Where do you order you livestock?

Pszemol · 05-24-2002, 12:42 PM

I need to replenish my tank cleaners crew. I plan to order about 40 hermit crabs of different type, maybe some starfishes, sea cucumbers, snails and abalones... Probably some macroalgae to fight with phosphates and nitrates, too.
I am considering online order since my local LFS do not stack enough variety. Buying online seems to be much cheaper, too...
I have checked http://www.liveaquaria.com and http://www.ffexpress.com. LiveAquaria looks cheaper but FFExpress have bigger assortment. What experience you have with these stores? Could you recommend other online stores you have good experience with?

Elmo18 · 05-24-2002, 08:27 PM

Pszemol,

Hello. In my experience, I think www.saltwaterfish.com has one of the best clean-up crew out there. The best thing is that there packages include overnight priority delivery via Fedex, so the price you see there, IS the ACTUAL price

There are many, many packages that will fit almost anyone's needs. You can also substitute items (i.e. maybe you want the snails, but there may be too many emerald crabs, so you might ask for a shrimp instead).

They would be my number 1 choice for clean-up crews. I've ordered and everything was bagged nicely, all survived.

-Elmo

Elmo18 · 05-25-2002, 10:44 PM

I'm bumping this up. Maybe you guys ordered from "clean-up" crews elsewhere. I'm also interested in your experiences

-Elmo

asmith · 05-27-2002, 02:45 PM

I ordered my first cleanup crew from etropicals.com. I was very satisfied. I have also ordered snails from ffexpress. I don't keep hermits anymore, so I just throw in a few snails when I order livestock from ffexpress now.

Andrew

Pszemol · 05-27-2002, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by asmith
I don't keep hermits anymore, [...]

Interesting... why don't you keep hermits anymore?

Elmo18 · 05-27-2002, 08:54 PM

Pszemol,

Hermit crabs, while small, can be very agressive to snails and also to other hermits. As they grow, they are always looking for a new, larger shell to inhabit. Apparently, snail shells make perfect homes. Hermits are sometimes prone to killing snails and before you know it, you'll have a hermit crab in a Trochus snail shell.

Another reason maybe for hermits knocking over things. In my opinion, the smaller blue hermits are fine, but again they will need larger homes as they get bigger.

You'll also notice that when you throw in too many snails/hermits into a tank, over time their population will stabilize with the surrounding ecosystem.

-Elmo (aka Illihammey, the Hammeister)

Pszemol · 05-27-2002, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elmo18
You'll also notice that when you throw in too many snails/hermits into a tank, over time their population will stabilize with the surrounding ecosystem.

I am not sure if I got it...

this is a good thing or a bad thing?

aquadocta's · 05-28-2002, 01:57 AM

Altho subjective to personal preferences, the latest and greatest (good to great) critter packages or by volume price wise was from www.reeftopia.com. be careful of the sizes of hermits you are looking for, but if u are looking for more than a few doz. they can be packaged with free shipping. Pound for pound tho, and for quality, u cant beat garf for "janitors". just my "two cents". Any body else had great success with m.o. critters? It always kicks %@* over lfs! Doc

CaptainK · 05-28-2002, 09:09 AM

Hi Pszemol,
Have you checked out www.ipsf.com for a cleanup/sandbed crew?
THey have a pretty good assortment in their 9 for 99 deal.

HTH,
CaptK

stellamn · 05-28-2002, 08:25 PM

I have to second the comment on etropicals.com.....they have a great built for you package in which you can pick and choose what you want and the amounts. Their prices include shipping, you just need a $50.00 minimum order. I've ordered several times (mostly order pools with fellow reefers) and have always been more than satisfied.

J.

Elmo18 · 05-28-2002, 08:53 PM

Welcome To REEFLAND, Aquadocta's and Stellamn

- Elmo

BeastieKeith · 05-29-2002, 10:48 AM

I have ordered from Liveaquaria.com and was very pleased, I only got a couple snails and hermit, but the shipping was a nice flat $25, no box charges and everything was packed very well, with a styrofoam cooler and heat packs. I split an order with someone and they sent him the wrong color anemone, so they sent another for free, and that was the wrong color again, so they refunded the account. Customer service is responsive.

05-24-2002, 12:42 PM	#1
Pszemol Just Moved In Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: La Grange, IL Posts: 42	Where do you order you livestock? I need to replenish my tank cleaners crew. I plan to order about 40 hermit crabs of different type, maybe some starfishes, sea cucumbers, snails and abalones... Probably some macroalgae to fight with phosphates and nitrates, too. I am considering online order since my local LFS do not stack enough variety. Buying online seems to be much cheaper, too... I have checked http://www.liveaquaria.com and http://www.ffexpress.com. LiveAquaria looks cheaper but FFExpress have bigger assortment. What experience you have with these stores? Could you recommend other online stores you have good experience with?

05-27-2002, 02:45 PM	#4
asmith Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS, USA Posts: 978	I ordered my first cleanup crew from etropicals.com. I was very satisfied. I have also ordered snails from ffexpress. I don't keep hermits anymore, so I just throw in a few snails when I order livestock from ffexpress now. Andrew __________________ Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

05-27-2002, 08:54 PM	#6
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Hey, I want YOUR HOUSE SNAIL!!! Pszemol, Hermit crabs, while small, can be very agressive to snails and also to other hermits. As they grow, they are always looking for a new, larger shell to inhabit. Apparently, snail shells make perfect homes. Hermits are sometimes prone to killing snails and before you know it, you'll have a hermit crab in a Trochus snail shell. Another reason maybe for hermits knocking over things. In my opinion, the smaller blue hermits are fine, but again they will need larger homes as they get bigger. You'll also notice that when you throw in too many snails/hermits into a tank, over time their population will stabilize with the surrounding ecosystem. -Elmo (aka Illihammey, the Hammeister)

05-28-2002, 08:25 PM	#10
stellamn New in Town Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rochester, MN, USA Posts: 3	etropicals.com I have to second the comment on etropicals.com.....they have a great built for you package in which you can pick and choose what you want and the amounts. Their prices include shipping, you just need a $50.00 minimum order. I've ordered several times (mostly order pools with fellow reefers) and have always been more than satisfied. J.

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05-24-2002, 08:27 PM	#2
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Pszemol, Hello. In my experience, I think www.saltwaterfish.com has one of the best clean-up crew out there. The best thing is that there packages include overnight priority delivery via Fedex, so the price you see there, IS the ACTUAL price There are many, many packages that will fit almost anyone's needs. You can also substitute items (i.e. maybe you want the snails, but there may be too many emerald crabs, so you might ask for a shrimp instead). They would be my number 1 choice for clean-up crews. I've ordered and everything was bagged nicely, all survived. -Elmo

05-25-2002, 10:44 PM	#3
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	I'm bumping this up. Maybe you guys ordered from "clean-up" crews elsewhere. I'm also interested in your experiences -Elmo

05-28-2002, 01:57 AM	#8
aquadocta's New in Town Join Date: May 2002 Location: west-central MN Posts: 1	Altho subjective to personal preferences, the latest and greatest (good to great) critter packages or by volume price wise was from www.reeftopia.com. be careful of the sizes of hermits you are looking for, but if u are looking for more than a few doz. they can be packaged with free shipping. Pound for pound tho, and for quality, u cant beat garf for "janitors". just my "two cents". Any body else had great success with m.o. critters? It always kicks %@* over lfs! Doc

05-28-2002, 09:09 AM	#9
CaptainK Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: MA. Posts: 534	Hi Pszemol, Have you checked out www.ipsf.com for a cleanup/sandbed crew? THey have a pretty good assortment in their 9 for 99 deal. HTH, CaptK

05-28-2002, 08:53 PM	#11
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	Welcome To REEFLAND, Aquadocta's and Stellamn - Elmo

05-29-2002, 10:48 AM	#12
BeastieKeith New in Town Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2	I have ordered from Liveaquaria.com and was very pleased, I only got a couple snails and hermit, but the shipping was a nice flat $25, no box charges and everything was packed very well, with a styrofoam cooler and heat packs. I split an order with someone and they sent him the wrong color anemone, so they sent another for free, and that was the wrong color again, so they refunded the account. Customer service is responsive.

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