liveaquaria alternatives?

J

j86miu

New member
i really like going to liveaquaria for their fish selection and informative database, the only think i don't like is their shipping costs. I can't stand the idea of buying a firefish for 8 bucks then paying 400% for shipping.

Are there any other website alternatives for better prices?
 
LiveAquaria does have free shipping over $225. Most places have a minimum order amount to trigger any kind of promotional shipping. LA actually takes a hit on shipping anyways when you factor in the size and weight of their packages.

Another live place i have tried is Dr Mac Corals, pretty good promotions and zero problems.

BlueZooAquatics is one I intend to try in the near future.

For numbers o fish, it is cheaper to just go to a LFS, as the prices are similar, though they lack the fantastic guarantee.
 
+3 on BlueZoo.

I've also ordered fish from Vivid aquariums with success.

Group orders really are the best option for buying fish on line, unless you are getting a fair number of them or really rare/expensive ones.
 
Sorry for going off topic.

I prefer to get fishes at LFS or local reefers, this way you see and know the exact condition the livestock you're putting in your tank.

Unless you buy lots at a time, S&H gonna add up to pretty much the same as buying from LFS.
 
Robb in Austin said:
+3 on BlueZoo.

I've also ordered fish from Vivid aquariums with success.

Group orders really are the best option for buying fish on line, unless you are getting a fair number of them or really rare/expensive ones.
Click to expand...


I thought i was supposed to add only 1 fish at a time... what do i do with the second fish?
 
j86miu said:
I thought i was supposed to add only 1 fish at a time... what do i do with the second fish?
Click to expand...

In my opinion adding one fish (via QT) is the best approach. Many people do add more than one at a time but I am not a proponent of doing so.

Common fish such as firefish may be best acquired from your LFS. Uncommon fish are rarely sold by most LFS because the number of buyers is small.
 
Unless you're buying something unique or exotic your LFS is your best choice for livestock.
 
I agree. I wouldn't order from liveaquaria until your tank is mature. this way you can buy a couple fish and add a boat load of coral to reach that $225 or whatever limit for free shipping :) that's what I did.
 
j86miu said:
I thought i was supposed to add only 1 fish at a time... what do i do with the second fish?
Click to expand...

Since you are in a large city, group buy! Surely there is a large and healthy reef club in NYC.

Baring that, putting more than 1 fish in a QT(which we all should be doing but most dont) wouldn't be too big of an issue. Although, isolating each from each other and/or narrowing down who caused the problem if one show up is an issue.

All that said, I prefer to buy locally as you can see the fish, make sure its eating, support the LFS, and you don't have to pay shipping(directly).
 
Sometimes finding a good LFS is a problem. You see the fish they have and some are dying in the tank or look sick and you know you shouldn't purchase them. Corals covered in algae. Tanks dirty. Just lazy stuff.

I just don't buy from stores like that and sometimes that means I can't support any LFS in my area so I do all online. I am not going to support an LFS that doesn't know how to care for their fish/inverts properly. Hopefully they go out of business and somebody who knows what they are doing sets up shop and i will buy from them.
 
We've had the best luckwith Blue Zoo. They are a bit more expensive for fish than LA but the quality of their stock is wonderful. We've had a few DOA but not a problem...they issued a credit right away. In fact they sent a wrong fish (actually a duplicate) and they credited me for the wrong fish nd let me keep the wrong one they sent! Fortunately the wrong fish was one that was compatible in my system
 
snorvich said:
Not necessarily cheaper, in fact when I have compared, they are more on many items. Guarantee not as good either.
Click to expand...

True. BZ shipping (the OPs main question, I think) is 39.95---free at $140. LA is 34.95....free at $225. Both good dealers, probably close to the same over-all fish prices; but the customer service and guarantee at LA is the best I've ever experienced, in any type of business.

To the Op: I don't think you'll find anyone that can ship a fish overnight to your door for much less.
 
lfs vs online all depends

my lfs (including tax with no 14) medium size
yellow tang 75.83
hippo tang 97.50
flame angel 75.83
purple firefish 43.32

la with shipping and 14 day
yellow tang 74.98
hippo tang 71.98
flame angel 74.98
purple firefish 59.98

purchased all together would be
lfs 207.08 no 14 day
la 175.95 with 14 day

salt 200g box... 2 boxes
lfs with tax 161.57 (40.3925 cents per gallon)
la with free shipping 89.98 (22.495 cents per gallon)

disclaimer i figgured the salt with free shipping because i never pay for dry goods shipping since i ordera 6 months supply of all dry goods including food, bulbs, extras ect at once including bird food/items, ferret food/items
 
agreeive?fish said:
lfs vs online all depends

my lfs (including tax with no 14) medium size
yellow tang 75.83
hippo tang 97.50
flame angel 75.83
purple firefish 43.32

la with shipping and 14 day
yellow tang 74.98
hippo tang 71.98
flame angel 74.98
purple firefish 59.98

purchased all together would be
lfs 207.08 no 14 day
la 175.95 with 14 day

salt 200g box... 2 boxes
lfs with tax 161.57 (40.3925 cents per gallon)
la with free shipping 89.98 (22.495 cents per gallon)

disclaimer i figgured the salt with free shipping because i never pay for dry goods shipping since i ordera 6 months supply of all dry goods including food, bulbs, extras ect at once including bird food/items, ferret food/items
Click to expand...

A good example; and the customer service difference is priceless. All the F&S companies will do anything to make you happy. I save even more because I live in a high sales tax state (about 10%) and don't pay any. When they have their annual salt sale; I buy tons.
IMO, this is the reason for the downturn of the LFS. When I started in the hobby, the LFS was a great place for all the new info on the hobby. Now, its usually some pimply faced kid who works there so he can play with the snakes. (I know, there are some great LFS & people still out there). The internet, Fed-Ex, etc., have made it impossible to compete. You could have a Harvard MBA (or even someone with some common sense) draw up a business plan for a LFS and the bank would just show you the door. Obviously, if you're going to buy one $10 fish, online buying may not be the way to go (I do, though), maybe find some fellow hobbyists to share an order. (Craig's list) Plus; I think the quality of fish from LA (or BZ, in my limited experience) exceeds any LFS I've been to in years. LA fish are handled, bagged, & shipped one less time than LFS fish also. I've bought every fish I've had for many years from LA, DD, & BZ---I've never received a fish that I wouldn't have picked out myself.
 
agreeive?fish said:
lfs vs online all depends

my lfs (including tax with no 14) medium size
yellow tang 75.83
hippo tang 97.50
flame angel 75.83
purple firefish 43.32

la with shipping and 14 day
yellow tang 74.98
hippo tang 71.98
flame angel 74.98
purple firefish 59.98

purchased all together would be
lfs 207.08 no 14 day
la 175.95 with 14 day

salt 200g box... 2 boxes
lfs with tax 161.57 (40.3925 cents per gallon)
la with free shipping 89.98 (22.495 cents per gallon)

disclaimer i figgured the salt with free shipping because i never pay for dry goods shipping since i ordera 6 months supply of all dry goods including food, bulbs, extras ect at once including bird food/items, ferret food/items
Click to expand...

I'm glad I don't live where you do, our costs here are about 1/2 of that.....

To the OP....take a trip to your LFS and buy a standard firefish for $15-$20 and bring it home to a QT....$60 for one of those shipped to your door is borderline criminal unless you're getting a pair from Divers Den (completely different outfit from live aquaria).
 
I found agreeive?fish's post to be very informative. I too have to pay sales tax which partially offsets shipping costs but for me the clencher is an unconditional 14 day guarantee on all livestock even that which is considered "sensitive".
 
chris27

i have 2 lfs in my town.. one may have a live clown or 2 and 50 dead fish. the other caters to drs. lawyers oil company owners and jet pilots(he is a lawyer himself) and his son has all the tank maint accounts in town and they carry a very limited selection. i bought the only purple fire fish i have seen in the store in 5 years

other than that for a lfs i have to travel one direction is 2 hours one way, 2 other directions is 2.5 hours one way for each and the 4th direction i have not found a lfs in 6 hours 1way yet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Dr. Reef
Better and Sweeter than LiveAquaria
Replies
0
Views
316
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Better and Sweeter than LiveAquaria
Replies
0
Views
713
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Better and Sweeter than LiveAquaria
Replies
0
Views
448
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
skeeter_ca
How do i alternate two closed loop system DC pumps.
Replies
11
Views
197
wvned
wvned
slathrum
Where to buy a reef ready aquarium these days
Replies
8
Views
318
wvned
wvned
Back
Top