The Puffer Forum

I'm looking to get one or a pair of figure 8 puffer(s) or dragon gobie(s), but shipping online is rather expensive at $40, and often with a minimum order, for example $50 at LiveAquaria.com, so thats a total of $90 for a few $5-10 fish. I'm also a tad nervous about shipping the fish too. There are several LFSs and other pet stores around here that do stock dragons and F8's, but don't have any at the moment. Do you think a pet store would be willing to take a special order? For example, Petland (Ugh, I know) gets fish in every other Tuesday I beleive, and it wouldnt really be that hard for them to order a few fish in their already large bulk shipment. Also, I would still be able to see the fish in person before buying and pick one out, since they probably have a minimum order with their wholesalers and would probably end up getting a shipment of them to sell anyway and wouldn't just get one for me.

Is this too much to ask of them? Should I just wait around for them to show up, or bite the bullet and find an excuse to buy $50 of fish stuff online?

Thanks

Both of mine take special orders, no problem. As long as their suppliers stock them, it's no skin off their noses to order some.

Any particular way I should go about it? It seems awkward for some reason, maybe I'm just a bad talker.

Do you think they would make me pay extra? I dont see any reason they would besides making an extra buck off me...

Or would a chain be more reluctant to do this than a mom and pop type of pet store?

I'd just ask. My LFS actually gives me a discount on special orders if i pick them up same day and they havent had to acclimate them to the store tank yet.

ya just ask. my lfs never guarentees that they'll get it, but they'll even call me if i ask for when they get it.

A mom/pop store might be willing to order just a couple of puffers. A chain would probably order 20. That's 2 for you & 18 that will probably not be cared for properly. If you were to do that, maybe print out a bunch of my F8 articles to be handed out with each one. Still doesn't mean all the HS students that work there will bother...

A lfs should have no problem ordering you just a single puffer or two, just find out when they do orders and see if you can get in on one. They will usually give you a cheaper price as well, what they call "out of bag" price at least around here.

When i was setting up my 125g tank my LFS asked me what i wanted and had my fish for me when I had a my tank cycled.

well i just went through this with my LFS and they do special order for a small fee (luckily they order some before i called and i didn't need to pay the small fee) also i got 30% off for picking them up still in the bag but because of that they don't have a guarantee on the fish. just call and ask around some stores do some don't good luck one chain store i know that special orders is uncle bills if you have any of those around you but i don't know if its only fresh water fish.

Petland is ordering my new fish this Monday

Thanks for the replies!