| OK...here is why it is a good idea to buy locally....
1.) You get to observe the livestock. Observe the swimming behavior, observe the other fish tied into the system with it....note any diseases or things that don't look quite right. Also, observe it being fed. Not just ingesting the food, but also make sure it doesn't spit it back out.
2.) Ask the LFS if you can put a deposit on the fish for several days, a week or two. That way if it dies it didn't die in your tank, and you aren't out the purchase price of the fish.
3.) There isn't a large shipping stress. I can't imagine shipping a fish across a large distance as being unstressful. The stress could lead to potential immune system issues which could lead to disease. I'm not saying buying on-line is a no-no...there are many people that have great success with purchasing online, I'm just giving you some arguments against it.
Always be sure to follow acclimation procedures for whatever online retailer you go with. There may be replacement/refund issues if you don't follow their recommended acclimation technique. Check with the retailer you order from regarding live guarantees and acclimation procedures.
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~Nikki~
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