Online Fish Buying

[josh_g]

Anyone know anywhere online that post using Royal Mail?

 

[Tuxyu3]

Lots of places on eBay do it but they really should not. If you do not want to pay for a specialist courier i would suggest not buying online.

 

[JenCliBee]

Lots of places on eBay do it but they really should not. If you do not want to pay for a specialist courier i would suggest not buying online.

Why?.... couriers, even specialist ones don't take that much care in there parcels... they just have insurance that's all.

Ive sent hundreds of livestock parcels through RM and never once had a fatality, never once had a buyer come back to me saying the parcel was damaged in anyway and everyone has always been more than satisfied.

To the OP's Q..... there are many sellers on ebay that just use RM special delivery, online shops depending what you after, Rare Aquatics is a good one, aqua essentials sell shrimp as do fresh water shrimp.

 

[Tuxyu3]

More legal reasons than anything, though i do also have morale problems with sending fish through Royal Mail where they are put through completely normal sorting. Couriers at least have an interest in being careful, they don't exactly want to be giving themselves a bad name and refunding people/claiming on insurance.

 

[JenCliBee]

More legal reasons than anything, though i do also have morale problems with sending fish through Royal Mail where they are put through completely normal sorting. Couriers at least have an interest in being careful, they don't exactly want to be giving themselves a bad name and refunding people/claiming on insurance.

I used to work for a courier service (actually 2 very well known ones) and i assure you they are far from careful with there parcels(even ones stated fragile), i also worked at RM in there sorting offices so i have experience with how they all treat the parcels... i also know a couple of drivers for a specialist company and although they admitted not doing it themselves, they said there are some staff that aren't as careful as you may expect or want.

As to legal reasons, you can actually send live fish through there services...however it's meant to be small/young/baby fish.

 

[josh_g]

As far as I know there are no legal obligations to sending fish through the post unless trying to send banned species and as far as couriers taking special care you're having a laugh right. I've received many fish from private breeders threw royal mail and never had any problems. I've received dart frogs threw private couriers and the packages have arrived crushed and damp.

So to anybody that actually knows any places and not just talking nonsense. Let me know.

Also Jen been on the staff forum, some lovely peeps on there

 

[JenCliBee]

As far as I know there are no legal obligations to sending fish through the post unless trying to send banned species and as far as couriers taking special care you're having a laugh right. I've received many fish from private breeders threw royal mail and never had any problems. I've received dart frogs threw private couriers and the packages have arrived crushed and damp.

So to anybody that actually knows any places and not just talking nonsense. Let me know.

Also Jen been on the staff forum, some lovely peeps on there

They are a nice bunch mate, the other half mentioned you had joined earlier .


As to online stores... was you after anything in particular mate?

 

[josh_g]

As far as I know there are no legal obligations to sending fish through the post unless trying to send banned species and as far as couriers taking special care you're having a laugh right. I've received many fish from private breeders threw royal mail and never had any problems. I've received dart frogs threw private couriers and the packages have arrived crushed and damp.

So to anybody that actually knows any places and not just talking nonsense. Let me know.

Also Jen been on the staff forum, some lovely peeps on there

They are a nice bunch mate, the other half mentioned you had joined earlier

.


As to online stores... was you after anything in particular mate?

Just somewhere that uses Royal Mail mate really. And have a nice selection of different fish. Somewhere like oddballexpress.net as they are brilliant but only stock cichlids really.

 

[josh_g]

Lots of places on eBay do it but they really should not. If you do not want to pay for a specialist courier i would suggest not buying online.

And it's not that i'm trying to save money on using a courier. I live on the Isle of Wight and good luck finding a company that will send a courier here

 

[JenCliBee]

As far as I know there are no legal obligations to sending fish through the post unless trying to send banned species and as far as couriers taking special care you're having a laugh right. I've received many fish from private breeders threw royal mail and never had any problems. I've received dart frogs threw private couriers and the packages have arrived crushed and damp.

So to anybody that actually knows any places and not just talking nonsense. Let me know.

Also Jen been on the staff forum, some lovely peeps on there

They are a nice bunch mate, the other half mentioned you had joined earlier

.


As to online stores... was you after anything in particular mate?

Just somewhere that uses Royal Mail mate really. And have a nice selection of different fish. Somewhere like oddballexpress.net as they are brilliant but only stock cichlids really.

Try Rare Aquatics mate... they may not have that much on there site but if you email them with what you want, id put money on them being able to get it for you and ship it

 

[Tuxyu3]

Rare Aquatics use a courier do they not? I would not put any bets on them having a wide selection of species, when I spoke to the guy I got the impression he was not really interested, more of a specialist. Even if he did get them in it would have to be in bulk.

I could be mistaken but I am pretty sure there are some real implications possible if Royal Mail is used to ship adult or even juvenile fish. I also think the seller is responsible though so you should be safe. Have you checked out Kesgrave Tropicals on eBay? I think they deliver to some pretty remote places in the UK (at a cost).

 

[JenCliBee]

Rare Aquatics use a courier do they not? I would not put any bets on them having a wide selection of species, when I spoke to the guy I got the impression he was not really interested, more of a specialist. Even if he did get them in it would have to be in bulk.

I could be mistaken but I am pretty sure there are some real implications possible if Royal Mail is used to ship adult or even juvenile fish. I also think the seller is responsible though so you should be safe. Have you checked out Kesgrave Tropicals on eBay? I think they deliver to some pretty remote places in the UK (at a cost).

I know the owner of RA, her hubby may not be the best person to speak to, ask for Jo.... they specialise in plecs but they can get almost anything in and there shop has been rated top shop in PFK for the last couple of years.... so i assure you if you want it, they will try to get it(if they haven't got it in already).

And.... as far as i'm aware, they still use RM and have done for many many years, they may have changed it recently, but Jo being an ex RM worker, i couldn't imagine her using a courier.

As to implications with RM... yes there is if your sending adult fish and to non recognised institutes. So royal mail sending of fish essentially is against there 'rules of transit'.... however.... thousands of parcels in the way of livestock are sent through there system daily so in all honesty...for profit purposes, i doubt they would object lol.

Rules for livestock....

Bees, Leeches, Pupae and Chrysalides, Caterpillars, Lugworms, Rag worms, Earthworms, Maggots, Silkworms, Fish fry and Fish eggs, Mealworms, Crickets, certain Parasites and destroyers of Noxious Pests, and some other insects sent between recognised institutions are allowed. You must use boxes that protect both the creatures and Royal Mail staff from harm. Use First Class as the minimum service and clearly label the package as "URGENT - LIVING CREATURES". Mark the sender's name and address on the outer wrapping.

Saying that, unless you use a specialist livestock courier, every other courier has a similar policy to sending livestock anyways, so RM or courier, whats the difference?.

 

[josh_g]

Ok tuxyu and jen i'l give the places you mentioned a try. Cheers