Thoughts on Dr. Reef
- Thread starter RWhitt907
- Start date
- Tagged users None
LiquidSpace
Well-Known Member
UPS finally delivered my package, unfortunately the Starry Blenny, Dusky Wrasse and Red Solon Wrasse were DOA. What’s really frustrating as all three deaths looked relatively recent. It may have been a matter of hours that killed them.
The Swallowtail is hanging in there for now in an acclimation box. It doesn’t seem 100% but I don’t blame it, being stuck in a bag for close to 48 hours! None of this is Dr. Reef’s fault. It was all because of weather.
I’m posting all of this because never once did I feel like I was going to be screwed over. Communication from Dr. Reef was great. He was willing to help out this morning when the package 20 miles away from me said it would be delivered on Monday. I’m not sure if his reaching out to his rep is what got it moving, but I’d like to think it was. He’s replacing the fish losses caused by the delay even though it was not his fault.
Customer service was excellent! I have been holding off on buying my tangs because I want them all to go in at the same time. I plan to buy all four (Gem, Orange Shoulder, Lieutenant and Blue Hippo) from Dr. Reef sometime this summer.
The Swallowtail is hanging in there for now in an acclimation box. It doesn’t seem 100% but I don’t blame it, being stuck in a bag for close to 48 hours! None of this is Dr. Reef’s fault. It was all because of weather.
I’m posting all of this because never once did I feel like I was going to be screwed over. Communication from Dr. Reef was great. He was willing to help out this morning when the package 20 miles away from me said it would be delivered on Monday. I’m not sure if his reaching out to his rep is what got it moving, but I’d like to think it was. He’s replacing the fish losses caused by the delay even though it was not his fault.
Customer service was excellent! I have been holding off on buying my tangs because I want them all to go in at the same time. I plan to buy all four (Gem, Orange Shoulder, Lieutenant and Blue Hippo) from Dr. Reef sometime this summer.
IrresponsibleReef
New Member
Sounds like you had a great experience from Dr Reef despite the DOA. The way they handled the DOA and responsiveness goes a long way. For that alone, I’ll place my next order from them. Thank you for being honest.
Last edited:
Anna K
razzle dazzle em'
My fish arrived at the access point at around 1:30 I think. Did my hour round trip to go pick them up. If it's possible to provide my own shipping label with FedEx, I'd like to do that next time since the FedEx Hub personally knows me by how frequent I am either picking up or shipping off animals. My UPS out here in rural Texas is absolute garbage, and my access point was a CVS store where they had never had fish delivered. When I got them home I noticed water in the box, but couldn't pin point where it was actually coming from as no bag showed a leak. I followed the acclimation process and so far all three fish are doing extremely well. Really happy with my black ice clown. He is truly stunning!
DexterKarin
Active Member
Just adding my experience. Ordering went fine. They let me add a peppermint shrimp part way through fish quarantine with no problem. I was notified of the shipping date about 3-4 weeks after order, paid, and was given information that included the fish would be arriving on a Wednesday which is what I had selected. They shipped with UPS on Tuesday and I was told by UPS they would arrive between 11 and 3 PM. They got to my house at 5 PM. All fish and inverts were alive on arrival. I had ordered a Banggai Cardinalfish and a hi-fin goby, a peppermint shrimp and a nano pack of snails. Not a huge order but important to me. I had checked the box okay to send additional of sensitive species. So I got two cardinal fish and one or two more of each snail. The fish are small. If size matters to you, you might want to inquire about this. (Can't believe I just typed that). But I love to watch them grow into the environment so I'm all good with the little guys. I acclimated as instructed and they are all doing fine. I really thought I would never see the goby as he was so small, but he found the candy cane shrimp immediately and they have set up the domicile. The goby comes out regularly and is not too nervous with me staring at him. I have seen the goby and shrimp come out together as well... cute as sin. The cardinals integrated fine and no aggression with my clowns, blenny or springerii damsel. I started out with a tank divider that kept everyone away until the cardinals started going through the divider (I realize I may have to rehome a cardinal down the line but will just watch that) . All of them are eating frozen and flake foods and reef nutrition arti-pods. I have lost one nerite snail and I have not seen the peppermint shrimp at all and my 4 aiptasia are still there. But I have found no shrimp body either. Hope he is acclimating somewhere as he looked good on arrival.
I would totally recommend Dr. Reef. You have to be patient but after trying quarantining myself, this was a better way for me to go and I stand behind that decision. I have a smallish tank.
Thanks!!!
I would totally recommend Dr. Reef. You have to be patient but after trying quarantining myself, this was a better way for me to go and I stand behind that decision. I have a smallish tank.
Thanks!!!
OP
OP
RWhitt907
Active Member
I've exclusively used Dr. Reef for anything quarantined, I'll hit up my LFS for the cheaper stuff and QT those myself, but anything higher end and inverts, I get from him. 0 complaints and top notch customer service.
SneaksMcdoogle
Active Member
I have used them, many times. Iv had great success with them… about 5 orders in the past 3 years.
1 DOA and they shipped a replacement in a week.
OP
OP
RWhitt907
Active Member
Yeah I've since used them time and time again. 0 complaints on my end. 1 DOA and he shipped a 2nd fish with it knowing they're poor shippers, lost 2 urchins in shipment as well, but wasn't the end of the world.
Dr. Reef
www.drreefsquarantinedfish.com
Let me know on your next order I will replace them for you
saltienewb
Active Member
I’ve had mostly positive experiences with Dr.Reef, and out of the negatives, I only retroactively “blame” them for an urchin that only lasted a few days.
I lost a flame angel but it was a Starcki that pestered him to death in hindsight. I lost a leopard but figure he injured his mouth during shipping and went downhill over the course of a week. Neither is his fault.
I’ve asked for small fish and gotten them small 7/8 fish I’ve ordered. The chromis was so small but that’s what I ordered! He was small enough that all but the momma clown ignored him and he’s fattening up nicely.
Really have positive things to say about his service
I lost a flame angel but it was a Starcki that pestered him to death in hindsight. I lost a leopard but figure he injured his mouth during shipping and went downhill over the course of a week. Neither is his fault.
I’ve asked for small fish and gotten them small 7/8 fish I’ve ordered. The chromis was so small but that’s what I ordered! He was small enough that all but the momma clown ignored him and he’s fattening up nicely.
Really have positive things to say about his service
IrresponsibleReef
New Member
How were your fish
LiquidSpace
Well-Known Member
All good, Dr. Reef is taking care of me. I had trouble with the Swallowtail but that’s all on UPS.
Last edited:
Suarez_Leslie
Community Member
My thoughts on Dr. Reef are that he’s always taken care of me. I believe I’ve been using Dr. Reef since 2020 or 2021. There have been issues with DOAS and unhealthy fish, but I think most of those problems are beyond his control. However, what has always been consistent and reliable is his customer service. I think things were a bit slower in the beginning, and he had a lot on his plate, but that was years ago, when his email was [email protected]. Now, things seem much more streamlined.
I’ve never had ich or velvet disease come through from Dr. Reef.
I must admit that I got used to the QT fish, and I started to feel invincible. However, when I ordered fish from another place, it completely wrecked me. It took me a lot of time to recover go fallow, actually fallow twice because I messed up the first time. I had to re-quarantine my own fish and set up different systems in my garage for coral QT fish, observation tanks, and so on. But whenever I had a question, Dr. Reef was always there to answer it.
I think that people have seen his customer service on here, and it speaks for itself. I apologize if anyone had a bad experience; I can only speak for my own experiences, and they’ve all been great.
I’ve never had ich or velvet disease come through from Dr. Reef.
I must admit that I got used to the QT fish, and I started to feel invincible. However, when I ordered fish from another place, it completely wrecked me. It took me a lot of time to recover go fallow, actually fallow twice because I messed up the first time. I had to re-quarantine my own fish and set up different systems in my garage for coral QT fish, observation tanks, and so on. But whenever I had a question, Dr. Reef was always there to answer it.
I think that people have seen his customer service on here, and it speaks for itself. I apologize if anyone had a bad experience; I can only speak for my own experiences, and they’ve all been great.
SpyC
Valuable Member
After multiple issues with my order and numerous shipments, my last order ever with Dr Reef concluded. i had issues with prior orders but opted to give them one last try. Despite stating Indid not have room To support extra fish, they sent duplicates that fought in my tank and both died from that and the stress.
The bagging was still subpar with corners unprotected and half filled bags. these bags did not have leaks in them, but were not well closed or properly filled with air. the bags collapsed on themselves.
I had fish not make the initial shipment, but they still sent out the order while asking me what Inwanted to do. why not hold onto the fish until I answer. reasonable people will understand waiting for the response could delay shipment, but is worth it imo. I am curious how the business stays afloat after paying for shipping 3 times instead of holding off for one shipment.
I had a death a day after delivery, but things happen. Dr Reef was helpful with this and eventually sent another after other delays with 'fish looking healthy' and only sending one fish at a time.
I see the responses from Dr Reef and other customers and do not understand how my experience is constantly vastly different from many here. i am glad others have had great experiences, but with mine I cannot agree with those that praise them or the statements Dr Reef made in this thread.
The bagging was still subpar with corners unprotected and half filled bags. these bags did not have leaks in them, but were not well closed or properly filled with air. the bags collapsed on themselves.
I had fish not make the initial shipment, but they still sent out the order while asking me what Inwanted to do. why not hold onto the fish until I answer. reasonable people will understand waiting for the response could delay shipment, but is worth it imo. I am curious how the business stays afloat after paying for shipping 3 times instead of holding off for one shipment.
I had a death a day after delivery, but things happen. Dr Reef was helpful with this and eventually sent another after other delays with 'fish looking healthy' and only sending one fish at a time.
I see the responses from Dr Reef and other customers and do not understand how my experience is constantly vastly different from many here. i am glad others have had great experiences, but with mine I cannot agree with those that praise them or the statements Dr Reef made in this thread.
Dr. Reef
www.drreefsquarantinedfish.com
Very simple. We dont care about making money. our goal is disease free livestock and making customers happy (we know not everyone will be happy). For Dr Reef this is a hobby turned into massive hobby. This is not his bread and butter. Hes got many other businesses in Oklahoma.
That is why he always says "I am not in it for money"
Proof is in your statement itself. We could save money on shipping at the expense of killing the fish. But we dont. Longer the fish sits in a 8x8 cube it starts to get thin and after so long it literly is too week and skinny to live or to sell and thus it dies.
We dont like to see dying thin fish so we rather lose money and ship, It may have a better chance to live in clients tank vs in our cube.
Its called good moral ethics that most businesses have forgotten and only follow botton line numbers.
Last edited:
SpyC
Valuable Member
I don't see good moral ethics when it comes to the fish that came my way. if the fish start withering away eight after quarantine, why allow customers to ask you to hold them for a longer period of time? wouldn't the fish geat healtheir once treatment is completed and they are being fed?
Shipping poorly bagged fish is not ethical either. you made claims in this thread stating fish shipment has improved and you wouldn't send extra fish when told not to. However there was no difference in bagging quality from my first order in 2022 and now. Extra fish were sent even though I selected no when ordering which led to two deaths. as much as you want to say you are ethical, this is not ethical.
Dr. Reef
www.drreefsquarantinedfish.com
Those are all your personal experiences. Not everyone agrees to that as you can read through this thread.
We have praises after praises on our shipping and customer service. As you stated you wont be buying anymore so there is nothing further to discuss> Happy reefing.
We have praises after praises on our shipping and customer service. As you stated you wont be buying anymore so there is nothing further to discuss> Happy reefing.
Last edited:
Dr. Reef
www.drreefsquarantinedfish.com
For the ones wondering about our shipping and bagging here is a review from today.
www.reef2reef.com
Futher more goto this section of r2r and read each and every review about Dr Reef and be your own judge.
Dr. Reefs Quarantined Fish
First timer in reef2reef so if I screw this up sorry. I wanted to put in a shoutout to Dr. Reefs. I ordered a bucket of stuff from fancy Clowns and Cardinals to cleanup crew members and shrimp. Everything was packaged great. Everything arrived alive. Everything was in awesome shape. The fish...
www.reef2reef.com
Futher more goto this section of r2r and read each and every review about Dr Reef and be your own judge.
Similar threads
New Posts
-
-
-
-
What is your preferred method of Nitrate and Phosphate Reduction?- Latest: Randy Holmes-Farley
-
