If you’re looking for rare or unusual species in good health, buy them directly from the breeder. However, these companies are often smaller and don’t have large customer service teams, so temper your expectations. Some popular online fish retailers include Live Aquaria, That Pet Place, Live Fish Direct, Marine Fish EZ, and Vivid Aquariums. If any of your friends are fish hobbyists, ask them for online retailer recommendations. Or, reach out to special interest groups on social media—they may be able to recommend quality breeders or importers.
Similarly, avoid retailers that provide brief or no information on their website or that refuse to answer your questions, as they may not be as knowledgeable about their inventory. Look for companies with an open door policy that are willing to answer questions and communicate honestly.
Avoid retailers that don’t offer a survival guarantee, even if they’re cheaper, as they may be selling ill fish or practicing poor shipping methods. Don’t worry about whether your fish can survive being shipped to your home, as most fish stores have their fish shipped to them, too. As long as the retailer is practicing safe shipping methods, your fish should be fine. Note that the price of the fish and survival guarantee may not include shipping charges, so find out the company’s policy before placing your order.
This primarily applies to fish retailers that have their fish imported. If the fish retailer breeds their own inventory, they may not need to quarantine them. Avoid fish retailers that do not quarantine their inventory, as an ill fish could spread diseases to your other fish and potentially kill them. Don’t forget to quarantine the fish you receive for 14 before putting them in with other fish you have. Observe them for any illness that crop up after the stress of shipping.
This is the closest purchasing fish online comes to choosing specific fish at a pet store and is the best way to choose a healthy fish of the appropriate size for your aquarium and its inhabitants. What you see is what you get!
Research each fish’s specific needs and ensure you can provide the right habitat for each of them. Find out the water requirements, diet, size, and lifespan of each creature and make sure you can care for them well. You could, for example, buy a green spotted puffer fish or freshwater sting ray, as both of these species are difficult to find. If you’re buying multiple fish online, purchase them at the same time to cut back on shipping costs. Just be aware of each fish’s shipping requirements and work with the retailer to find a solution that works for both you and the fish. [7] X Research source
Keep in mind that any savings you get from ordering fish online will be offset by shipping charges, which range from $30-50 USD at a minimum.
Before submitting the order, ask other fish hobbyists you know if they’re purchasing fish online soon to make the purchase together and split the costs on shipping. Make sure the site is secure before entering your payment details and look for vendors who use third-party payment platforms like PayPal. wikiHow actually has a coupon page that partners with various pet supply companies. Feel free to scope it out for some savings before making your purchase!
Fish tanks take several days to stabilize, so fill the fish tank with water and add any decorations or filters at least several days in advance. Adjust the fish tank’s lighting, heat, and water salinity as needed to mimic your fish’s natural environment. If you have a freshwater fish tank but have purchased saltwater fish (or vice versa), you will need to buy a second fish tank.
Fish tanks take several days to stabilize, so fill the fish tank with water and add any decorations or filters at least several days in advance. Adjust the fish tank’s lighting, heat, and water salinity as needed to mimic your fish’s natural environment. If you have a freshwater fish tank but have purchased saltwater fish (or vice versa), you will need to buy a second fish tank.
If your new and existing fish species are known for being aggressive, place them in separate tanks even if they’re both freshwater or saltwater fish to prevent them from attacking or killing each other. After introducing the fish, you can move any aggressors to the secondary tank if need be.
If your online retailer sells fish food, purchase it along with your fish to save on shipping costs. If you purchased a betta fish, for example, you may need dry fish pellets or freeze-dried worms.
