Dr. Reef sent me EXTRA fish, what should I do.

[RMS18]

Wow , where's my time machine.

 

[EliMelly]

Wow , where's my time machine.

What do you mean?

 

[aciak]

This happened to me about 6 months ago. Ordered one banggai cardinal amongst other fish ordered, and received two cardinals. One was certainly smaller than the other. They both went into my 20 gal, and there has been some aggression by the larger one, but overall it's worked out well. I also got a bunch of snails when I ordered just one, which was good because a good handful did not make it. All in all, I've ordered 8 fish from Dr Reef and they're all very healthy and happy! I'll certainly be ordering more when I have my bigger tank setup!

 

[RMS18]

What do you mean?

I'd like to go back in time to order through Dr. Reef

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something here.... The mortality rate of your process (both the QT and shipping) is so high, that you literally double up on fish hoping to get just one to your buyer? And everyone is praising this? Someone please tell me I'm missing something here.

 

[EliMelly]

I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something here.... The mortality rate of your process (both the QT and shipping) is so high, that you literally double up on fish hoping to get just one to your buyer? And everyone is praising this? Someone please tell me I'm missing something here.

You’re missing it. It’s not the mortality rate of the QT. It’s the fact that some fish are just very sensitive shippers. Things happen during of shipping that are out of the control of the vendor.

 

[Fish Fan]

I appreciate the thought process on this and trying to ensure a healthy fish makes it to your customers, but some hobbyists are not in a positon to have an 2nd large or potentially territorial with the same species fish or able to rehome it. For me, that fish will have to be in a 6"x5" area in my sump for its entire life or sent to die in a petco tank. Neither are fair for the fish.

I could not agree more! I would have no room for "extra" fish, and wouldn't appreciate the hassle of rehoming them.

As a longtime customer of Dr reef it tends to be the very sensitive shippers. Like mentioned before Anthias, gobies, some wrasses. I have never had that with tangs and I’ve gotten at least 10 at this point. Same with angels.

The whole reason to write this post is to educate everyone including us and come up with solution. So good point and we will incorporate a question to be anwered by customers if they are ok to receive extra fish. We will ship according to thier answer.

Ummm, here's an idea..... Maybe don't try to ship these fish???

I'm glad I do my own QT. I had always heard really great things about Dr. Reef, but this thread is literally nauseating.

 

[Fish Fan]

You’re missing it. It’s not the mortality rate of the QT. It’s the fact that some fish are just very sensitive shippers. Things happen during of shipping that are out of the control of the vendor.

Again, maybe don't ship these fish?

 

[Fish Fan]

Chances of both surviving, species mentioned, is very rare. If I was to put a number on it I would say out of all the doubles we ship maybe 25% of the time both survive.

You will find our customer service top knotch.
Like Mike (dr. reef) always says, Hes not in it for money, rather passion for the hobby he has.

Wow, just wow. This is what everyone is raving about?

 

[EliMelly]

Again, maybe don't ship these fish?

To each their own. Most of the time the fish make it so not sure what you’re complaining about. We deal with livestock in this hobby and not everything will make it whether it’s fish or coral.

 

[EliMelly]

Wow, just wow. This is what everyone is raving about?

Seems like you have a personal bone to pick.

 

[Fish Fan]

To each their own. Most of the time the fish make it so not sure what you’re complaining about. We deal with livestock in this hobby and not everything will make it whether it’s fish or coral.

Agreed! But this "Dr. Reef" is charging HUGH money for supposedly healthy fish. It's disturbing to me how many fish are lost in his "process" and everyone thinks this is fantastic. I do not, sorry.

 

[Fish Fan]

Seems like you have a personal bone to pick.

Not at all. I just happen to like fish :)

EDIT: In fact, I didn't have an opinion at all until this morning when I learned how many fish he's killing under the guise of providing "healthy" fish.

To each their own is right.

 

[EliMelly]

Agreed! But this "Dr. Reef" is charging HUGH money for supposedly healthy fish. It's disturbing to me how many fish are lost in his "process" and everyone thinks this is fantastic. I do not, sorry.

Again we’re not talking about his QT process. We are talking about shipping. As someone who has spent over 10k with him I can testify to how well packaged everything is. Have you purchased fish from him to comment on shipping practices?

Sometimes things happen that are out of the shippers control and he is going the extra step to do right by the customer.

 

[Fish Fan]

Again we’re not talking about his QT process. We are talking about shipping. As someone who has spent over 10k with him I can testify to how well packaged everything is. Have you purchased fish from him to comment on shipping practices?

Sometimes things happen that are out of the shippers control and he is going the extra step to do right by the customer.

I'm talking about both parts of his process, including shipping.

 

[EliMelly]

Not at all. I just happen to like fish :)

EDIT: In fact, I didn't have an opinion at all until this morning when I learned how many fish he's killing under the guise of providing "healthy" fish.

To each their own is right.

It’s not under the guise of providing healthy fish. Some fish are just not great shippers that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing well when they leave his warehouse. Why would he send an unhealthy fish? He replaces everything at the smallest complaint….

 

[EliMelly]

I'm talking about both parts of his process, including shipping.

The way he ships is phenomenal! Just some fish are sensitive to shipping. Everything is incredibly well packaged.

 

[Vested]

Agreed! But this "Dr. Reef" is charging HUGH money for supposedly healthy fish. It's disturbing to me how many fish are lost in his "process" and everyone thinks this is fantastic. I do not, sorry.

Do you get your fish from local stores? How do you think they got there and do you have any idea how many did not make it in that process? This is the reality of shipping, has nothing todo with his process. The other option is shipping 1 fish, then it doas and you risk shipping another single fish. (less travel is the better option for everyone including the fish lol)

Your point "just don't ship those fish then" is stupid, a better point if you want to take that stance is too improve the shipping process so there is a better survival rate. Which seems like what Dr Reef is doing, never ordered from him but from what I've seen its good work.

 

[brandon429]

When I read that some people who ordered fish got more, I was insensed

 

[Fish Fan]

And he started this thread saying that he QT's two because maybe one dies. Then tells us how many die in shipping. I can't get behind this, I'm sorry.

It’s not under the guise of providing healthy fish. Some fish are just not great shippers that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing well when they leave his warehouse. Why would he send an unhealthy fish? He replaces everything at the smallest complaint….

He's literally telling us how many fish he kills to get one "healthy" fish to your door. And maybe it's the same with other vendors, but no one is charging "Dr. Reef" prices and telling us that they kill fish.

Do you get your fish from local stores? How do you think they got there and do you have any idea how many did not make it in that process? This is the reality of shipping, has nothing todo with his process. The other option is shipping 1 fish, then it doas and you risk shipping another single fish. (less travel is the better option for everyone including the fish lol)

But my local fish store doesn't charge a 500% markup, and then tells me we need to give you extra fish because likely one or two may die.