How to Buy Fish Online

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 24, 2022 References

Whether you're an avid fish hobbyist or just starting your aquarium, buying fish online is great if you want a wider variety than most pet stores offer. Finding a safe, reliable fish retailer is the best way to make sure the fish you receive are healthy and survive shipping. Once you've chosen the right retailer, choosing your fish, a shipping method, and survival guarantee can help you get the most out of your purchase. Before you know it, you'll have new fish for your aquarium shipped to your door.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Choosing a Reliable Website

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Pick a retailer with a positive reputation. The best way to ensure that your fish are healthy and survive being shipped is to buy from a well-known retailer. Choose a fish retailer that has plenty of positive reviews online and a track record for good customer service and value for the animals.^{[1]
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- If you're looking for rare or unusual species in good health, buy them directly from the breeder. However, these companies are often smaller and don't have large customer service teams, so temper your expectations.
- Some popular online fish retailers include Live Aquaria, That Pet Place, Live Fish Direct, Marine Fish EZ, and Vivid Aquariums.
- If any of your friends are fish hobbyists, ask them for online retailer recommendations. Or, reach out to special interest groups on social media—they may be able to recommend quality breeders or importers.
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Choose a website with extensive information and inventory. Knowledgeable retailers are more likely to provide well-bred and cared-for fish. Look for fish retailers with websites that provide fish species and care articles as well as detailed information about their inventory.^{[2]
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Research source} Reputable retailers should be able to answer any questions you have about their inventory or purchasing process.
- Similarly, avoid retailers that provide brief or no information on their website or that refuse to answer your questions, as they may not be as knowledgeable about their inventory.
- Look for companies with an open door policy that are willing to answer questions and communicate honestly.
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Look for retailers that offer a fish survival guarantee. Because the retailer will ship the fish directly to your home, a 100% guarantee that they will reimburse you for any dead or diseased fish is important. Choose a retailer that offers at least a 14-day survival guarantee after receiving your fish in the mail.^{[3]
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- Avoid retailers that don't offer a survival guarantee, even if they're cheaper, as they may be selling ill fish or practicing poor shipping methods.
- Don't worry about whether your fish can survive being shipped to your home, as most fish stores have their fish shipped to them, too. As long as the retailer is practicing safe shipping methods, your fish should be fine.
- Note that the price of the fish and survival guarantee may not include shipping charges, so find out the company's policy before placing your order.
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Check whether the retailer quarantines their fish before shipping. Most reputable fish retailers quarantine their fish from other fish for a few days before putting them up for sale to ensure that they're healthy. Check the retailer's website or contact them to make sure they quarantine their fish after importing them for at least 1-2 weeks.^{[4]
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- This primarily applies to fish retailers that have their fish imported. If the fish retailer breeds their own inventory, they may not need to quarantine them.
- Avoid fish retailers that do not quarantine their inventory, as an ill fish could spread diseases to your other fish and potentially kill them.
- Don't forget to quarantine the fish you receive for 14 before putting them in with other fish you have. Observe them for any illness that crop up after the stress of shipping.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Purchasing the Fish

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Look for "Point and Purchase" sites if you want to mimic in-person shopping. If you're interested in picking a specific fish, look for retailers that offer "Point and Purchase" shopping. These retailers provide a picture and information about specific fish that they're selling so you can choose one from a variety of options.^{[5]
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- This is the closest purchasing fish online comes to choosing specific fish at a pet store and is the best way to choose a healthy fish of the appropriate size for your aquarium and its inhabitants. What you see is what you get!
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Choose the fish that you want to purchase. Visit the retailer's website and add the fish you want to purchase to your cart. To justify the cost of shipping, try to pick exotic fish or ones you couldn't buy at a local pet store.^{[6]
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Research source} Though you may be tempted to buy more fish at one time, be conscious of the size and condition of your aquarium, your abilities as an aquarist, and the time you're willing to invest in the animals in order to make the best decision.
- Research each fish's specific needs and ensure you can provide the right habitat for each of them. Find out the water requirements, diet, size, and lifespan of each creature and make sure you can care for them well.
- You could, for example, buy a green spotted puffer fish or freshwater sting ray, as both of these species are difficult to find.
- If you're buying multiple fish online, purchase them at the same time to cut back on shipping costs. Just be aware of each fish's shipping requirements and work with the retailer to find a solution that works for both you and the fish.^{[7]
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Choose a shipping method for your fish. Most retailers offer a variety of shipping options based on safety, efficiency, and cost. The standard is to ship fish priority overnight so they spend the least amount of time on the road as possible.^{[8]
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- Keep in mind that any savings you get from ordering fish online will be offset by shipping charges, which range from $30-50 USD at a minimum.
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Complete your order and purchase the fish. Once you've chosen your fish and the right shipping method, enter in your name, shipping address, and payment information. Confirm your information and check out to complete your order.^{[9]
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- Before submitting the order, ask other fish hobbyists you know if they're purchasing fish online soon to make the purchase together and split the costs on shipping.
- Make sure the site is secure before entering your payment details and look for vendors who use third-party payment platforms like PayPal.
- wikiHow actually has a coupon page that partners with various pet supply companies. Feel free to scope it out for some savings before making your purchase!

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Readying the Habitat

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Purchase and set up a fish tank, if applicable. If you've never cared for fish before, purchase and put together a fish tank before you order any fish. You can purchase a new fish tank online or at a nearby pet store.^{[10]
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- Fish tanks take several days to stabilize, so fill the fish tank with water and add any decorations or filters at least several days in advance. Adjust the fish tank's lighting, heat, and water salinity as needed to mimic your fish's natural environment.
- If you have a freshwater fish tank but have purchased saltwater fish (or vice versa), you will need to buy a second fish tank.
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Set up a quarantine tank. Prepare a quarantine fish tank so you can make sure your new fish are healthy before introducing them to your other fish. Be sure to acclimate the fish before putting them in the tank. If you currently have a fish tank, research how your current fish and your new fish interact. ^{[11]
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- If your new and existing fish species are known for being aggressive, place them in separate tanks even if they're both freshwater or saltwater fish to prevent them from attacking or killing each other. After introducing the fish, you can move any aggressors to the secondary tank if need be.
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Purchase fish food in advance. Research the type of food your fish eats and buy it before the expected arrival of your fish. You can buy fish food online or at most pet stores, depending on the type of food your fish needs.^{[12]
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- If your online retailer sells fish food, purchase it along with your fish to save on shipping costs.
- If you purchased a betta fish, for example, you may need dry fish pellets or freeze-dried worms.

Expert Q&A

Question

Do fish need decorations in their tank?

Craig Morton
Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.
Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance.

Craig Morton

Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.

Expert Answer

It's usually a good idea, yeah. We generally don’t recommend anything other than aquarium safe decorative products. In saltwater aquariums you can add any shell or rock that came from the ocean, but only after it has been cleaned in freshwater.

Warnings

Keep in mind that shipping fish is expensive and can, at minimum, range from $30-50 USD. If you're more concerned with cost than variety, purchase your fish at a nearby pet store instead.

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Check the online retailer's online reviews and reputation amongst fish hobbyists to make sure you buy from a reliable business. View their social media profiles to see what other customers have to say about them.^{[15]
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