View Full Version : Ordering Fish Online
TastierWay
07-26-2006, 6:13 PM
I have no LFS's. Petco, Petsmart and a mom and pop pet shop (mostly supplies) are all I have. I'm looking into online ordering now. Anyone want to suggest really good businesses?
I'm also interested in how the fish show up at your doorstep. What kind of container are they in? Are they often in good condition?
plah831
07-26-2006, 6:54 PM
i haven't ordered any fish through the mail, because I'm worried about their commute. they probably package them in a bag with some water and overnight it to you. Probably put the whole thing in a styrofoam container to help keep temperature stable. they might also add some pure oxygen gas into the bag, that way the oxygen will continue to diffuse into the water as the fish uses up what's in the water.
Those are my guesses, though, because I haven't been brave enough to try it myself. Besides, the shipping costs are outrageous! Too rich for this student's blood. But that's the luxury of still living at home, huh? Enjoy it while you can :) My parents quit buying anything for me years ago.
TastierWay
07-26-2006, 7:01 PM
Enjoy what? I gotta work too. ;) Pay for all my school supplies, 9/10s of my clothes, and everything else. Only thing my parents provide is food and a place to live in.
Can't say love, except on my dad's part. ;)
The shipping costs ARE insane... but this stupid town and every so-called town around is sucks with fish...
liv2padl
07-26-2006, 7:06 PM
it would help to know what fish species you're looking for.
plah831
07-26-2006, 7:08 PM
Enjoy what? I gotta work too. ;) Pay for all my school supplies, 9/10s of my clothes, and everything else. Only thing my parents provide is food and a place to live in.
Can't say love, except on my dad's part. ;)
Good for you. My parents were definitely NOT supportive of my animal-keeping hobby. But that's a story for another day...
TastierWay
07-26-2006, 7:14 PM
Dwarf puffers, figure eights...
Any place with a nice variety would be good anyway.
ReefRaft
07-26-2006, 8:02 PM
i havent orderd any fish online either waaaaayyyyy to expensive for me but this is a place i think looks good and it gives me ideas on what to buy
www.thatpetplace.com
go to fish and aquatic livestock
I have no LFS's. Petco, Petsmart and a mom and pop pet shop (mostly supplies) are all I have. I'm looking into online ordering now. Anyone want to suggest really good businesses?
I'm also interested in how the fish show up at your doorstep. What kind of container are they in? Are they often in good condition?
Most of the fish I have mail ordered have been from different fish forums and aquabid. The way they are shipped is totally dependant on the seller. Usually they are just bagged and placed in a box lined with styrofoam with either a heat pack or a cold pack depending on the weather. Some people/places do pack the fish better than others. I haven't lost any fish that I have had shipped to me. If you do decide to order fish don't take the cheapest shipping method. Most places with give you a DOA guarantee, but you'll have to pay shipping again.
jm1212
07-26-2006, 8:15 PM
liveaquaria.com has a whole boatload of fish species and they have a 14 day guarentee :)
plah831
07-26-2006, 8:33 PM
dwarf puffers you can get at Petsmart. it's where I got mine. they have a 14 day guarantee, also, that i made good on. had to take one back because he was being too aggressive, so now I'm left with just one boy and one girl.
Figure eight's are also pretty common at LFS's.
where do you live in the Bay Area? I used to live there, too, and found great stores with live fish.
TastierWay
07-26-2006, 9:19 PM
An hour/30 minutes south of San Jose on 101. Trust me. There's nothing good in this three-town area. The Petsmart and Petco in my area are not carrying dwarf puffers. They have green spotted puffers at my Petco, but I am obviously not looking for those.
I'm limited to whatever I can walk to... or anything that can be shipped here.
Mgamer20o0
07-26-2006, 9:27 PM
i would try talking to the manager or something ask him if they can put in orders for things they dont carry. its worth a try. never know what will will open up when you ask.
plah831
07-26-2006, 9:50 PM
there's some good fish stores in the San Jose area. your fish should be OK for the 40 minutes or so drive home. Try Dolphin Pet Village in Campbell or the Fish Tank in Sunnyvale. Those were always my two favorite stores. The selection is good, store employees are knowledgeable.
edit: oops, I just noticed that you said you're limited to walking distance. you really couldn't get a parent or a friend to drive you to one? heck, the next time i swing up north through San Jose, I'll pick you up and we'll go fish shopping! :)
plah831
07-26-2006, 9:51 PM
i would try talking to the manager or something ask him if they can put in orders for things they dont carry. its worth a try. never know what will will open up when you ask.
that's a really good suggestion, too.
jm1212
07-26-2006, 10:09 PM
you could also have them put the fish ina small styro container for the ride
TastierWay
07-26-2006, 11:01 PM
Haha, I know. I've gone through yellowpages.com for everything and it looks like all that is good is up in San Jose. bam. =/ My grandma used to live up there, which seemed like a good excuse(not just an excuse, i love my grandma) to get up there, but now I don't have any reason to try to get anyone up there.... except to get in some kind of gang fight. o.O
I guess I could try talking to a manager. I asked the Petsmart manager why they didn't carry female gourami's, and she referred me to the only other petstore in town. How sad.... but yeah, that one didn't carry them either.