Purchasing and Shipping Live Fish

Can some of our members tell us about their shipping experience with fish. Who have they had success with !
The best pricing on shipping?
Please all chime in some of our members need some input.

I have had great success with BLUE CHIP Aquatics.
I think Air Cargo is the cheapest and safest way to recieve fish.

I've ordered from dr foster and smiths live aquaria and pet solutions...Ive had decent luck with them they will replace fish that die within a week or two of purchase however you have to pay shipping all over again to get the replacements and of coarse the shipping is high especially if delivered on a saturday....Pet solutions was a bit lower on prices...Also always check the ph of the water as soon as the fish arrive I also sometimes toss in just a little ammonia remover into the bag cause the fish have been in there approx 24 hrs and could already have trace amounts of ammonia in there

I have ordered fish online 3 times within the past 9 months or so, all from livefishdirect. All the fish have arrived alive and healthy so far. I always have chosen males when purchasing the fish and have been pleased so far except for one female I received that was supposed to be male and one male that had a crooked nose that probably should have been culled. That is two out of about 20-24 I have ordered. Their shipping prices are the best I have seen ($40 regular...special $25 right now on orders over $50), the only down side is they are frequently out of the fish I am after for months at a time so it can be a challenge to place an order with several different fish. Their prices are also usually lower than any others I have seen online. There are several places I would like to order from that advertise on this site as well as others online but the shipping costs are just too unrealistic as I have been quoted $60-70 dollars starting out. How one place can ship overnight for $40 or less and all the others are 20-30 dollars more I cannot understand? I know shipping supplies cannot be that expensive.

I've ordered fish a couple of times. 2 from Dave, great fish, prices for fish and shipping. Also from live aquaria, I got the wrong loaches but didn't say anything because the ones I got were $7 more each. But the feather duster I bought was dead

I have order fish from http://www.floridatropicalfishdirect.com/5101.html and http://www.cichlidstore.com/shop/ . I never lost a fish from either and always order Aircargo. Its by far the cheapest and fastest way to get fish. My fish from FL to Va were in bags from 930Am till I got them home at 1pm. Plus when you order Aircargo you can get up to like 5 or 6 boxes shipped for the same price. I suggest group orders at meets and gatherings to cut down the shipping to pennies.

Shipping freight on the airlines is based on 100 pounds. Thats the minimium weight they charge. Boxes cost between 6 to 11 dollars depending on size. Square bottom bags cost .30 for a six box bag and up for larger bags. Air frieght is the only way to ship your fish. Flippercon I think your bags are packed way before 9:30 AM. Frieght has to be at the terminal 2 hours before the plane leaves Then flight time and recovery time. Most shipper pack early in the morning to arrive at the airport early to take advantage of the first flights. No comment on the places you are getting your fish. I have never bought from any of them. I do ship lots of fish everyday.