Are Picassos lousy shippers or is it the source?

sugartooth

sugartooth

Reef bully
Hello.
I'm quite frustrated. I initially purchased picassos online last year. All of them got sick within the first week. I was able to save 2 of the 3.

I then decided to give it another try, adorable pattern and supposed to be higher grade as a '3 star'.

A few days later it gets sick with exactly the same symptoms as the first 3 but this time it was more dramatic. The orders were about 8 months or so apart?

I tried my hardest to treat it but it was too late. I lost her today and am really sad and somewhat bitter. Not only because of the $$$ cost, but because the same chain of events happened.

I'm also not feeling too hot because the two that I lost were absolutely what I would consider my 'favorites'.

Anyone keeping records of shipping picasso? Are these guys sensitive to shipping or would I view these circumstances an issue on the vendor side?
 
who/where did you get'em from? that might be the source of the problem.

i just recently ordered 3 picassos and all 3 are doing fine...expecting 3 more tomorrow...
 
I recently received my second Picasso from a different vendor (ORA this time). The fish didn't get to me until late afternoon (shipped standard overnight). I had him about two weeks and he just never seemed to act right. He didn't eat well and was very skittish, one morning he was just MIA in the tank. I really love these fish, so I just received my third Tuesday, he's in quarantine now. He looks a lot healthier than the last, so I'm hoping for the best this time. So sugartooth, good question, I'm curious what others think.
Phyllis
 
Hexed: Yes, I bought from the same vendor both times. I thought I would give it another chance, especially because this one I just got was super adorable to me. The first time, I thought it was just an odd occurance. The second time, with the same symptoms, around the same time after arrival....is strange.

Mikigo: No, not ORA. I think if I get any more picasso they will be ORA. I really like the markings on the ones that died, I don't know if I can find them again.

Charlie: Thanks very much for your thoughts. I would like to know if it's a sensitivity to shipping or if it's the vendor. I don't think it's me. They were all kept in a nursery tank upon receipt. In between, the tank has been fallow as well as others have been in there no problems.

Also, shipping this time was recently. The first batch was early winter.

myreefcentral: Where are you getting yours from? Maybe I can try that out instead? But if they just don't do well in shipping overall, then I won't try anymore. I got mine from one of the vendors you have considered.

Phyllis: I think you are going through similar emotions. It's like they are never really robust for a good while. The ones I got that lived through the illness are now very good stock. I just really wish all of them would have lived.

But, I can't compare because all of the ones I've ever purchased were from the same vendor and showed the same sort of weakness.

Is this true of picasso's in general?
 
*Edited* His clowns are bred by someone else, and he just sells them. He has not been a very reputable dealer and the LFS that I know ordered from him had every one of his clowns die in about 48hrs from brook...

I would try ORA or wait for a pair on DD on LA.
 
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Yes, mine all came down with brook. I tried to save the baby with formalin baths followed by freshwater dip.

I'm guessing I wasn't aggressive enough, and perhaps I was in denial that it was happening when I first noticed it.

I'm still upset, as it happened today.


Has anyone ordered from Blueribbon Koi? How has the experience with their shipping, etc.?
 
Sorry, I forgot to ask:

Then would the conclusion be more toward the vendor or is it just a general weakness in picassos and shipping?

How about people that purchased from ORA online or DD?


For me, 2 out of 4 (50%) survival rate and 100% diseased from one vendor really depresses me.
 
I spoke with Blueribbon Koi, the guy wasn't too helpful about how his Picasso's were patterned. My second Picasso was from Cultivated Coral. Nick was very helpful guy, my only complaint was the standard overnight shipping. I'd have paid the extra so the fish didn't have to ride on the truck all day. Even though I've read both opinions on saltwaterfish.com, I took a chance and the Picasso I received is quite nice. HTH.
 
I go some from ORA and never had a problem. They started eating right after I let them out of the bag.
 
Well my opinion is biased since....*Edited*..... left a sour taste, but I'd say it was the vendor.
 
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i got my ORA picasso pair from coraldoc.com (a LFS in IN)...they're doing fine so far but they're not eating well...just nibbling more like...also got a pair from another vendor which one died a week after receiving the pair while the other seems to be ok...for the time being (it's been ~3 weeks now)...and pgammon nailed who this vendor is on the head...as for saltwaterfish.com...i've been tempted to buy picassos from them but i've read mixed reviews so i haven't tried them yet...i might if one of my current picassos bites the dust...my only gripe is their price tag...one thing with ******* is there's no warranty/guarantee at least saltwaterfish.com has a 14 day...the LFS i got my ORA from is really good...the packaging was good, shipped priority overnight and they've followed up on the fishes' condition...they're even shipping out some food that they feed at their store for me to try since they're not eating anything i try to feed them...all of this at their expense...*Edited~dc*..they're just not healthy...
 
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I think its a combo of things with your purchace place. Overall strength/health of the fish & age they are shipped.

I think if they were raised better, on a better diet there would not be these issues with shipping but since they are so young and weaker immune systems to start with its easier to lose a fish. I was told they were fed mostly bloodworms & brine.

I started my second pair on cyclopeeze & vitamine brine right away & put them in my fuge, nice stable enviroment. Never had an issue with that pair & they are growing like weeds & getting really nice black colors!

Edit: ORA never ships their clowns this young, so its hard to compair, but I have herd of people having problems getting their ORA's to eat at first. Mine was at the LFS for a good 6-8 months before I got it so I have no personal experience there though.
 
My hope is all of you folks that here that have posted your pairs will soon be able to offer healthy happy Picasso's!
 
I have had problems with getting all of my ORA picassos (currently have 3) to eat after I received them, even though I got them from 2 different LFS (one the same day they received it). I have also lost one to Brook (also ORA). Personally, I think they way that they are bred may of made them more susceptible to disease but that is just my personal opinion. That being said, once I realized that for some reason they will not eat frozen but will eat flake and pellets like crazy I have not had too many problems. I never used to feed prepared foods, but for these beauties I had no problem going out and buying every type of marine flake and pellet I could find!
 
Poor things are raised on dried preparations from the time they can fit it in their mouths. I would work with them over time to get them eating some quality frozen food...will be so much better for their health and coloration.
 
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