What are good websites to find fish?

Question

I just got an Aquarium and 4 fish just yesterday. I want to know the best buying place you can find on the internet. I'm especially wondering if they are also sold on EBay and that if they are, would I be making a good buy? Help me.

Answer 1

There are plenty of websites you can use, but you're really better off to buy your fish locally. Then you have more control over size, gender, and color you get, plus you can check out the health of the fish first - you don't want any that show signs of disease, are bullying others, or are lethargic (unless this is part of their natural behavior). Plus, when you order online, you will more than likely have to pay for shipping, and this will increase the cost to you. If your pet/fish store doesn't have something you want, they will more often than not order it for you if you ask.

Another place where you might find better quality fish locally is through an aquarium club. Members will breed their own fish, then sell the surplus at auctions which may be open to the public. Here's a liting of US cubs, so you can see if there are any near you: http://fins.actwin.com/dir/clubs.php?c=1

If you do order online, find a source that offers an "arrive alive" guarantee, meaning they'll replace any fish lost during shipment, and possibly for a while afterward. Here is one site I'd recommend: http://www.liveaquaria.com/

Answer 2

Hi, Adrianna,

I'm a little concerned for the fish you have already. How big is your tank? What kinds of fish did you get? One reason I'm a bit worried is that getting a brand new tank and fish on the same day is kind of a sign that you're new at this.

If your tank is small - 10 gallons - you may already be fully stocked, depending on the kinds of fish you got. Even a larger tank could be pretty full with four fish if you get the kinds that get big.

And there is a process that goes on with a new tank called cycling, and while that's going on the water in the tank actually becomes very toxic. The fish will add waste to the water. Ammonia will build up very quickly, and the water will be poisonous. Then little bacteria come in and they feed on the waste, and they will reproduce rapidly, and they turn the water a different kind of toxic. Eventually things balance out, and once that happens, it's safe to add more fish. But the fish you currently have may die during this process, and their health will almost surely be damaged.

If you can, I would suggest that you take the fish back to the pet store. There is a way to cycle your tank without fish, and if you can do that you will be doing the fish you do keep a huge favor. If the store won't take them back then you will need to get yourself a test kit to check your water quality DAILY for at least a couple of months. Anytime the ammonia or any other level gets high, do a partial water change. You may end up doing water changes almost daily for several weeks. And because you're doing water changes, the cycling process will take a bit longer. But that's the only way to keep this from really hurting or killing your fish.

Meanwhile, I suggest that you visit sites like the one below, where you can read the articles and learn about keeping a healthy aquarium and use the forums to get advise from experienced aquarists. That will help you when the time is right to add more stock (if the tank isn't already stocked to the max). Learn about species compatibility and water requirements as well, so you don't end up getting a lot of pretty fish that will kill each other.

This is a fun hobby, but it takes people who are willing to educate themselves and acquire the skill to do it properly. I hope you enjoy it.

Answer 3

slow down, dont stock your tank fast. but when it is done cycling their are plenty of sites to buy fish.

aquabid.com is the traditional fish auction site.
ebay.com has alot of "live fish", "live aquarium plants", and fishtank stuff.

liveaquaria.com is a good one, but their fishes tend to be small, and their is a minium that you must order, i believe 29.99

a less known is fish2u.com, good stuff.

aquariumfish.net has some good fish from cali.