Halo_003 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Is live aquaria my only choice? Looking for a high end snowcasso, black(er) ice, premium or premium onyx Picasso. Free shipping would be nice but unlikely I know. I flat out refuse to buy fish in any LFS that doesn't guarantee their fish. (Which is all of mine) Also would like to be able to shop WYSIWYG. Link to comment
Jackal_Knight Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Just courious as to why you don't wish to buy fish from you LFS just cause the don't guarantee their fish? Non around my area guarantee fish but I've still bought from them and never had a problem, only fish I've lost was cause he jump so that's my fault from not having a cover Link to comment
Roshan8768 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Just courious as to why you don't wish to buy fish from you LFS just cause the don't guarantee their fish? Non around my area guarantee fish but I've still bought from them and never had a problem, only fish I've lost was cause he jump so that's my fault from not having a cover +1 A healthy fish from a reputable store will be fine the majority of the time. I've had no issues with fish bought from my current LFS because they QT their fish and hold them for me for a couple of weeks if I put a deposit down. Ask around. Local is almost always better Link to comment
Tamberav Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I don't trust my LFS either. I would never buy a $200 clown or something from them but they don't sell designer clowns anyways... I do buy cheaper fish though. I would probably buy from: http://alphaaquaculture.com/store/index.php/fish/clown-fish.html before my LFS. They don't have a guarantee except to arrive alive but I have more faith in their stock than the LFS and they have a lot more options. Buying directly from a breeder has always been my favorite way to acquire clown fish. There are a few in Minnesota but perhaps I am lucky? Link to comment
atrox Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 If you are spending 200$ plus on a fish I wouldn't even consider anyone who doesn't have an arrive alive guarantee. Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 If you are spending 200$ plus on a fish I wouldn't even consider anyone who doesn't have an arrive alive guarantee. Exactly. As to why not buy a local fish, I had a $60 flasher wrasse that died after 6 days of being alone in my QT, perfect conditioins, fed daily, PVC to hide in, etc. It had an internal parasite that I didn't spot since I never saw it poop. What pissed me off was at the store it was already hiding in their tank when I decided to get it after their guy vouched for it. Talked to the owner of the LFS in question, who told me essentially that if it died within 24 hours they give a *partial* refund. I told her thank you for your time but I will not buy a fish from somewhere that doesn't offer protection on their fish. To which she said "well that's unfortunate but no other LFS does either, so I told her I'd be ordering offline in the future, paying shipping once to get a quality fish is a lot less than paying for a sick fish I have to treat twice. Ever since that happened, I haven't bought anything from them. Instead I make an extra 20 drive and go to a different LFS. Link to comment
HVani Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I don't trust my LFS either. I would never buy a $200 clown or something from them but they don't sell designer clowns anyways... I do buy cheaper fish though. I would probably buy from: http://alphaaquaculture.com/store/index.php/fish/clown-fish.html before my LFS. They don't have a guarantee except to arrive alive but I have more faith in their stock than the LFS and they have a lot more options. Buying directly from a breeder has always been my favorite way to acquire clown fish. There are a few in Minnesota but perhaps I am lucky? +1 I have bought a couple pairs from Kris and they are top notch and in perfect health. Link to comment
basser1 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Divers Den meets all of the criteria you're looking for....... Arrive Alive, 14 day gurantee, free shipping and your money back (not store credit), if your fish dies within the 14 day period. I've purchased from them in the past and will do so in the future. Link to comment
BoxKing Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 https://www.facebook.com/ClownfishDepot If you send him a PM... his name is Brian. I purchased 2 Grade A Picasso Clowns from the owner - for $150/ea. He took a couple WYSIWYG videos, so that I could choose the exact ones I wanted. Very healthy fish. Link to comment
masterbuilder Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 This is the place: http://alphaaquaculture.com/store/index.php/ Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 I'd love to buy from DD if I could get a single clown. They usually only have pairs. Plus there's really not much selection unless I check every day.(which I do anyways lol.) Link to comment
basser1 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 This is the place: http://alphaaquaculture.com/store/index.php/ Not too crazy about their DOA policy..... If you're looking for 1 fish, I suggest sending them an e-mail and ask them, it's worth a shot. Link to comment
LarryC Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I purchased a ponded-pair from liveaquaria's diver's den for $250. They are very healthy. I received them January, 2012! Still as playful as ever! Link to comment
Formula462 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Is live aquaria my only choice? Looking for a high end snowcasso, black(er) ice, premium or premium onyx Picasso. Free shipping would be nice but unlikely I know. I flat out refuse to buy fish in any LFS that doesn't guarantee their fish. (Which is all of mine) Also would like to be able to shop WYSIWYG. my guarantee at my store... I guarantee I wouldn't have killed it. the only reason online stores give guarantees is because of buying power and the fact they HAVE to be shipped. I've had fish for six months at times and people buy them, come back the next day with it dead in a bag, and want a refund. It makes no sense whatsoever, it makes me want to punch them for killing my fish. Link to comment
Roshan8768 Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 my guarantee at my store... I guarantee I wouldn't have killed it. the only reason online stores give guarantees is because of buying power and the fact they HAVE to be shipped. I've had fish for six months at times and people buy them, come back the next day with it dead in a bag, and want a refund. It makes no sense whatsoever, it makes me want to punch them for killing my fish. Exactly!! to the OP this is precisely why no LFS would want to have a DOA policy. There are so many more people that don't know what they are doing than there are those who can properly care for a new fish.. Now if you could work out a good relationship with your LFS and they know you as someone who knows how to take care of things, maybe the owner would be willing to knock you some store credit. IMO that's very generous, and about all you should expect from a small, local business Link to comment
jahoban Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 The best online fish buying experience i have had has been through alphaaquaculture hands down. I have purchased 2 designer clowns from there, a black snowflake and a fancy white. Kris spent at least 20 minutes each time talking to me on the phone describing the fish in great detail and he sent me images of the exact fish before i purchased them. Both fish arrived fat and happy with next day shipping and started eating as soon as they were put into the tank. Trust me, the price of Kris's fish reflects the quality and care he takes to provide healthy and beautiful fish. Jason Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 +1 to Alpha. I haven't bought from him, but I'm very impressed with the care he puts into the website, going as for as posting videos of each individual fish. Link to comment
Formula462 Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 we have some pretty sick prices on PA Designer Clowns. My Picasso's are 34.99. Got a pair of Ultra Grade Bullet Hole Clowns for 300$ They are my two favorite. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 we have some pretty sick prices on PA Designer Clowns. My Picasso's are 34.99. Got a pair of Ultra Grade Bullet Hole Clowns for 300$ They are my two favorite. Do you ship? Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Might go with Alpha, they have excellent selection. There's also a breeder local so I may try them as well. I just don't want to be screwed if they come sick into my QT like what happened with the wrasse. Link to comment
Formula462 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Do you ship? unfortunately no. not through the store anyway. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 unfortunately no. not through the store anyway. Well what good are you!!! lol The LFS here aren't that great (not a big selection and won't order in stuff) so I have to ship most things. Link to comment
HVani Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Might go with Alpha, they have excellent selection. There's also a breeder local so I may try them as well. I just don't want to be screwed if they come sick into my QT like what happened with the wrasse. If you email Alpha they can set you up. Just let Kris know what you are looking for. They literally have thousands of clownfish on site. I'm lucky enough to live local so I got to go pick mine out My picasso from Alpha My Domino/Extreme misbar bred by Alpha Link to comment
Halo_003 Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Very tempting. Where is he located if you know? Link to comment
HVani Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Very tempting. Where is he located if you know? Madison WI Link to comment
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