livefishdirect.com

[rtague]

Hi guys,I know some people had been inquiring about this retailer and wheather anybody has used them.Well I just received a shipment and am extremely pleased.The stock is exellent.The size and health of the fishes was
amazing.The best part was that the prices are half what other online retailers
are charging,better again,it's a $39 flat rate shipping no matter how many fish
you order or whatever state you live in .Check them out.

[Flareside]

Bump-
Anyone else use these guys? Im attracted to the cheaper than most shipping charges. In reality, if you and only one friend place and order to split the shipping, its only $20 for each of you...

[karlopa]

These guys have been around for a while now, although I have never ordered from them before but sure would love to visit. They have a great video of their hatchery on youtube and site.

[emartin]

They're selling a hybrid as pure Aulonocara nyassae, which has never ever been in the hobby... Sounds like they get their stock from Asia...

I may give them a shot one day in the future but I'll just stick with Atlantis, Daves, and Dykemyster for now...

Also Flareside: Both Daves and Dykemyster can ship airlines for just $60+/- overnight, and Atlantis is even cheaper with UPS ground shipping

Anyway not trying to hijack this thread, just voicing my concerns because seeing that hybrid being sold as a pure species sent up a red flag to me...

[karlopa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgxH6AGvlcs

[Heyguy74]

They're selling a hybrid as pure Aulonocara nyassae, which has never ever been in the hobby... Sounds like they get their stock from Asia...

Anyway not trying to hijack this thread, just voicing my concerns because seeing that hybrid being sold as a pure species sent up a red flag to me...

I've seen a couple of posts on other sites claiming the same thing. Only to be told that they are pure breed fish. Also people ordering females and getting all males. I have no personal experience myself.

[jeremy1]

i know this is older but just ran across it. i have ordered fish from here and was not pleased.several of the fish i got were deformed almost.the fuelleborni i got the mouth/face area doesnt look like my others and not sure if it will change(still small and im no expert)i've been told black spots are a sign of hybrids and the red zebras i recieved had a lot of them.i ordered from here when i found them on another site good shipping rates and prices,but quality of fish not so much. also i could order gender specific b/c i cant vent fish.i would like to order fish again in the future but not from here,if any body has suggestions i'm all ears!!!

as the old addage goes---you get what you pay for!!!

[letstalkfish]

I have to be honest here I have bought most of my mbuna from Livefishdirect there Top Notch in my opinion. I have bought mbuna from daves, and atlantis and I think I had the best specimans from livedirect. So Id highly reccomend them. Also they seem to always have plentiful of stock available. So for those who complain because of a deform fish its ok because I have ordered from other places and have recieve defects as well.

[98dak83cam]

I have ordered from them as well. 99% of my fish I got from them were really nice. I did get one deformed fish once and they gave me credit towards my next order. When the next order came around they gave to two extra fish to make up for the bad one, and a few bucks off another fish. They are good on their word. The only thing I wish that was better was that when the sell a male, (small males) there is usually little to no color. I hada few males that took a few months to show any color at all. They do mess up from time to time on venting. I have no idea how they can accurately vent a 1.5" fish.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

For the person looking for a fish of this color or that and not interested in F-values ( 90 percent of people in the fish hobby ) you will get descent fish at a descent price with cheap shipping. For the hardcore hobbyist this might not be a good place for you to order from.

[joevc1]

I ordered from them about 1-1/2 years ago and was not pleased with what I received. Specifically ask them for 3 female yellow labs since I had 3 males and only 1 female, and got 2 males 1 female. Quality was not that good, males fins were not that black and they now have that black specks on their heads.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc109/joevc1/y_lab2.jpg

Also ordered a male Aulonocara Baenschi 2-3" that is a runt, barely 2" and has not colored up at all.

[Tony]

For the person looking for a fish of this color or that and not interested in F-values ( 90 percent of people in the fish hobby ) you will get descent fish at a descent price with cheap shipping. For the hardcore hobbyist this might not be a good place for you to order from.

+1

Some of the CCA guys went in on an order in the fall. It was hit or miss across the order. I was very happy with the haps that I got... larger than expected. Another guy ended up getting some mbuna significantly smaller than expected.

Now that I've found out about Dave and Eric, I would have to be pretty hard pressed to order from LFD again.

[fishboy]

i found it pretty funny how he pronounced jalo reef afras.. ye ,,ill pass on these guys.. would love to have a place like that of my own someday when i retire though.. thats just awesome

[dbondi]

Be careful because some of their fish have hormones in them for color. I wrote and asked him. Just be sure to ask about which species are from where

[karlopa]

why don't everyone just watch all of their videos on youtube. They will mention in some of their videos that some or most of their grown fish come from Germany. Most of their ablino and colored fish are from there as well.

Black spots? do you mean like on the lips, fins and body? I call them battle scars from fighting too much. I think the info that was passed on to you was very false! Because if people call black spots hybrids than I better get on the phone with the vendors and importors and complain that the fish they are selling are hybrids. Again, I call them battle scars so don't believe everything people say.

Quality of fish is is hard when you are buying from a fish farm or facility that breeds over 40+ cichlis. I mean, come on do you really thing they will look at 10K frys and cull the deformed ones?

[Heyguy74]

The black spots on the fish from the above pictures are not battle scars. They could be parasites or bad genetics. I also will say this. If any breeders want to keep a good reputation they better cull deformed fish. Selling them unacceptable. Its unthinkable that you would defend someone who sells deformed fish .

[karlopa]

LOL. I'm not defending them at all. I could care less about what a retailer does but I think it's unfair for someone who has not purchase from LFD to tell others not to purchase from them.

[fischfan13]

LOL. I'm not defending them at all. I could care less about what a retailer does but I think it's unfair for someone who has not purchase from LFD to tell others not to purchase from them.


Can't agree with you here.
There are some facilities that I will not buy fish from because of the reputation they have following them.

For instance, if you knew someone who bought fish from a facility and they were sold bad fish, and then you heard the same story two more times, it wouldn't make you think?
If someone then asked YOUR opinion, what would you say?
I know that I would tell the person NOT to buy from there.

[BlondeFishGal]

The black spots on the fish from the above pictures are not battle scars. They could be parasites or bad genetics. I also will say this. If any breeders want to keep a good reputation they better cull deformed fish. Selling them unacceptable. Its unthinkable that you would defend someone who sells deformed fish .

I ordered from them about 1-1/2 years ago and was not pleased with what I received. Specifically ask them for 3 female yellow labs since I had 3 males and only 1 female, and got 2 males 1 female..

LOL. I'm not defending them at all. I could care less about what a retailer does but I think it's unfair for someone who has not purchase from LFD to tell others not to purchase from them.

As I see it, there are different issues here:

1. bad genetics is a risk folks can certainly incur when they buy sight unseen. The reputation of the seller is what makes folks feel confident to do distance purchasing. Selling a fish that isn't marked the best or doesn't have the best coloring is going to happen ...

2. If the fish is too young or to small to vent, it should be noted. Indicating that someone is getting a female when the seller is not sure is bad business and again, unfair to someone who is spending hard earned money to buy the fish.

3. Selling deformed fish is a whole other issue. Quality control is a reasonable expectation from the buyer. Coughing up money for a deformed fish should not be tolerated any more than purchasing a defective computer, a faulty camera or a dog from a breeder that is deformed would be. Why would selling/purchasing deformed fish be any where near okay?

4. As for not having first hand purchasing experience being a condition as to whether or not to recommend LFD... um, sorry, but if I hear that 5 people got food poisoning at a restaurant, I don't have to be the 6th victim to get sick from eating there to warn others. I would do so without ever eating there -- which doesn't seem "unfair" at all.

Those hobbyists who want to risk the purchase are welcome to do so, but it is a case of buyer beware.

[Buckcich]

Well said BFG

[joevc1]

As stated above I was assured they would sex the fish for me and I would receive 3 females. I understand mistakes happen but they shouldn't promise what they can not deliver. That aside, the quality is a different story. They even boast about their labs on their site:

Description:
Outstanding and unique in color these Electric Yellow should be in every cichlid tank no matter what. Electric Yellow vary drastically in quality and have been ruined by foreign breeders, however we take pride in our strain and know you will be pleased. Keep in mind these are not the "Solid Electric Yellow" in which the females and the juveniles do not have barring. Keep in mind that in order for that strain to exist the fish were actually cross bred with Red Zebras. Please do not confuse this with our "Lions Cove" variety. Our juveniles have barring and females might have a little as well. However our Males turn out beautiful just like the one pictured and as the females age their bars will disappear completely as well. To learn more about Electric Yellow please click the article link.

So I would have expected a quality fish.

Joe

[emartin]

I never bought from them before, but I'd compare them to DrsFoster&Smith's Live Aquaria (which is a joke for cichlids..don't buy from them. Unless you want Arapaima or Jardini arowana you'd be better off staying clear of them)

They more than likely don't have a fixed source (breed themselves, local breeders or same wholesale facilities everytime) and quality can be hit or miss.

IF you want quality African cichlids, you're better off sticking with ECC's sponsors and ECC's members that breed them...

[emartin]

As stated above I was assured they would sex the fish for me and I would receive 3 females. I understand mistakes happen but they shouldn't promise what they can not deliver. That aside, the quality is a different story. They even boast about their labs on their site:

Description:
Outstanding and unique in color these Electric Yellow should be in every cichlid tank no matter what. Electric Yellow vary drastically in quality and have been ruined by foreign breeders, however we take pride in our strain and know you will be pleased. Keep in mind these are not the "Solid Electric Yellow" in which the females and the juveniles do not have barring. Keep in mind that in order for that strain to exist the fish were actually cross bred with Red Zebras. Please do not confuse this with our "Lions Cove" variety. Our juveniles have barring and females might have a little as well. However our Males turn out beautiful just like the one pictured and as the females age their bars will disappear completely as well. To learn more about Electric Yellow please click the article link.

So I would have expected a quality fish.

Joe
With sexing that what I like about Atlantis. They don't sell you fish as sexed if they aren't 100% or at least reasonably sure. With their trained eyyes (Jen and Peter's) I've had them accurately sex for female aulonocara for me as small as 2" which is very difficult. So far they haven't been wrong for me but that obviously can't be guaranteed for everybody...

[joevc1]

IF you want quality African cichlids, you're better off sticking with ECC's sponsors and ECC's members that breed them...

That's why my last purchase was from Dykemyster.

[Flareside]

With sexing that what I like about Atlantis. They don't sell you fish as sexed if they aren't 100% or at least reasonably sure. With their trained eyyes (Jen and Peter's) I've had them accurately sex for female aulonocara for me as small as 2" which is very difficult. So far they haven't been wrong for me but that obviously can't be guaranteed for everybody...

Im not complaining, but just stating a fact. I went to Atlantis one time when ECC went. My buddy got a pair of Alto's. A vented and sexed pair of Altos- and guess what.... they're not a pair.

I bought a trio of featherfins, a vented and sexed trio- 1 male/2 females
and guess what...its a reverse trio.

Both the alto's and featherfins were adult fish...

[emartin]

How big were the fish at time of purchase? If they weren't adults they can only give an educated guess since vents aren't always obvious with fish if they one gender or the other.

It happens...sexing errors. But when it happens consistently (like what it sounds like happens with LiveFishDirect) it's just ridiculous.

So far I only had two mistakes but I can't really say they're mistakes since the fish they sexed for me (wildcaught haplochromines) weren't even close to juvenile maturity.

This is a link from the Better Business Bureau. LiveFishDirect has an F rating from complaints filed against them http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-reviews/pet-shops/live-fish-direct-in-draper-ut-22232265

[joe_jaskot]

This is a link from the Better Business Bureau. LiveFishDirect has an F rating from complaints filed against them http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-rev...er-ut-22232265

4 complaints filed in 36 months. BBB rating doesn't mean that much.

I have no opinion on livefishdirect.com. Anytime you buy a fish unseen you take a risk.

[karlopa]

This is a link from the Better Business Bureau. LiveFishDirect has an F rating from complaints filed against them http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-rev...er-ut-22232265

4 complaints filed in 36 months. BBB rating doesn't mean that much.

I have no opinion on livefishdirect.com. Anytime you buy a fish unseen you take a risk.


Agreed! Let that be a lesson no matter WHO it is!

[Flareside]

How big were the fish at time of purchase? If they weren't adults they can only give an educated guess since vents aren't always obvious with fish if they one gender or the other.

Ed- they were all adult fish
Both the alto's and featherfins were adult fish...
Wild Black Calvus were a bit over 4", Wild Nasuta's were around 5"

I was just making a point that they are far from perfect when venting fish. In one visit, they are 0 for 2 venting purchases that I and my buddy have made. I will absolutely go back there when they get a nice shipment in. Though it may be frustrating, I wouldnt hold a couple errors venting against them or any other supplier

[mbuna]

Hi guys,I know some people had been inquiring about this retailer and wheather anybody has used them.Well I just received a shipment and am extremely pleased.The stock is exellent.The size and health of the fishes was
amazing.The best part was that the prices are half what other online retailers
are charging,better again,it's a $39 flat rate shipping no matter how many fish
you order or whatever state you live in .Check them out.

Hi! Just wanted to do a more recent post on these guys. While they are a small company in UT with a great website, BUYER BEWARE. Their general manager, Rick, is not a cool guy and will give you the runaround IF you have any problems with your shipment. What they say about their DOA policy is NOT correct as they just plain don't honor it. You don't have to believe me, just check them out under the Better Business Bureau website. The parent company and president of this place is Josh Davis and they are officially known as "Crystal Springs Fisheries". You will see they do NOT address customer concerns and don't want to resolve issues. They have an F rating for the BBB. We will NOT recommend them as they just don't care about their customers. Please be warned and do your research before just buying from them. :ty:

[Cartel]

I have gotten fish from them twice (1 group buy 1 gf bought for bday) and both times Josh Davis was really cool and helpful when talking to him over the phone. I have have always asked for all males and out of about 13 there's 1 lethrinops that might be a female but I can't confirm. He told me if that's the case he'll credit me back. My fish came in in good shape a little bit undersized on some but who does that not happen to? Personally Im happy with them so I won't hate. I can respect people who have had bad experiences not wanting to order from them again as I would do the same. I'm just a firm believer in no one is perfect and don't knock it till you try it!