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Ok so I thought id check out some fish online. i know some sites like thatfish place, aquabid etc... Im just concerned. Does anyone know how often fish survive transport? is there anyone particularly bad about this? Just dont want to buy a really cool fish and recieve it dead or in such bad condition that its soon dead. thanks bunches!

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we dont know what to do.

All your fish are shipped, even the ones in the LFS. they are shipped from indonesia or malaysia most likely or at least within the US...generally the mortality rate is not very high at all, and most online sites that sell fish also do a guarentee (sp?) on delivery.

If you're worried, you should wait until spring or early summer, when the temperatures are better for shipping. Shipping success is lower in the winter because of the cold. As Mez said, guarantees on live shipping is available from most online fish stores, but this is not available for some fish species at some stores, and on at least one of the sites I have visisted may not be available during times when the weather is cold.

That'll give you some extra time to find the best site and plan a whole order that makes the shipping worth it.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Generally, I get 90% of my fish online and have only had problems with one supplier. Arizona Aquatics, I receaved 3 shippments from them and all 3 times all fish have died either in shippment or within 24 hours. This is just them I feel, because I receaved fish from cories R us, petsolutions, liveaquadics and thatfishplace and the fish have arrived alive and healthy. Depending on what part of the country you live in suppliers will not or should not ship them is the weather is to cold. They will arrive in a styrofoam box with a heat pack, safe and sound. Now, if your going to order plants you want to find a place that as close to you area as possible. One to save money on shipping, like me I use 2 places that are close to me and can be shipped USPS and arrive in one to two days. Two, if live plants no matter how healthy they are will be affected by the outside weather and the darkness of the box, anything over 3 days your plants will arrive mushy and weak. This doesn't mean they are dead it just means they have alot more problems getting them to grow and not die on you. Follow these guides and you will be every happy with you orders.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Corys R Us have Black Lancers on sale. I believe they don't ship with a guarantee in cold weather, though. At $49 I think their shipping price is a tad on the steeper side. Get a monster school of Celestial Pearl Danios for breeding purposes and you'll be able to validate their shipping price! J/K, unless you have a tank for that, lol.

LiveAquaria also has the Black Lancer from time to time; you can have them e-mail you for when they are in stock, as they don't seem to be in stock right now. They think they have B. hypselopterus though, which is a species almost never imported into the hobby and gets twice as large. It should be B. macracanthus. Shipping from LiveAquaria is cheaper than Corys R Us, and their guarantee also ignores weather.

There might be some other store out there with black lancers, I don't know. But just throwing these out there.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Hi,
There are literally dozens of on line sites that ship fish.
Most of them are great. I don't think any of them will
guarantee live delivery though. There are simply too many
variables.

All the boxes are marked "Live Fish" and they are treated
like royalty, sometimes. They are kept off the tarmac
and inside the warehouse at the airport, they are shipped
in areas of the plane that are pressurized and heated
(its really cold at 20,000ft +) and they are delivered
rapidly on arrival. BUT, things happen. The box can
be left out in the sun during the summer, or out in the
freezing cold of the winter. They can be in the back of
the delivery truck for hours before the driver reaches your
home. On arrival at your home, someone might not be home
to accept the delivery, and that means a ride back to the
local warehouse and a stay overnight where they may, or
may not, be kept in a heated location. Even worse, the
driver can simply leave the package on the porch and drive
off.

I'm sure you see the possible problems.

If you decide to purchase on line, be it plants or fish,
be sure that you know the day the fish will be shipped
to you and the day that they will arrive at the
airport near you. They will ship them "next day" or
"two day" delivery. Make sure that you are home to
accept the delivery, and that you have the time immediately
after delivery to open the package, and put the critters
into the tank correctly. Don't have them arrive and have
to set the box aside while you "have to run out" to do
something. Set that day of delivery aside to devote to
acclimating the fish to the new tank or cleaning
the plants and getting them into the tank.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

They all have some type of guarantee, you just need to read what it is, and call them and ask. except of Arazonia Aquattics...... Do check on the cold weather shipping as some will just not ship until the weather is good.

As afar as cories r us..... I us USPS but than again they are only an 1 1/2 drive from my house, but they don't take walk ins.... I have talked with the owner several times, and have even ran into him at some shows. He really a nice guy and if you can talk to him and if he can he'll work try and work things out with you.

I guess you should call and talk to them personally, and never just order over the net driectly, you never know what you can save or what suprise they have in stock not listed.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

Ok so to be super safe....wait till summer or springish. thanks for all the black lancer tips shini ill check them out. Frank luckily i have a parent that works from home so ive got the package pick up part covered. however i will have to teach her how to acclimate the fish lol... thanks for all the replys guys!

The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we dont know what to do.