Is it just unfortunate luck with fish?

[lovethemarine]

I had made my first order back in may 2026 I believe. I had gotten a coral beauty, Molly miller blenny, macro algae and a birds nest coral. The order was quarantined and shipped in June. Upon receipt the coral beauty was DOA and the macro algae was missing entirely which they apologized for that error. Luckily the Molly miller was fine and is still thriving with a fat little belly. They were quick to respond and put in the order for a replacement which they would also send the algae with. The replacement order was sent early July. Unfortunately due to ups, it was a day late and coral beauty arrived alive but on deaths door and passed about 30 minutes after opening the box and getting it into a tank. Again dr reefs was quick to respond and agreed to change the fish type entirely as I just wasn't comfortable continuing to try the coral beauty knowing it gets so stressed in shipping. I decided on a carpenter flasher wrasse which at the time I didn't realize were bad shippers either. That shipment came yesterday and I received 2. One was DOA and the other appeared super stressed but was alive. I immediately put it into the tank, lights turned off and even covered the sides to keep it as calm as I possibly could. It stayed near rocks on the bottom substrate and eventually disappeared into the rockwork. Later in the evening I used a flashlight to try and see if I could locate it and I did, but it was dead being consumed by my cleanup crew in the rocks and I couldn't get it out. I let dr reefs know and sent a picture as best as I could but obviously it was in the tank and hard to see back in the rocks being eaten. I was offered store credit but at this point I'm very hesitant to try anymore fish being that only 1 out of 5 has survived and I also don't want to put out more shipping money. I just feel awful to put them into such stress and die. The tank is 125g and stocked with other fish all from LFS near me and they're doing fine. Is this just unfortunate circumstances shipping fish and having such a low survival rate?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

We lose 9-10% in shipping on averge.
I think this is just back luck and I can already tell you a few reasons. Its been 100F Plus daily for last 1 month or so. Out of 14-16 hrs of travel time 80-90% of it is spent in OK and KY (Midwest) and reach destination States by 6-7am. Then few hours on truck to your house. Heat is factor #1 in summer.
Secondly Coral beauty are not as bad of a shipper but likely due to heat and stress didnt make it. It was still a better choice than carpenter. Wrasses generally are more fragile than angels.
As you see we sent 2 becauce we know 1 will be lost in most orders in shipping.
If you like to wait 2-3 weeks, weather will be much cooler to ship and much better survival rate.
June-August, Mid Dec-Feb are the worst time to ship live fish.
let us know and we will be happy to help you in any way we can.

Note: If survival rate was this bad we wont be in business.

 

[lovethemarine]

We lose 9-10% in shipping on averge.
I think this is just back luck and I can already tell you a few reasons. Its been 100F Plus daily for last 1 month or so. Out of 14-16 hrs of travel time 80-90% of it is spent in OK and KY (Midwest) and reach destination States by 6-7am. Then few hours on truck to your house. Heat is factor #1 in summer.
Secondly Coral beauty are not as bad of a shipper but likely due to heat and stress didnt make it. It was still a better choice than carpenter. Wrasses generally are more fragile than angels.
As you see we sent 2 becauce we know 1 will be lost in most orders in shipping.
If you like to wait 2-3 weeks, weather will be much cooler to ship and much better survival rate.
June-August, Mid Dec-Feb are the worst time to ship live fish.
let us know and we will be happy to help you in any way we can.

Note: If survival rate was this bad we wont be in business.

Thanks for the explanation. We have just been so excited for each shipment of fish so its been upsetting to never get a chance to have them in the tank. I'm not really sure when I can place another order since the store credit doesn't cover shipping but if I have the ability to buy some more within that time frame of better survival that you listed, I can let you guys know.

 

[KrisReef]

I'm meeting a reefer from this site later today to pick up some corals, in person.

The last mail order shipment to me was delayed a day when FedEx sent it to the wrong Oceanside, (1st East, then West) and over 1/2 of that order did not last a week. Most of the corals were struggling in the bags on opening.

I am not putting in a claim (My order WAS NOT DR. REEF), I am not going to blame a seller for heat stress issues. I blame myself for making the order, and I am not going to order by mail anything that might spend the night in a warm freight container until winter. Then I have to worry about freezing, but cold weather is generally safer in my destination. Something we all should be mindful of.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Thanks for the explanation. We have just been so excited for each shipment of fish so its been upsetting to never get a chance to have them in the tank. I'm not really sure when I can place another order since the store credit doesn't cover shipping but if I have the ability to buy some more within that time frame of better survival that you listed, I can let you guys know.

I will cover your shipping. Just post your order# here when you do place it, or if you pm me your credit code, I can add shipping money into the code to offset the charge

 

[lovethemarine]

@Dr. Reef Oh wow thank you so much! Would you recommend waiting entirely to place an order until like September? Or can I place it now with a note for later in the year?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Yah no problem.
We wanna make sure our customers money is well worth spent.
You can place order anytime and leave a note at checkout saying when you would like delivery.
We will ship accordingly. Just post your order # here and I'll remove the shipping charges.