Well I got my Peacock this morning from Blue Zoo and it was DOA. Definitely getting a little ****ed off since I have one mantis that I got from a board memember and it is perfectly fine and has been for almost 3 months now. This is the second mantis I got from Blue Zoo that has died. The first one acted odd the first day I got it and then died two weeks later and now this one is dead as soon is it gets here.
Really Frustrated, Peacock Update
- Thread starter Lehman
- Start date
Im sure ill get my money back from the mantis but its the shipping thats killing me. I just sent him an email stating that the other mantis I had died just outisde of their guarantee period and now this one was DOA and that basically I am out $80 in shipping alone. So if they do just credit me for the mantis and not shipping thats another $40 in shipping which would bring the grand total to $170 for a healthy mantis.
Gangsta Nemo
New member
Sorry to hear that Lehman. How well was he shipped ?
Blue Zoos packaging is top notch and I cant complain there. Everything is packed in a styrofoam container with padding all around the bags. The mantis was shipped in a very large bag and they even send a care package out with each order that includes a drip line, instructions, stress enzyme, and about a week supply of food for a couple of fish. Honestly, their packaging couldn't be any better. On a side note, the 2 clowns, pistol, goby, and handful have corals I have ordered from them have been excellent its just been the 2 mantis' that have fell through.
Maybe something was wrong with the mantis or maybe I am just extremely unlucky.
Maybe something was wrong with the mantis or maybe I am just extremely unlucky.
dismalorb
New member
I must admit, mine was listed as the 1.5" and I received a 3"..
At least the 3" peacock's value was greater than the 1.5", but it still doesn't change the fact that it was not accurate.
I'm sure they're straighten what they can out with you.
Again, I wish you luck through this whole thing!
hoosierpat
New member
Shipping sucks during the summer. I would refrain from ordering anything during the summer from anywhere. Some fish and inverts do better when they are shipped in bigger bags and some better in smaller bags. Even the shape and order that the bags are arranged in matters for some things. Small gobies do better when you reverse the bags so that it creates a small ball whereas tangs generally do better when you bag them in the same direction bag after bag. Maybe blue zoo doesn't know the key to bagging mantises. I don't either so I can't really help so I hope you find the answer.
Hetfield6j
New member
Same thing here. Ordered a Smithii from bluezoo not too long ago. He died a day or two later. Just about ripped my tank apart trying to figure out what killed him but came up with nothing. Found a G. ternatensis at a lfs a few weeks later. He has been doing great, and very active. I also agree with the comments about their shipping, it was the best shipping i have seen for marine life. They must do something that somehow effects Stomatopods but not other marine life.
Pea-brain
In Memoriam
Herein lies the problem-In our hobby the summer months offer greater selection in greater numbers. Some reefers are "bad weather reefers" meaning that they abandon their tanks except for simple maintennance during the summer. SO they aren't ordering livestock as much as they would during the winter. Then for some reason more and more animals are caught during the summer, giving a selection that is hard to turn up. IMO its worth the risk to ship during summer with appropiate packing.
Dan
Im from Maryland.
Also, I just heard back from Blue Zoo and after I explained them my situation with this mantis and the previous Smithii they said they would credit me for BOTH losses even though the first was out of their guarantee considering my situation so basically it was just like crediting me for shipping with this order. I am pleased with how they handled it and am sure it was very unlikely for this to happen considering how well they package their livestock. Now all I have to do is wait until a Smithii or Peacock is back in stock and figure out what I am going to get with the other $50 since it cant be put towards shipping.
Also, I just heard back from Blue Zoo and after I explained them my situation with this mantis and the previous Smithii they said they would credit me for BOTH losses even though the first was out of their guarantee considering my situation so basically it was just like crediting me for shipping with this order. I am pleased with how they handled it and am sure it was very unlikely for this to happen considering how well they package their livestock. Now all I have to do is wait until a Smithii or Peacock is back in stock and figure out what I am going to get with the other $50 since it cant be put towards shipping.
