Just wanted to post about my most recent order from Blue Zoo. This is my 3rd order from them. The first two (one, a Melanurus Wrasse, the other 5 Threadfin Cardinals) were EXCELLENT and I don't know that I've ever gotten better livestock. These specimens were obviously carefully chosen and had been treated properly. Unfortunately, this most recent order wasn't so good.
If it weren't for the phone call I had with them on Friday, I might not have even posted this; however, after that, I sort of feel like I have to.
Last Saturday I went ahead and ordered 3 more Threadfin cardinals because of their 15% off IMAC sale. I placed a note in the order comments section for them to try, if possible, to select fish that were eating prepared foods as two of the cardinals from the last order wouldn't ween from live food and ended up dying. I asked to pick them up on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, I confirmed that they would be ready in the afternoon and reiterated my request regarding feeding. I was told that the curator wasn't there; however, should be by the time of pick-up and we could confirm with him that these were healthy fish. My roommate went to pick up and asked about it and was told that the person with whom he spoke had put some pellets in but the fish had no interest in them; however, "They look good." Based on my prior good experience with them, my roommate decided to go ahead and take the fish in hopes that it had been confirmed before they were packed that they were eating prepared foods.
He brought them home and, upon looking at them, discovered that they were, at most .5" - very small fish. He went ahead and acclimated them, but, when putting them in the QT, noticed obvious fin damage on one and very clear signs of stress on the others (remember - no shipping here, only packaging and pick-up). Two fish died within 48 hours and I let Blue Zoo know and was promptly provided with a credit in the amount that I had paid.
I decided that I would like to replace the two fish that I lost as this really completes my fish stocking and so called them to ask about the livestock that they have remaining. I was told that all of the fish that they have are approximately 1.5" which lead me to question why, if they had larger fish, I was given the smallest fish they had. Further, the gentleman to whom I spoke told me that all of the ones they have in stock appear to be healthy and are eating "live, frozen and flake" (the 3 that I picked up wouldn't eat anything at all). I finally expressed my concern about my remaining fish not eating and the person to whom I spoke recommended that I place a note in the Comment section for my next order requesting what I want.
I guess that my frustration is that it appears that either I was given the very worst fish that they had in stock or they aren't being forthcoming about the fish that they have remaining. Also, it's frustrating that I *DID* make a comment with a specific request and, honestly, if they couldn't fulfill that request, they should have let me know that instead of just packing up fish and giving them to me.
Now I have a credit on my account with them; however, because I bought the fish on sale, it's not enough to replace the fish that died and I'm really pretty concerned about ordering more fish and going through the same thing again.
I know that they have a great reputation here and I'm not writing this to try to smear their reputation - it's more out of frustration that, with as good as their reputation is and that I know that they can deliver quality livestock, that they just don't seem to care about this particular situation - as if doing a store credit resolves the entire issue.
I'm not looking for anything in particular I guess except for perhaps an answer about why I would have gotten such small fish if the rest that they have in stock are larger and why I would have gotten fish that were clearly sick and not eating if the others that they have in stock are eating and healthy.
If it weren't for the phone call I had with them on Friday, I might not have even posted this; however, after that, I sort of feel like I have to.
Last Saturday I went ahead and ordered 3 more Threadfin cardinals because of their 15% off IMAC sale. I placed a note in the order comments section for them to try, if possible, to select fish that were eating prepared foods as two of the cardinals from the last order wouldn't ween from live food and ended up dying. I asked to pick them up on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, I confirmed that they would be ready in the afternoon and reiterated my request regarding feeding. I was told that the curator wasn't there; however, should be by the time of pick-up and we could confirm with him that these were healthy fish. My roommate went to pick up and asked about it and was told that the person with whom he spoke had put some pellets in but the fish had no interest in them; however, "They look good." Based on my prior good experience with them, my roommate decided to go ahead and take the fish in hopes that it had been confirmed before they were packed that they were eating prepared foods.
He brought them home and, upon looking at them, discovered that they were, at most .5" - very small fish. He went ahead and acclimated them, but, when putting them in the QT, noticed obvious fin damage on one and very clear signs of stress on the others (remember - no shipping here, only packaging and pick-up). Two fish died within 48 hours and I let Blue Zoo know and was promptly provided with a credit in the amount that I had paid.
I decided that I would like to replace the two fish that I lost as this really completes my fish stocking and so called them to ask about the livestock that they have remaining. I was told that all of the fish that they have are approximately 1.5" which lead me to question why, if they had larger fish, I was given the smallest fish they had. Further, the gentleman to whom I spoke told me that all of the ones they have in stock appear to be healthy and are eating "live, frozen and flake" (the 3 that I picked up wouldn't eat anything at all). I finally expressed my concern about my remaining fish not eating and the person to whom I spoke recommended that I place a note in the Comment section for my next order requesting what I want.
I guess that my frustration is that it appears that either I was given the very worst fish that they had in stock or they aren't being forthcoming about the fish that they have remaining. Also, it's frustrating that I *DID* make a comment with a specific request and, honestly, if they couldn't fulfill that request, they should have let me know that instead of just packing up fish and giving them to me.
Now I have a credit on my account with them; however, because I bought the fish on sale, it's not enough to replace the fish that died and I'm really pretty concerned about ordering more fish and going through the same thing again.
I know that they have a great reputation here and I'm not writing this to try to smear their reputation - it's more out of frustration that, with as good as their reputation is and that I know that they can deliver quality livestock, that they just don't seem to care about this particular situation - as if doing a store credit resolves the entire issue.
I'm not looking for anything in particular I guess except for perhaps an answer about why I would have gotten such small fish if the rest that they have in stock are larger and why I would have gotten fish that were clearly sick and not eating if the others that they have in stock are eating and healthy.
