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Unread 01/16/2018, 08:33 AM   #1
kaxt
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Live Aquaria delayed delivery

My order of fish shipped out yesterday and was supposed to be delivered today, but I just got an email saying the delivery is delayed due to severe weather. Has anyone ever had their fish shipment delayed and had the fish still alive when they finally arrived. I'm not going to be able to think of anything other than those poor fish just sitting in a box waiting for death today.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 08:43 AM   #2
nereefpat
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I went through this about a month ago with live aquaria. Fish had to spend an extra night in Louisville, I think.

I ordered:
2 orchid dottybacks
1 melanurus wrasse
1 damsel

The damsel and one dottyback were DOA. The other dottyback looked perfectly fine, and the wrasse looked a little rough. Both fish are now very healthy and in my display. Live aquaria put the money for the DOAs back on my debit card.

Keep in mind to NOT drip acclimate. The ammonia burn would be severe. Float for temp acclimation and match tank temp to their salinity. Then get them out of the bags quickly.

Good luck.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 08:54 AM   #3
ReefkeeperZ
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unfortunately shipping delays happen all the time, depending one what you are receiving can changes the chances of survival, as we all know some fish are definitely hardier than others. as well as how cold it is in the areas the fish are being held. I live in maine and it's not uncommon for delays or extreme cold I tend to watch the weather nation wide to see what's happening or predicted before ordering.

best bet is to obviously turn off all lights (tank and room to make is as dark as possible) float for temperature, (contact live aquaria for the shipping specific gravity and have your QT prepped at the same level) so once temperature is reached you can open the bags and remove from the bag water immediately.

also if your tanks salinity is slightly lower than shipping water is safer than slightly higher, it's harder for a fish to adjust osmoregulation upwards than downwards.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 09:37 AM   #4
Ritten
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I had a delayed shipment years ago and the fish were fine. Let us know how it goes. Its always so exciting to have livestock coming, and now your dreading opening the box afraid of what you will find. That sucks. Hope it goes well for you!


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Unread 01/16/2018, 10:09 AM   #5
Hydrus
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Liveaquaria has always been very good to me and replaced any DoA's. Its horrible for the fish for sure but if they do die you should have no problem getting reimbursed.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 10:11 AM   #6
ca1ore
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I have had fish deliveries delayed by a day on a few occasions. Though the results were not positive on one of those occasions, in all other cases the fish arrive safe and sound.


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Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

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Unread 01/16/2018, 10:41 AM   #7
cincyjim
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I had a Barnacle Blenny get stuck in the Charlottesville UPS warehouse over a weekend and I was so surprised he was alive that Monday when they delivered him.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 11:53 AM   #8
undbulsu
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I’ve got 3 expensive corals delayed overnight

Any ideas on special treatment once they arrive?


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Unread 01/16/2018, 11:54 AM   #9
mako61
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I had 3 anthias delayed 24 hours they all lived. I agree with nereefpat . I did NOT do the drip method. I CAREFULLY matched temp and salinity BEFORE opening bag and then quickly moved fish into new water once open. ( using none of the shipment water )

I did alot of reading in the 24 hours I waited and decided on the match parms exactly and quick move method. I think this esp important on delayed shipments.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 12:31 PM   #10
kaxt
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The worst part is that I paid for Saturday delivery and they didn't ship then due to bad weather near them. When they weren't able to ship on Friday I had asked them to cancel the order and was surprised last night when I got the shipping confirmation. We are supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow so I'm really hoping it isn't delayed another day.

I have a tomini tang, a mccoskers wrasse, a goby, and a skunk cleaner shrimp coming. I plan on just temp acclimating for any fish that survive, but what about the shrimp? I know inverts are very sensitive to salinity changes. Does anyone know what the specify gravity of the water will be in the shipping bags? If I can find out that information I will definitely have a tank waiting for them that matches.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 01:02 PM   #11
mako61
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http://www.liveaquaria.com/article/282/?aid=282

They have SG there.


Mine was 1.025. I took a sample of water from the bag using a syringe. I only needed a few drops for my refractometer.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 02:30 PM   #12
hkgar
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Make sure you use this method of acclimation. DO NOT do drip as ammonia will be quite high.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576


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Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels
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Unread 01/16/2018, 07:43 PM   #13
2_zoa
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Unfortunately I have recently been on the delayed delivery list. My first ever liveaquaria order was close to Christmas. I wasn’t even thinking about it being the holidays. I just wanted fish......
Both packages got hit with a cold front and had to deal with colder temps then liveaquaria prepared for.
Two packages for the order and both got delayed with one of them shipping a day behind the other from the beginning. The fish were NOT happy but the clowns and a powder brown tang made it through. The tang was upside down and very non responsive. Though, it was breathing. So it got acclimated and I’m very happy I didn’t give up on it.
They went through TTM now and are in QT putting on weight very nicely.

Now, the anemone I ordered at the same time..........no go. That bag smelled and the nem was inside out. Very DOA.


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Unread 01/16/2018, 08:22 PM   #14
elFloyd
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I have a box of inverts stuck in Louisville right now. It’s a replacement for delayed DOA just before Christmas.


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Unread 01/17/2018, 10:26 AM   #15
kaxt
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Thanks for all the advice, everyone. The fish are supposed to arrive within the next 30 minutes.

My plan is to make a small pinhole in each bag just so I can check salinity. Then float the bags to match temp. While they are floating I'll match the salinity in the QT tank to the bags. I'll just put the fish right in the tank as soon as I open the bags. Hopefully the bags all have the same salinity, the Live Aquaria website linked above gave a pretty wide range of what it could be. If not, I guess I'll aim for the salinity in the shrimp bag.

I'll keep everyone posted.


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Unread 01/17/2018, 10:59 AM   #16
solitude127
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Did the fish ship out of california? If so,probably out a quality marine and my last shipment from them, my salinity was 1.021. Good luck.


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Unread 01/17/2018, 01:22 PM   #17
jayball
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaxt View Post
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. The fish are supposed to arrive within the next 30 minutes.

My plan is to make a small pinhole in each bag just so I can check salinity. Then float the bags to match temp. While they are floating I'll match the salinity in the QT tank to the bags. I'll just put the fish right in the tank as soon as I open the bags. Hopefully the bags all have the same salinity, the Live Aquaria website linked above gave a pretty wide range of what it could be. If not, I guess I'll aim for the salinity in the shrimp bag.

I'll keep everyone posted.
put tape over the pinhole after you take the sample, it only takes a little air to start moving the PH (causing the ammonia conversion).


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Unread 01/17/2018, 01:24 PM   #18
kaxt
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Everything is alive!!! The goby doesn't look so good, but it's still alive. Hopefully with clean, warm water it can recover.

The order did ship out of California. The fish were in 1.023 water and the shrimp was in 1.025. I matched the qt tank for the fish and I matched a small container for the shrimp. I put the shrimp in the clean matched water and I'm now drip acclimating to match my display. I don't plan to quarantine the shrimp.


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Unread 01/17/2018, 01:52 PM   #19
solitude127
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Great to hear. Hopefully they'll keep thriving.


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Unread 01/17/2018, 01:59 PM   #20
hkgar
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I believe you can safely put the shrimp in 1.023, It is easier going down.


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180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx

Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels
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Unread 01/17/2018, 02:06 PM   #21
HBtank
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Good news!


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80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia!

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Unread 01/17/2018, 02:47 PM   #22
Ritten
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that's great!


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Unread 01/18/2018, 07:57 AM   #23
twistedfinn967
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I just had an order ship Monday for delivery Tuesday. Saw the dreaded "delayed due to weather". My fish were all sitting in Louisville, KY - I'm in northeast Ohio. They were delivered at 0945 Wednesday, cold as ice. LA was very apologetic and refunded me no problem. I had no idea the weather was that bad.
I'm gonna try again next week when I have a couple days off again.


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Unread 01/18/2018, 08:02 AM   #24
Arcar
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If you add a fish to DT how can you match the salinity? or is that only in QT tanks?


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Unread 01/18/2018, 08:07 AM   #25
twistedfinn967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcar View Post
If you add a fish to DT how can you match the salinity? or is that only in QT tanks?
You have to acclimate. There are several methods, most common being the "drip method".
I use a device called "The AccliMate by Reef Gently.


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