Finding the perfect fish isn't always as easy as it looks. Local pet shops may not carry what you are looking for. Fortunately, there are companies that specialize in Internet sales and shipping of live aquarium fish. In fact, online ordering of live fish has become fairly common. However, it's not with out risks. Here's what you should consider before mail-ordering live fish. Choosing a Fish Shop
Acclimating Aquarium Fish
Matching pH
Photo © Sabine Scheckel
Comments
I’ve ordered fish via mail order, and found the company I used did a good job – I ordered on Thursday, so they waited until Monday to ship the fish (they didn’t want to have them sitting over the weekend), and they were delivered safe and sound the following day, apparently none the worse for the journey. All 4 fish (dwarf gouramis) did well for a time in their new home, but I think they became stressed by the presence of my rainbowfish – over a period of several months, each eventually sickened and died. I don’t blame the mail order experience for that – there was too much lag between shipment and the death of the last fish.