Live Aquaria do's and dont's

[N1tew0lf1212]

I tried them for first time last week I ordered 4 fish and they said wont ship unless 3/4 order was ready but I got an email that 3 out of 4 fish were on hold due to covid shortage of staff. They ended up sending one fish. I did received a health fish but messed with my QT status so I went to local fish store $300 later and got 5 more fish..... Cant trust myself if I go in without a set agenda. They did refund me when I called would of preferred them to just hold until order was ready.

Overall id give them a c-. Get what you need just could be delayed. Still don't have a sand shifting goby will have to wait a few months and convince my girlfriend to allow me to setup my fish qt tank again...

Thanks for posting your experience with me it helps in deciding what would be worth it in the end.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Thanks for posting your experience with me it helps in deciding what would be worth it in the end.

No problem they also didn't charge me shipping for 1 fish since I had free shipping for spending over a certain amount. So could of been a lot better but could of been a lot worse.

 

[Dmsick]

I've bought most of my fish from them over the last 5 years. I've had overall good luck. The few times a fish arrived DOA or died the first day, I was able to replace them with store credit and ultimately ended up with healthy fish. I bought a Heniochus Butterfly last week from Divers Den and he is gorgeous and healthy. He's currently in one of my quarantine tanks and eats like a pig with no signs of illness. Shipping currently is a concern from any online vendor of live animals. I've had bad luck with UPS and items getting delayed in Louisville. I live near Memphis so Fedex seems more reliable but that may just be luck of the draw. I'm trying to avoid getting any corals or fish via UPS for a while.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

No problem they also didn't charge me shipping for 1 fish since I had free shipping for spending over a certain amount. So could of been a lot better but could of been a lot worse.

I understand where your coming from thankfully i got this from a r2r contest but still would hate to experience doa or delays for weeks either way

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I've bought most of my fish from them over the last 5 years. I've had overall good luck. The few times a fish arrived DOA or died the first day, I was able to replace them with store credit and ultimately ended up with healthy fish. I bought a Heniochus Butterfly last week from Divers Den and he is gorgeous and healthy. He's currently in one of my quarantine tanks and eats like a pig with no signs of illness. Shipping currently is a concern from any online vendor of live animals. I've had bad luck with UPS and items getting delayed in Louisville. I live near Memphis so Fedex seems more reliable but that may just be luck of the draw. I'm trying to avoid getting any corals or fish via UPS for a while.

Thanks for your input and happy for your success kinda gives light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Thunderstruck34]

The livestock I’ve gotten from Divers den has been good (ships from WI). I haven’t ordered anything in several months from them though. Side note, I have a hard time wrapping my head around how they can turn much of a profit on livestock orders that ship from three different locations (WI,CA,FL).

If you are concerned about quality and communication, I’d just price out some dry goods and get whatever maximizes the GC.

 

[frydaddy]

If you go with livestock, I’d stick with what ships from ORA. Otherwise go with dry goods.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

The livestock I’ve gotten from Divers den has been good (ships from WI). I haven’t ordered anything in several months from them though. Side note, I have a hard time wrapping my head around how they can turn much of a profit on livestock orders that ship from three different locations (WI,CA,FL).

If you are concerned about quality and communication, I’d just price out some dry goods and get whatever maximizes the GC.

Thanks for the advice and i didnt know it was three locations thats crazy

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

If you go with livestock, I’d stick with what ships from ORA. Otherwise go with dry goods.

Thanks for the info i actually was looking at dd or ora. I just hate to get something doa. Would make me feel bad about ordering it to just not be properly taken care of i guess.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

So its looking kinda mixed from the poll but from the info ive gathered stick with ora or dd for anything living or just hit up dry goods. Anyone else have some light to shed on this topic?

 

[Soren]

I've had mixed but overall good experiences with them.
Last year through this spring, I've ordered probably 50-60 fish through them, some ORA, some California, some Wisconsin, no DD. Probably half the total numbers were freshwater fish.
There have been a few DOA's, but they upheld their guarantee and offer full credit every time. They also subtract the credit values on orders after applying toward the total needed for free shipping, so it is a 1-to-1 replacement except for the disappointment of DOA.
Most fish have shown up alive and healthy.

A few notes:
On one freshwater order, I specifically ordered hillstream loaches for the type I wanted as they specified with the scientific name. When they arrived, I actually received a different species than was ordered (and a species I did not want), and 5 of 6 showed up dead and half rotten. This was one of my worst experiences with them.
A couple times, I had a larger (3-4") fish show up DOA while appearing healthy.
I've definitely suspected gill flukes on the fish in several of the orders. I have not seen long term affects after a few rounds of PraziPro.
My most recent order included most of the fishes in my work tank and I am fairly certain they showed a moderate outbreak of Cryptocaryon (ich/white spot). Symptoms dwindled away through a month of dosing Ruby Reef Rally Pro and Kick Ich in addition to PolypLab Medic and symptoms have not returned over the past few weeks after dosing.

There also was an order that they held back due to not having all the fish for the order. I specifically communicated to them a few dates that would not work for me for the shipment if the fish did become available, including a Friday that I would be travelling and not at work to receive delivery (I have fish deliveries brought to work so I can meet the courier and receive delivery immediately). Even after using the online chat in addition to emails to communicate that date would NOT work for shipment, they scheduled the delivery of a Merten's Butterflyfish for the Friday I was travelling and could not reschedule. When I called to discuss the issue, they said nothing could be done about it, but, if I found the fish dead on Monday morning when I returned to work, it would still be guaranteed with their arrive-alive or 7-day guarantee and I could get a full refund (who cares about the fish that will die after 3+ extra days in a shipping box due to their mistake!).
Thankfully, I was able to set up a QT at work before I left and spoke with a co-worker who had some saltwater fish experience about receiving the order for me. All went well for him, and the fish made it healthy and doing well after all. Still, not a great experience with LA customer service, IMO...

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I've had mixed but overall good experiences with them.
Last year through this spring, I've ordered probably 50-60 fish through them, some ORA, some California, some Wisconsin, no DD. Probably half the total numbers were freshwater fish.
There have been a few DOA's, but they upheld their guarantee and offer full credit every time. They also subtract the credit values on orders after applying toward the total needed for free shipping, so it is a 1-to-1 replacement except for the disappointment of DOA.
Most fish have shown up alive and healthy.

A few notes:
On one freshwater order, I specifically ordered hillstream loaches for the type I wanted as they specified with the scientific name. When they arrived, I actually received a different species than was ordered (and a species I did not want), and 5 of 6 showed up dead and half rotten. This was one of my worst experiences with them.
A couple times, I had a larger (3-4") fish show up DOA while appearing healthy.
I've definitely suspected gill flukes on the fish in several of the orders. I have not seen long term affects after a few rounds of PraziPro.
My most recent order included most of the fishes in my work tank and I am fairly certain they showed a moderate outbreak of Cryptocaryon (ich/white spot). Symptoms dwindled away through a month of dosing Ruby Reef Rally Pro and Kick Ich in addition to PolypLab Medic and symptoms have not returned over the past few weeks after dosing.

There also was an order that they held back due to not having all the fish for the order. I specifically communicated to them a few dates that would not work for me for the shipment if the fish did become available, including a Friday that I would be travelling and not at work to receive delivery (I have fish deliveries brought to work so I can meet the courier and receive delivery immediately). Even after using the online chat in addition to emails to communicate that date would NOT work for shipment, they scheduled the delivery of a Merten's Butterflyfish for the Friday I was travelling and could not reschedule. When I called to discuss the issue, they said nothing could be done about it, but, if I found the fish dead on Monday morning when I returned to work, it would still be guaranteed with their arrive-alive or 7-day guarantee and I could get a full refund (who cares about the fish that will die after 3+ extra days in a shipping box due to their mistake!).
Thankfully, I was able to set up a QT at work before I left and spoke with a co-worker who had some saltwater fish experience about receiving the order for me. All went well for him, and the fish made it healthy and doing well after all. Still, not a great experience with LA customer service, IMO...

Thank you for all the info it spunds like your experience has been more on the positive side with a few mixed issues. Thank you for all the info shared.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Has anyone had any experiences with coral by chance?

 

[danieyella]

I've never had an issue with the divers den stuff. Shipping or health

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I've never had an issue with the divers den stuff. Shipping or health

Was this fish or corals... and thanks for the input it is appreciated

 

[danieyella]

Was this fish or corals... and thanks for the input it is appreciated

I really haven't ordered many corals from them in general to be honest. I think a couple of my leathers came through there and one of my acanthos. I couldn't tell you for sure if they were divers or regular because it was quite some time ago.

 

[danieyella]

I've had pretty good luck with cleanup crew from them! When I won a gift card that's what I used it for

 

[Chrisv.]

I used to love dd (10yrs ago). I placed an order this past winter and in spite of it being the coldest day of the year in Boston and an extremely cold day in Wisconsin, they sent the fish. I practically begged them to hold the order for one more day. They wouldn't. They sent the fish in a thin foam lined mylar bag. Maybe it was twice the thickness of a quarter. When I brought the delivery inside, the water in the bags was 55f even with three heat packs.

They didn't even bother putting the fish in a proper foam cooler. Shame on them.

The fish did survive, but they could have done a lot better IMHO.

So to answer your question, buy dry goods.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

I used to love dd (10yrs ago). I placed an order this past winter and in spite of it being the coldest day of the year in Boston and an extremely cold day in Wisconsin, they sent the fish. I practically begged the. To hold the order for one day. They wouldn't. They sent the fish in a thin foam lined mylar bag. Maybe it was twice the thickness of a quarter. When I brought the delivery inside, the water in the bags was 55f even with three heat packs.

They didn't even bother putting the fish in a proper foam cooler. Shame on them.

The fish did survive, but they could have done a lot better IMHO.

So to answer your question, buy dry goods.

Thats kind of what its looking like the census is so far dry goods. Its not cold right now but i would be afraid of over heating now as well. Thank you for your input it is much appreciated. I really wish it wasn't like that as i would prefer corals lol.....

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Thats kind of what its looking like the census is so far dry goods. Its not cold right now but i would be afraid of over heating now as well. Thank you for your input it is much appreciated. I really wish it wasn't like that as i would prefer corals lol.....

Bro there is a thread on here where they shipped somebody a plain bag of water haha. Another where they shipped a full white/dead acro colony. You can’t make this stuff up. Run Forest run!! :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing: