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I know people who buy them,but I also know people who get them from the sea directly GRRRRRRRRRR.What do you do?

Yup. I'm that crazy Twilight/animal/music girl

I have bought them, and I have collected my own specimens, both.

Wether you collect them yourself, or buy them, 99% of all SW fish come from collecting them from the oceans and seas. There are only a few of the SW fish that are being commercially farmed (spawned) at this time. It is very difficult to raise SW fry. So much so, that in most cases, it is more costly than just collecting them from the wild. This is why they bring such a high price. And even a higher price for captive spawned and raised fish.

One main difference in collecting them myself and purchasing them, is the way I do it. Many fish are collected through harmful ways, such as cianide and such. When I collect, it is with nets and other devices, that do no harm to the fish. But for mass collections, this is not cost efficient.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Although this is a different twist on the topic since I don't have opportunity to gather my own specimens.... I will no longer invest in online buying, but rather I will purchase my fish ONLY through my lfs...

A few months ago I converted my freshwater 55 gal aquarium to saltwater.... (To be honest the first pleasure gained was the fact that this conversion came about as a gift from my son! Still brings a smile to my heart that he wanted to do something this fantastic for me!)... ANYWAY, once the tank had cycled and the water met the standards per testing at my lfs I began the delightful task of adding residents...

During the cycling process, I'd had time to do some research on the various possibilities... relative to tank size, coloration (because I really LOVE COLOR!) and compatability - but also bearing in mind that I was a definite novice to saltwater... My first purchase was made at my lfs. However, price comparison along with the fact that I'd had such good experience with buying online freshwater fish I opted to place an order from an online site...

Bottom line to all of this is: All the fish purchased online died within a month - the only exception was a red knobby starfish. All the fish purchased at my lfs have not only survived but are definitely thriving.

Naturally at this point I have been able to determine at least a couple of reasons for the success/failure rates. 1) The required minimum purchase for live fish online probably exceeded the bio limits for adding fish all at one time to my 55 gallon (which is small for saltwater). Must confess that since it had been so long since initially stocking my aquarium I had completely forgotten about this when purchasing. 2) Purchasing from a local source is not as stressful on the fish as shipping... For while the fish ARE transported to the lfs, one is able to view them - select active, healthy specimens - and then the trip home is minimal.

I reached my own personal decision the hard way... After spending a total of approximately $128.00 online my one and only survivor is a Red Knobby Starfish for which I paid $9.99! Whereas I spent about $210.00 at my lfs with my initial purchase and replacing the ones I'd lost from my online purchases and ALL ARE THRIVING AND FILL MY TANK WITH BEAUTY! Hmmm... the end result is that I wasted $118.00 because of the online purchase... (Please know that the online site does offer a replacement guarantee - but the guaranteed free replacements can only be obtained when another live order is placed - and you once again face a minimum NEW order of $79.00! So in essence, I would once again be facing bio overload - and probable deaths!

Perhaps there are those who have been quite happy with buying online.... But for me, I'M DONE!

To thine own self be true...

I buy mine from the LFS. The reason I dont buy online or collect from the sea is I want to be able to see the fish eat. If he dont eat then I dont get him. Many a person has bought a fish and took him home only to see him die from not eating.