Affordable aquarium shipment delayed

Thank you, FYI, your customer service people have been awesome so far!!
I am really sorry for the delay, its not in anyones favor, unfortunately once ups has the box and how they handle is beyond our control but we try our best to get the right people involved and try to get the box expedited. We are doing just that and have our rep, firstly find out where exactly the box is located and secondly if it can be delivered today.
Even if ups fails us, our guarantee will not fail you. we will get you our fish healthy and alive one way or the other.
 
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.
Ups sucks! They did the same thing to me last month with an OG bounce, everything from Amazon and FedEx was shipped in a timely manor but since Kentucky had two hours of rain that day the ups facility cancelled all orders that day. Ive just stopped using anyone who ships through UPS. Vendors usually will do their best to not cover your loss in the event of shipping delays also so make sure you pay in a form that offers protection. Mine the guy actually dropped it off at a UPS store, USD some value saver next day shipping method and their truck was late getting to that store that day and then the rain on top finished me off. All which could have been avoided if he were to drop it off at their facility and would've shipped priority as he advertised. But it didn't stop him from trying to tell me how he wasn't responsible. 😆 Also good luck getting a hold of anyone that can actually help. My stuff was here in Orlando at 6pm and I spent the entire day tracking and night calling asking if I could just go get it and every time they told me someone would call i probably made 25 phone calls trying to reach them before their 11pm close time at the facility. Smh
 
I had a big long reply. It’s probably good that it got deleted accidentally.

Bottom line is UPS does not know where the package is as of last night. today they say it’s on the truck for delivery by 5 o’clock today, The fish will be 50 hours in the box. It’s lightly raining outside so they may not want to get wet again, My package might not make it till the weekend when the fish will be decomposing.

I was able to speak to a UPS rep on the phone and they denied the fish were at the hub as the tracking information said it was at. Moreover, they stated I would not be able to drive up there and pick them up yesterday. 🙄

I feel very fortunate that it is Dr. Reef and no other online vendor. I know I will be made whole in the end, but that will not help the fact that due to UPS i lack of responsibility these fish will likely perish.
 
Says it’s out for delivery and was loaded on the truck at 5:45 this morning 20 miles from my home. I’m like a little kid looking for a present every 10 minutes looking out my front window to see if UPS is going to pull up,. The fish will make a B line to the tank if there is any Hope as soon as I get the package, they’re going right in without acclamation per Dr reef instructions. thank you for asking.

I’ll definitely keep the community updated.
 
One fish alive one fish dead on arrival 50% received 48 hours after shipment

I guess the next 24 to 72 hours will be critical on the little guy that’s still alive


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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....
Thanks for sharing. my only comment here is the angels were packed well. One lived through shipment. One died, but they were in small bags like a local fish store would use. I don’t know if a larger bag would’ve provided additional oxygen and maybe both fish would have survived.
 
Thanks for sharing. my only comment here is the angels were packed well. One lived through shipment. One died, but they were in small bags like a local fish store would use. I don’t know if a larger bag would’ve provided additional oxygen and maybe both fish would have survived.
Sorry to see one perish. We have you shipping another out tuesday. In our bags we have medical grade O2 which is the purest o2 you can buy from Air gas, Also there is chemical in the water that detoxify ammonia so there is very little chance of ammonia poisoning or o2 running out. Secondly in a dark box most all fish goto hibernation/sleep mode and their intake of o2 is less in that state.
in some rare incidents (due to huricane or ups place crash etc) our fish have survived 3 to 5 days many time. We rather not see that but sometimes carrier related delays happen which are beyond our means.
But we make sure you get your fish next time around.
Keep an eye on the survivor and let me know how things look in a day or 2.
 
Thanks for sharing. my only comment here is the angels were packed well. One lived through shipment. One died, but they were in small bags like a local fish store would use. I don’t know if a larger bag would’ve provided additional oxygen and maybe both fish would have survived.
Sorry to see one perish. We have you shipping another out tuesday. In our bags we have medical grade O2 which is the purest o2 you can buy from Air gas, Also there is chemical in the water that detoxify ammonia so there is very little chance of ammonia poisoning or o2 running out. Secondly in a dark box most all fish goto hibernation/sleep mode and their intake of o2 is less in that state.
in some rare incidents (due to huricane or ups place crash etc) our fish have survived 3 to 5 days many time. We rather not see that but sometimes carrier related delays happen which are beyond our means.
But we make sure you get your fish next time around.
Keep an eye on the survivor and let me know how things look in a day or 2.
Thank you, sir for your time and post ,and I certainly will.
 
Dr Reef I would like feed this little girl the same formulation that you provide your small saltwater fish. Can you please share what diet she was on?
 

From the Dr Reef website.​

FEEDING & ACCLIMATION​

What do you feed your fish?​

We feed a 50/50 mix of frozen mysis and brine. We add fish vitamins like selcon and garlic guard to our food. Also in some cases we add frozen bloodworms. We buy food in bulk at https://www.jehmco.com/html/frozen.html. Please note that the food is in bulk about 2-3 lbs each brick. Once opened it will go bad soon on a normal hobbyist unless you are a very heavy feeder.
 
Dr Reef I would like feed this little girl the same formulation that you provide your small saltwater fish. Can you please share what diet she was on?
His fish come in as big time eaters. They eat literally everything I’ve ever offered. Don’t sweat it! Feed as you normally do.
 
Replacement fish is coming in from Dr Reef Affordable Aquaria tomorrow. The watanabe (err. Miss Charlotte per my wife ) is eating me out of house and home! Can’t wait for tomorrow’s arrival thanks again, Dr. Reef!!.
 
Dr Reef I would like feed this little girl the same formulation that you provide your small saltwater fish. Can you please share what diet she was on?
One time my longnose butterfly I got from him was not eating for few days so I emailed and he says to give selchom n garlic guard on the frozen cube mysis. After that day, the fish kept on eating with no issues
 
One time my longnose butterfly I got from him was not eating for few days so I emailed and he says to give selchom n garlic guard on the frozen cube mysis. After that day, the fish kept on eating with no issues
that normally works. and or live brine or live bloodworms also get them going again. once they start eating they will eat almost anything after that.
 

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