online, its just not an issue Ive had with other suppliers and felt it only appropriate to point it out to the OP who was asking for others experiences with the company.

 

[Big_eyes]

Ah I see, fair point.

You're making me think twice now, it was blue acaras I was planning on ordering from them

 

[minxfishy]

This was nearly two years ago, hopefully they have their ID's better nowadays.

 

[TheHolding]

Well I placed an order with Directtropicals.

Have ordered for main tank -

2 Green Spotted Puffers (have been advised by DT that they are currently 4cm long)
1 Mono (apparently 8 cm long)

For the small tank -

4 Male Endlers
3 Female Endlers

I hope to have all fish by next Thursday.

Will update you on the condition of the fish when they arrive and their condition 2 weeks later! Would be good to see if they meet the description they gave me on the phone to i.e the current fish sizes.

 

[TheHolding]

Fish arrived today!

2 x GSP - small as described both approx 5cm - one of them is beautiful in colour the other looked dead when it arrived I think this is the stress of moving though so not direct tropicals fault - when I put him in tank he just sat in the sand - 2 hours later he has got some colour in him and is now swimming happily but occasionally rests on the bottom hopefully he will make it!

1 x Mono - lovely fish about 6-7cm long I'm not sure he is an angelus or a sebae mind both are brackish so not fussed - really is a lovely fish

4 x Endlers (male) - lovely fish and look 100% true endler.

3 x Endlers (female) - they are a lot bigger than the males 2 have colour in their tales which makes me suspect they are a guppy mix

Overall i'm very happy with my purchase fingers crossed for the puffer!

 

[TheHolding]

Good news with the second puffer he is swimming and his belly is White although the rest of his body is pretty dark hopefully his colours will show soon

The other puffer is a bit of a bully as soon as I drop food in the tank he chases the weaker one away! He will also eat anything including flake food!!

The other puffer is a bit more fussy I have only seen him eat the snails I have dropped in to the tank. At least he is eating though

 

[rdp50734]

Glad to hear they are all ok!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Has anyone got any experience with "Wholesale Tropical Fish" based In Fareham, Hampshire?
http/www.wholesale-tropical-fish.co.uk/price_list.htm

Besides increasing stocking options for me and being pretty local, I also wonder if buying directly would be less stressful on the fish, which might tip the odd's in sensitive species favour for surviving the trauma of arrivng in our aquaria?