Must fish store provide proof of supplier?

[MelanieF]

I am on a severe mental track of only stocking captive bred fish and propagated corals in my future 75 gal. tank. My LFS told me that they can order captive bred Sunrise Dottybacks for me. Is there any legal way I can be sure they aren't just telling me that and taking the fish out of the ocean?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, welcome to reefs.org. I can't answer that question, so I'm giving you a bump.

 

[MaryHM]

Not really. Not unless you ask to see the invoice and it says it came direct from ORA or C-quest.

 

[MelanieF]

Do any of you have a name of a business that I could order captive bred fish from on the internet? I have heard of some bad experiences with internet ordering but if they are reputable I may rather deal with an internet order than taking the chance the LFS is pulling a fast one on me...

 

[dizzy]

Melbelle,
If your lfs has ORA stickers and lots of TR clowns the chances are the Sunrise dottyback is captive reared. I can honestly tell you that wild ones do not show up all that often on wholesale price lists that I receive, and when they do they are not cheaper than the TR. You really need to try and find a store where you can trust the information they are giving you. BTW I think Petco might have what you're looking for.

 

[MelanieF]

Thanks for the tip. There are some new people at the LFS that weren't there a few years ago so I may be able to trust them. I think I'll ask them some questions I definately know the answers to and see what kind of feedback they give me.

BTW, I will never again buy any animal from the Petco stores in my area. The fish always show signs of ick and other diseases. Also, I bought an African Plated Lizard last year from them and they changed their mind after the sale and decided that "Oh wait he was captured from the wild." Ticked me right off and to make it better I had to treat him for mites and ticks because I wasn't about to bring him back to them. He and I bonded while I treated him anyways because he knows I love my lil' lizard.

 

[naesco]

www.seacrop.com

 

[JennM]

Thanks for the tip. There are some new people at the LFS that weren't there a few years ago so I may be able to trust them. I think I'll ask them some questions I definately know the answers to and see what kind of feedback they give me.

Wow you make it sound like all LFS personnel are out to get you.

I'd say the vast majority are honest, and willing to accomodate. Like was mentioned earlier, if they have ORA stickers, I think you can trust what they tell you if the dottyback is tank raised. Why would they go to all that trouble just to dupe you?

I have bought tank raised dottybacks from ORA -- and been pleased with the results.

Jenn

 

[MelanieF]

JennM,

I have good reason to be wary of pet store personnel. If you read the entire string of comments you would have seen an example with Petco. Over the years I've developed the ability to sense when someone is just giving me an answer when they don't know the correct one. (I work in insurance.) The woman at the LFS who told me they were tank raised has never helped me out before and is one of the people there who have snotty attitudes so I can only guess what her motivation is for working there. $$$$ - big reason I hesitate to trust anyone in sales. And to be fair I'm always prejudged to be untrustworthy when it comes to quoting insurance but my attitude tends to change that perception once people do business with me... as it should be.

Thanks for the input.

 

[JennM]

Hmmm, well then if that is the case, IMO your best way to send a message would be to NOT shop there at all. Supporting a place with a bad attitude keeps them in business -- that makes a consumer as much a part of the problem as the questionable retailer.

Surely there must be a suitable LFS somewhere within reasonable driving distance? Or call ORA and find out who in your area stocks their livestock. They don't sell to hobbyists but I'm sure they can tell you where you can buy their fish.

Jenn

 

[MelanieF]

Awesome news!!! I pulled out the yellow pages and decided to call the new LFS listed and it turns out that the person who used to work at the "attitude" store, whom I trusted and respected his opinions, has actually opened his own store! He answered the phone and I said my name was Melanie and he actually remembered my last name. I'm so happy that he opened his own store as it's literally minutes away from where I work. I will definately support his business by shopping there...