Buying fish online - where?

DKRST

I have had it with the local big box fish stores! Nothing but sick fish that die over a week's time. Any recommendations on reputable, but not high-$$$ on-line freshwater fish seller? Is aquabid the best place to use?

Plumkin

aquabid i dont know i been on the site and never bought from them but herd some good feedback about it I will be pursching my Discus from a guy on a forum named Kenny he has a GREAT Repuation so I usally do alot of research on who im buying from before I spend the money LFS there not the way to go it seems like unless there smart on what there doing but many are so busy with al ther etanks and what not you know.

aunt kymmie

I've used aquabid, as long as you make sure your seller/vendor has nothing but positive feedback you should be fine. No nearby LFS that can special order for you? I'm lucky, mine will. I can't even look at big box stores and their fish.

Plumkin

what fish have you bought from aquabid

DKRST

You should have seen the oto tank at PetSmart. Of a dozen or so really thin otos, half were dead or dying. Absolutely pitiful. I'd love to get some for my tank, but would not touch any from there - they seem delicate enough under the best of conditions!

aunt kymmie

Yes, the same as for my Petco as far as otos. What I don't understand is why they don't remove the dead fish pronto? It makes no sense, do they think customers really want to see floaters or sinkers??

CoffeeMan

I am lucky to have a great LFS about 25 minutes from my house. The people who run it are as knowledgeable as anyone here, and they take really good care of their fish.

I do go to PetSmart for most of my supplies though, since the LFS tends to charge a little much for most accessories. The tanks at my Petsmart always look healthy, and I have bought some of my Zebra Danios there without any issue. But the people working there don't have much knowledge about fish keeping, even though they think they do. I love going in there and playing stupid, acting like I know nothing about keeping fish, just to see what they tell me. According to them, it only takes 24 hours to cycle a tank, lol.

Inga

Not all Petsmarts are alike. The Petsmart here is pretty nice but I would never buy anything at Petco here. Petco... dead fish or dying fish, fish housed in less then clean tanks and jammed together. Very sad. Petsmart seemed to have decent (though not the most knowledgeable) employees working there. I only lost one fish i bought there and I have purchased a lot of fish from them. Also, I got my money back for the dead fish.

Another place that many people I know have purchased fish from and been happy was Dr. Foster's and Smith Live Aquaria. Everything I have purchased from them I have been very happy with. I did have one issue with something that was mailed to me. It was NOT Dr. Foster's and Smiths fault but without question, they replaced everything that was damaged. I have been truly pleased with them and will continue to order from them.

Christople

My lfs is a very nice one... I don't like ordering from online because the shipping cost hecka high... even if the fish is cheap the shipping makes it ten times more

DKRST

Absolutely - shipping's the problem. If some die in shipment, you may end up getting "free" replacement, but the shipping costs more than the replacement fish! I may just drive to Charlotte.