Affordable aquarium shipment delayed

[larrysaltisfun]

This is the conditioned fish arm of Dr Reefs quarantined fish. I just got word from UPS and my shipment has been delayed for 24 hours due to weather.

Does anyone have experience with receiving an overnight shipment of fish 24 hours late where the fish turned out to be happy and healthy? Unfortunately, the hub where they are at is four hours away by car. They are Watanabe angels . I don’t know how hardy they are with stress like this.

 

[mfinn]

I don't have any experience with large angels being delayed. I have had smaller fish delayed with about a 50% survival rate.
Get in touch with Dr Reef.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Yeah, these are actually the size of dwarf angelfish and I have contacted them.
They’re trying to see if there’s anything they can do with UPS but I have a feeling it’s going to be a loss cause.

 

[LeftyReefer]

I just recently ordered some fish from him.

First let me start off by saying he packs his fish really really good. I was actually impressed with how well he packed them.

Second, he offers shipping protection for like $15 extra that would cover shipping delays like this that are out of his control...
did you have that added on your order?

If you had that shipping protection added to the order, then you should be A-OK.
if you declined that protection, then I guess it depends on how Dr. Reef decides to handle this since you declined the necessary insurance.

Saying that, the fish I recently received from him (also just conditioned fish) came in super healthy and with zero issues. I'm pretty sure my fish would have had a better than fighting chance at making it an extra day especially considering how well he packed them and the nice condition they showed up in.

I'd keep your fingers crossed that the fish survive the extra day.

 

[mfinn]

Yeah, these are actually the size of dwarf angelfish and I have contacted them.
They’re trying to see if there’s anything they can do with UPS but I have a feeling it’s going to be a loss cause.

Maybe with the smaller size, they will have enough o2 in the bag to survive.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I just recently ordered some fish from him.

First let me start off by saying he packs his fish really really good. I was actually impressed with how well he packed them.

Second, he offers shipping protection for like $15 extra that would cover shipping delays like this that are out of his control...
did you have that added on your order?

If you had that shipping protection added to the order, then you should be A-OK.
if you declined that protection, then I guess it depends on how Dr. Reef decides to handle this since you declined the necessary insurance.

Saying that, the fish I recently received from him (also just conditioned fish) came in super healthy and with zero issues. I'm pretty sure my fish would have had a better than fighting chance at making it an extra day especially considering how well he packed them and the nice condition they showed up in.

I'd keep your fingers crossed that the fish survive the extra day.

Thanks for the thoughts I did buy insurance and everything I’ve heard about Dr reef. They are incredibly honorable and they are very fair. I’m not worried about that at all what I’m worried about is two fish dying for no reason other than the fact that UPS decided that the weather was going to delay a shipment. I think that they need to put a little bit more effort into delivering live goods.

 

[exnisstech]

Oh Dr Reef has some inside connection with UPS which is why he doesn't have a problem shipping on Thursday for Friday delivery. Just be glad you didn't do that or the fish would be dead by Monday. At least with only a 24 hr delay there's still a good chance they'll survive if packed well and temps aren't too bad.

 

[areefer01]

You already contacted the source, that is job one.

Asking fellow hobbyist about their experience I can only share mine. Two part answer. The first is that it will depend on how the animals are packed. If done properly the chance of arriving alive increase. The second part is out of their control and how the package is handled and its holding area. This is the higher risk area.

My experience is as follows. I ordered a Pyramid and Zoster butterflyfish from Divers Den. It was supposed to arrive overnight but was delayed at the local sorting facility. I made contact with LA/DD to let them know and see if there was anything they could do or recommend. They responded immediately (it helps that this was early in the week, not Friday) and said to accept the package regardless and to follow up. They reaffirmed that the packaged should be able to handle another 24 hours due to the size of the box, fish, and water used. I took them at their word.

Long story short, package was lost at the sorting facility and I did not receive the package until the 76 hour mark. Per LA/DD's recommendation I took in the package, snapped some photos per their request, shut off the lights in the room, opened the box. Both bags had lower half black, upper was clear. I had to tilt the back to see. Pyramid was looking right at me like what the heck, get me out of here. The Zoster was on its side. Not ideal, nor recommended, I floated the bag to bring up to temp, opened it, and moved the Pyramid to the display with lights off. The Zoster similar but placed it in the refugium. Pyramid went behind the reef structure, Zoster to the bottom on its side. I put some gloves on, collected it, and gently moved it from side to side because I did not know what else to do thinking maybe movement would help.

Anyway next morning lights came on in normal schedule and the Pyramid was out and about doing butterfly things. Much to my surprise the Zoster was out too asking to have more space and food. Both are doing fine 7 years later which I guess is the moral of my long winded post.

Packaging makes the difference as to the location/area of the package. Mine lasted over 72 hours and came out ok. I would not recommend this, but LA/DD packaged very well and was great to work with thought it all....

 

[exnisstech]

Reason for my comment above

That is just assumption. We been in business for 5 yrs and we ship thursday for friday. There has been maybe a dozen times that fish didnt make it on friday. 99% of the time we got them pushed for Saturday delivery. When you do the volume we do you get some special perks. UPS doesnt wanna tick me off.

 

[TylerHaworth]

Hoping for the best!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

This is the conditioned fish arm of Dr Reefs quarantined fish. I just got word from UPS and my shipment has been delayed for 24 hours due to weather.

Does anyone have experience with receiving an overnight shipment of fish 24 hours late where the fish turned out to be happy and healthy? Unfortunately, the hub where they are at is four hours away by car. They are Watanabe angels . I don’t know how hardy they are with stress like this.

If it was me, I'd make the drive to pick them up.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I would too, but it’s 200 miles each way unless there’s another hub that they’re going to let me know about

 

[larrysaltisfun]

This is the conditioned fish arm of Dr Reefs quarantined fish. I just got word from UPS and my shipment has been delayed for 24 hours due to weather.

Does anyone have experience with receiving an overnight shipment of fish 24 hours late where the fish turned out to be happy and healthy? Unfortunately, the hub where they are at is four hours away by car. They are Watanabe angels . I don’t know how hardy they are with stress like this.

If it was me, I'd make the drive to pick them up.

I’ve contacted Dr. Reef They are talking to the UPS rep. I think their customer service is outstanding. We’ll see what happens.

 

[LeftyReefer]

My recent fish from Dr. Reef came packed inside a nice heavy styrofoam cooler.
not a shipping box lined with foam panels, but an actual cooler inside a heavy duty box with a nice tight fitting lid.
The cooler was sealed up tight and had a cold pack inside so temps wouldn't rise too much inside.
bags had plenty of water and were double or even triple sealed. not a single leak.

Fish showed up fat and happy and super healthy.

with any luck, so will yours.
if not, I'm sure he will make it right.

wishing you (and your fish) luck!

 

[larrysaltisfun]

My recent fish from Dr. Reef came packed inside a nice heavy styrofoam cooler.
not a shipping box lined with foam panels, but an actual cooler inside a heavy duty box with a nice tight fitting lid.
The cooler was sealed up tight and had a cold pack inside so temps wouldn't rise too much inside.
bags had plenty of water and were double or even triple sealed. not a single leak.

Fish showed up fat and happy and super healthy.

with any luck, so will yours.
if not, I'm sure he will make it right.

wishing you (and your fish) luck!

I’m sure you are right I have never heard anybody say anything but great things about his fish again. My concern is the well-being of these two fish not the replacement. I know it’ll be made good

but I still am disappointed in UPS. I think they should try harder not trying to stir the pot here, but I’m in the medical field and you just don’t call in sick. You don’t give up you don’t not show up at the hospital because of inclement weather you figure out how to get the job done because people are depending on you. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

 

[mfinn]

You already contacted the source, that is job one.

Asking fellow hobbyist about their experience I can only share mine. Two part answer. The first is that it will depend on how the animals are packed. If done properly the chance of arriving alive increase. The second part is out of their control and how the package is handled and its holding area. This is the higher risk area.

My experience is as follows. I ordered a Pyramid and Zoster butterflyfish from Divers Den. It was supposed to arrive overnight but was delayed at the local sorting facility. I made contact with LA/DD to let them know and see if there was anything they could do or recommend. They responded immediately (it helps that this was early in the week, not Friday) and said to accept the package regardless and to follow up. They reaffirmed that the packaged should be able to handle another 24 hours due to the size of the box, fish, and water used. I took them at their word.

Long story short, package was lost at the sorting facility and I did not receive the package until the 76 hour mark. Per LA/DD's recommendation I took in the package, snapped some photos per their request, shut off the lights in the room, opened the box. Both bags had lower half black, upper was clear. I had to tilt the back to see. Pyramid was looking right at me like what the heck, get me out of here. The Zoster was on its side. Not ideal, nor recommended, I floated the bag to bring up to temp, opened it, and moved the Pyramid to the display with lights off. The Zoster similar but placed it in the refugium. Pyramid went behind the reef structure, Zoster to the bottom on its side. I put some gloves on, collected it, and gently moved it from side to side because I did not know what else to do thinking maybe movement would help.

Anyway next morning lights came on in normal schedule and the Pyramid was out and about doing butterfly things. Much to my surprise the Zoster was out too asking to have more space and food. Both are doing fine 7 years later which I guess is the moral of my long winded post.

Packaging makes the difference as to the location/area of the package. Mine lasted over 72 hours and came out ok. I would not recommend this, but LA/DD packaged very well and was great to work with thought it all....

This has to be when they were one of the best in the business. At one time they were at the top.
It's great to hear these good stories.

My last live order (about 4 years ago) from LA/DD came with a thin styrobag, a couple air pillows inside and 2 bags of corals rolling around inside like marbles.
Since there was no firm styrobox inside, to hold the cardboard box ridgid, the top of the cardboard box had collapsed and the tape had released and the inside was open to the winter air.

 

[Reefing102]

Everytime I’ve received fish from @Dr. Reef they’ve always been packed well and while not convenient, I wouldn’t be surprised if it looked like a normal shipment tomorrow.

But I’ve also never had any issue with him not getting things taken care of if there was any order problem.

That said, if I knew where it was at and it was drivable, I’d drive there (but then again I’ve been known to drive 2-3 hours to visit different LFS in the state so )

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I do the same thing I drive 75 miles to two different fish stores in a different state. I’m the dingbat that was driving 150 miles to pick up water until I got my own RO system. I have no idea where the hub is. They haven’t offered any information or I would drive

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Its unfortunate and unforseen situation with the carrier. only thing we can do it to contact our rep and get them to see what can be done to expedite. Worse case it might be delivered tomorrow and normally we pack with that in mind. if they dont make it, we will reship another order out.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Its unfortunate and unforseen situation with the carrier. only thing we can do it to contact our rep and get them to see what can be done to expedite. Worse case it might be delivered tomorrow and normally we pack with that in mind. if they dont make it, we will reship another order out.

Thank you, FYI, your customer service people have been awesome so far!!