buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I'm starting to think I'm the odd one out here, but I've had nothing but issues with shipped fish. Three times I've tried it, and each time it's been a disaster. First time, entire aquarium wiped out. Second time, 50% of the fish didn't make it. And this last time, about a third have died so far after just 2 days. I've used both Aquatic Arts and Aqua Huna, so it's not like it's just one supplier. I tried the drip acclimation method the first two times, and this last time I went with plop and drop. My quarantine tank has been running for 3 months, fully cycled, so I don't think that's the issue. Anyone have any ideas what's going on?
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I've had some good luck with shipped fish. Dan's Fish has been great for me, but Aqua Huna has been a mixed bag. I ordered 20 neocaridina and 6 yellow tiger endlers from Aquatic Arts, and all of them arrived alive - they're still going strong 5 weeks later.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I'm considering getting a betta from eBay. Has anyone had any experience with buying fish that way?
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I've had a positive experience buying Endler's from eBay in the past, when you could actually read feedback from confirmed customers. If I were to do it again, I'd definitely want to have a conversation with the seller beforehand. If they're not willing to chat, I'm not making a purchase. For a betta, though, I think it's worth trying to find one locally. If that's not an option, I'd stick with a reputable online vendor.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I had a good experience with a shipped rope fish, it arrived fine and is doing well. I don't have a link to share, unfortunately. I highly recommend Dan's Fish, even though I haven't had fish shipped from them - all my fish except the rope are from them, and their warehouse is just a 3-minute drive from my place. They guarantee their fish will thrive, and they have a wide variety of species. I've also heard great things about WetSpot, they have a fantastic reputation for freshwater tropical aquarium fish and a huge selection online.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
It's not eBay itself that's the issue, it's the individual sellers. I've had good experiences buying from reliable sellers on the platform, but if you end up with an incompetent one, you can expect problems.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I recently purchased 20 assorted shrimp from PVN aquatics on eBay and had a great experience. I only had one DOA, but they included two extras, so I essentially got one free.
Their eBay page is linked below:
Security Measure
www.ebay.com
They also have bettas available for sale.
I think the key to a successful eBay purchase is researching the seller beforehand. PVN aquatics has an impressive 96% positive feedback rating, and their customer service is top-notch. Shipping costs were reasonable, and my order arrived in just two days.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I've had some great experiences with shipped fish, despite my initial reservations. I've ordered from Freshwaterexotics twice, and both times the packaging was top-notch - all my fish arrived within 20 hours, and above 70 degrees. The owner was really communicative, and I appreciated that. However, I did lose a few fish from both batches after a few weeks, but that's always a risk with wild-caught fish. I'd still recommend them, though.
I've also heard great things about Predatoryfins - the owner is super communicative, and will even send you pics of the fish so you can choose. Their fish arrived quickly, and were really healthy. I've also had good experiences with Band app - there are some amazing sellers and breeders on there, and I've ordered from a few with great results.
As for here on the forums, I recently got a shipment from @TwinTankman, and I'm really impressed. The packaging was custom-made, and the fish arrived in great condition. Chris's communication is top-notch, and he's really knowledgeable - I've learned a lot from him already.
My advice would be to only buy from reputable fishkeepers with lots of shipping experience and positive reviews. I always sift through reviews carefully before making a purchase, and I'd recommend doing the same - especially when it comes to fish.
I've also heard great things about Predatoryfins - the owner is super communicative, and will even send you pics of the fish so you can choose. Their fish arrived quickly, and were really healthy. I've also had good experiences with Band app - there are some amazing sellers and breeders on there, and I've ordered from a few with great results.
As for here on the forums, I recently got a shipment from @TwinTankman, and I'm really impressed. The packaging was custom-made, and the fish arrived in great condition. Chris's communication is top-notch, and he's really knowledgeable - I've learned a lot from him already.
My advice would be to only buy from reputable fishkeepers with lots of shipping experience and positive reviews. I always sift through reviews carefully before making a purchase, and I'd recommend doing the same - especially when it comes to fish.
Re: buying fish that's been shipped: what to expect
I'm at my wit's end. Just lost three more forktail rainbowfish today after a minor 2-gallon water change in my 10g quarantine tank. Now I'm down to 2/6. It's been a brutal year - over 30 fish in, around 10 survivors. The stress of fish keeping is suffocating me. I genuinely don't know how you all cope. It's just not feeling worth it anymore.steven45 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:50 pm I'm starting to think I'm the odd one out here, but I've had nothing but issues with shipped fish. Three times I've tried it, and each time it's been a disaster. First time, entire aquarium wiped out. Second time, 50% of the fish didn't make it. And this last time, about a third have died so far after just 2 days. I've used both Aquatic Arts and Aqua Huna, so it's not like it's just one supplier. I tried the drip acclimation method the first two times, and this last time I went with plop and drop. My quarantine tank has been running for 3 months, fully cycled, so I don't think that's the issue. Anyone have any ideas what's going on?