Lfs vs online

[Tomtopping]

Not many places to order off line in canada

 

[Louis Z]

a good quality lfs is important but if your new then how do you tell? Live aquaria and DD are different even though both are DFS. I do use LA but I have fish loss or problems. Like right now I have a Flame angel with swim bladder problem that i just received from LA, in addition to the yasha goby that had a sunken belly. it didnt make the slow drip acclimation. I also have gotten fish with ich. I always quarantine. I have chloroquine on hand and not waiting for it in the mail. I have prazipro, and do tank transfer method. Just have everything on hand before you order online. always assume the worst when ordering online and just feel lucky if they come in ok. Remember also that your package probably got tossed quite a bit on the way to you. Sorry I hate to sound so cynical

 

[JoelA7]

Randy--you're from Boston? Pm me please. Thanks.

 

[shesacharmer]

Boston is pretty far for me...my local fish stores offer NO guarantee. The fish I've received from liveaquaria.com have been FAR more healthy than those offered by the 8 lfs I've visited. And liveaquaria is a total pleasure to deal with. I guess it really depends upon where you live. For those of us in the country online is clearly a better choice although local reefers where you can see what you are getting and how they are kept is a better choice yet.

 

[overskim]

I get shrimp local because they seem to be tough. I have gotten a couple of easy corals and a medium sailfin tang someone else brought in.

Everything else from snails, anemones, frags, corals from the ocean, and fish are much healthier and much more lively than anything I have ever seen local.

I just make sure to order a lot when the temp and weather is right and everything usually arrives very healthy. People try to get cute with heat and cold packs and that screws things up. I have a lot of luck when they can use one cold pack.

 

[Louis Z]

I second that opinion about what time of year to ship, I do most of my ordering in spring and fall. Only when LA does the super summer specials do I submit an order out of my preferred times. I have tried during the winter and have doa at times.