Buying Goldfish Online
It can come as a bit of a surprise that it is possible to buy your fish online and have the postman deliver them to your door, just as if you bought a toy Goldfish on eBay (the packaging is slightly different, don't worry!). It may seem daunting but it is something that is quite common nowadays and fish cope surprisingly well being shipped.
If you think of how fish are imported into our home countries, you'll see that they can withstand being shipped massive journeys across the globe. It's quite impressive really. They're amazing little souls!
If you think of how fish are imported into our home countries, you'll see that they can withstand being shipped massive journeys across the globe. It's quite impressive really. They're amazing little souls!
How are they sold?
Some suppliers will photograph individual fish for you to select, some will give you the option of breed and colour, wich they will then select from their stock and send to you. This is pretty much a blind buy.
Some suppliers will photograph individual fish for you, some will not.
Individual photographs takes a lot of time - you pay for this privilege. I think it's worth paying extra to know what you're buying, but it's your call. Don't think it odd or shady that photos are not provided by some sellers - you'll likely find that these delete charge you less overall. Time is money, in everything.
Some suppliers will photograph individual fish for you, some will not.
Individual photographs takes a lot of time - you pay for this privilege. I think it's worth paying extra to know what you're buying, but it's your call. Don't think it odd or shady that photos are not provided by some sellers - you'll likely find that these delete charge you less overall. Time is money, in everything.
How are they shipped?
Fish are shipped double bagged in a box. The majority of the time, they will be shipped in polystyrene boxes to prevent temperature fluctuations and protect them from damage. If the bag breaks, the polystyrene should keep the water in the box. This is unlikely to happen, but the box helps if the worst should happen.
The bag will isually be mostly air and a little water, to ensure the maximum amount of oxygen is available to the fish. Some sellers will inject oxygen into the bag.
Most sellers will ship overnignt. If they offer it, take it, even if it costs more. The shorter the amount of time in the bag the better for the Goldfish.
The bag will isually be mostly air and a little water, to ensure the maximum amount of oxygen is available to the fish. Some sellers will inject oxygen into the bag.
Most sellers will ship overnignt. If they offer it, take it, even if it costs more. The shorter the amount of time in the bag the better for the Goldfish.
Unboxing
This is possibly the most exciting part of buying Goldfish online. It's like every Christmas and Birthday, all rolled into one, when the Postie delivers that magic box of beauty. I've been known to hug the delivery guy from time to time. Whilst I don't recommend this, it is a feeling you may have when you open the door and see your fish being walked up the drive.
Carefully take your box and place it onto a flat, stable surface (the floor is great!) and sign for your package. This seems like a pointless thigh to say, but I've seen people try and balance the box on their knee whilst they sign on top of it. For me, it's asking for trouble!
Then carry your box to the "unboxing area" choose somewhere solid, like a floor or study table and make sure that in the excitement, the box will absolutely not fall off. The last thing we want is poopy water everywhere and our new babies flipping all over the floor. Ideally, this place is slap bang next to your quarantine tank. If not, ensure you have a bucket right next to your box. Remember this fish is new and needs quarantine and separate equipment. If the bucket is not for quarantine use only, be sure to thoroughly sterilise after use. I use bleach to sterilise and rinse well.
Carefully open your box. Of you are using something sharp be very careful. There's a bag of water in the box (as I'm sure you're aware!) so we're trying not to pop the bag.
Once you have opened the box, there will often be a polystyrene box inside, carefully lift this out, shift the cardboard and place the polystyrene box on the table and carefully open it.
This is your first glimpse of your new babies in the flesh. Coo, talk in a baby voice, call them a few nicknames (squishy, Chubby and precious are all commonly used at this point). Once you've had a moment and are able to lift the bags out, it's time to have a proper look.
Lift the bags one by one (if you have more than one bag) and give your babes a quick once over before we open them and get them out. If any fish seems overly stressed at this point, we can figure out which fish need removing first.
Once you've checked all fish are present and correct, it's time to move them to quarantine.
If all fish seem relatively happy, float the bags in the quarantine tank for 30minutes so they can adjust to the temperature. Then remove the bag, place it into a bucket (to stop spillages) and open it. Test the pH, if the bag and tank differ by more than 0.5 you will need to drip acclimate - carefully lift the fish out, using both hands and place them into the quarantine tank.
To drip acclimate, add a cup of tank water to the bucket every 10 minutes until the bucket is full. Then move the fish to quarantine.
Carefully take your box and place it onto a flat, stable surface (the floor is great!) and sign for your package. This seems like a pointless thigh to say, but I've seen people try and balance the box on their knee whilst they sign on top of it. For me, it's asking for trouble!
Then carry your box to the "unboxing area" choose somewhere solid, like a floor or study table and make sure that in the excitement, the box will absolutely not fall off. The last thing we want is poopy water everywhere and our new babies flipping all over the floor. Ideally, this place is slap bang next to your quarantine tank. If not, ensure you have a bucket right next to your box. Remember this fish is new and needs quarantine and separate equipment. If the bucket is not for quarantine use only, be sure to thoroughly sterilise after use. I use bleach to sterilise and rinse well.
Carefully open your box. Of you are using something sharp be very careful. There's a bag of water in the box (as I'm sure you're aware!) so we're trying not to pop the bag.
Once you have opened the box, there will often be a polystyrene box inside, carefully lift this out, shift the cardboard and place the polystyrene box on the table and carefully open it.
This is your first glimpse of your new babies in the flesh. Coo, talk in a baby voice, call them a few nicknames (squishy, Chubby and precious are all commonly used at this point). Once you've had a moment and are able to lift the bags out, it's time to have a proper look.
Lift the bags one by one (if you have more than one bag) and give your babes a quick once over before we open them and get them out. If any fish seems overly stressed at this point, we can figure out which fish need removing first.
Once you've checked all fish are present and correct, it's time to move them to quarantine.
If all fish seem relatively happy, float the bags in the quarantine tank for 30minutes so they can adjust to the temperature. Then remove the bag, place it into a bucket (to stop spillages) and open it. Test the pH, if the bag and tank differ by more than 0.5 you will need to drip acclimate - carefully lift the fish out, using both hands and place them into the quarantine tank.
To drip acclimate, add a cup of tank water to the bucket every 10 minutes until the bucket is full. Then move the fish to quarantine.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Shipping is usually trouble free, but it's good to have a rough idea of what to do if things don't go to plan.
A good supplier will have a returns policy, as well as a DOA (Dead On Arrival) policy. Whatever the issue is, your first point of contact should be the supplier. Be it a DOA, suspected illness, incorrect fish, damage... anything, contact the supplier immediately. The vast majority of the time, they will happily resolve any issues you may have.
Sometimes, in the case of a DOA, photos of the deceased fish still in the sealed bag is required. Check the DOA policy before the fish arrive so you know what is required on your end. In these instances, I take a quick photograph and quickly move the fish to some fresh water - you never know! Sometimes, it's clearly too late in which case I'd skip any attempt at revival, but sometimes clean water may bring the fish round.
Your supplier should want to know if there is an issue. Be it with shipping or illness, so they can rectify any issues on their end to prevent it happening again too. Don't feel bad, contacting the supplier is the right thing to do.
A good supplier will also appreciate knowing the fish have arrived at your home safely. Once the fish have been placed into their tank and observed for a while, I always like to contact the supplier to let them know how things have gone.
If you contact your supplier and they are unwilling or unable to help you, don't panic. Whilst you may feel there is nothing you can do, try not to worry. There are many folks online who can help advise you - and point you in the direction of help. Kokos Goldfish Forum is a fantastic source of information, I strongly recommend all Goldfish keepers join, even more so if you are in need of help. These are good, knowledgeable people. If they can't help you, they will advise you the best routes to take.
If you are happy with how things have gone, provide the supplier with a positive review. Online sellers rely on reputation, so it's important to review the seller so future customers can have a good overview.
If you are unhappy and your supplier isn't doing enough, complain. If the complaint is ignored or handled badly, write a review. Leave your emotions out of it, be honest and get your point across.
A good supplier will have a returns policy, as well as a DOA (Dead On Arrival) policy. Whatever the issue is, your first point of contact should be the supplier. Be it a DOA, suspected illness, incorrect fish, damage... anything, contact the supplier immediately. The vast majority of the time, they will happily resolve any issues you may have.
Sometimes, in the case of a DOA, photos of the deceased fish still in the sealed bag is required. Check the DOA policy before the fish arrive so you know what is required on your end. In these instances, I take a quick photograph and quickly move the fish to some fresh water - you never know! Sometimes, it's clearly too late in which case I'd skip any attempt at revival, but sometimes clean water may bring the fish round.
Your supplier should want to know if there is an issue. Be it with shipping or illness, so they can rectify any issues on their end to prevent it happening again too. Don't feel bad, contacting the supplier is the right thing to do.
A good supplier will also appreciate knowing the fish have arrived at your home safely. Once the fish have been placed into their tank and observed for a while, I always like to contact the supplier to let them know how things have gone.
If you contact your supplier and they are unwilling or unable to help you, don't panic. Whilst you may feel there is nothing you can do, try not to worry. There are many folks online who can help advise you - and point you in the direction of help. Kokos Goldfish Forum is a fantastic source of information, I strongly recommend all Goldfish keepers join, even more so if you are in need of help. These are good, knowledgeable people. If they can't help you, they will advise you the best routes to take.
If you are happy with how things have gone, provide the supplier with a positive review. Online sellers rely on reputation, so it's important to review the seller so future customers can have a good overview.
If you are unhappy and your supplier isn't doing enough, complain. If the complaint is ignored or handled badly, write a review. Leave your emotions out of it, be honest and get your point across.
Quarantine
Just because a seller has a good review does not mean everything is all fine and dandy.
Quarantine. Always.
Check out our guide on Quarantine procedures, to find out more!
Quarantine. Always.
Check out our guide on Quarantine procedures, to find out more!