The Marine Center...not answering the phone?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if they're closed today for some reason? It doesn't say so on their website. Has anyone had problems calling them lately? I'd ike to order a fish from them and can't seem to get through...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Len]

I've always had problems getting in touch with Marine Center. However, they usually get back to me within 24 hours if I leave a message or email. I've gotten used to dealing with TMC this way.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, if they eventually get back to me, then excellent. One of my family members is getting me a $200 housewarming gift for my new house, and I'm choosing to make it that 4" titan trigger they have on the site.
The only concern I have is that they don't list it as 'in stock' so I'll just have to wait and see what they say.

Thanks for the info.

Peace,

Chip

 

[eddi]

I have been trying to call them as well and not only I am not getting an answer, I am not even getting their answering machine! Only a message that says "enter pin number"???


Eddi

 

[Anonymous]

Yup, that's the same thing that happened to me. That's why I was inquiring about maybe them being closed for somesuch reason...

Oh well, hopefully I'll get an e-mail soon...

Peace,

Chip

 

[FMarini]

Hi:
I too ran into the same problems in the past, intially it was very frustrating. However Randy always got back w/ me, and once i figureed out thats how they do business, well i accepted it. What you can also do is FAX them, this started the ball rolling on several occasions.
Titan trigger -wow, i hope you have a large dedicated tank for this guy. I know he's small now, but boy do they get big. A LFS has an adult, he must have been 20" and huge like one of those foam fingers you wear at a football game. Really cool looking thou.
frank

 

[danmhippo]

They do return emails. I've never been able to talk to them on the phone, but they do return emails within 24 hours.

 

[Anonymous]

Titan trigger -wow, i hope you have a large dedicated tank for this guy. I know he's small now, but boy do they get big. A LFS has an adult, he must have been 20" and huge like one of those foam fingers you wear at a football game. Really cool looking thou.
frank

Right now I have a 5-foot tank that he'll be in, with not much else, if anything at all. I really have to research what can go in with them. After a few years, I'll have my 180 he can go into, and then who knows.

Also, for the record, 20" is nowhere near full size for a male adult titan. Try nearing 36"...that's why I love 'em!

I call it the 'Eddie Bauer' trigger, because of the coloring...looks like he came out of their catalog!

Peace,

Chip

 

[pete]

They answer the phone 1 out of every 10 times I call. Half the time they dont return my calls either.

 

[Anonymous]

Welp, I got him...the little bugger will be here tomorrow. I also requested a type of 'stat sheet' on the sex of the fish, what it's been eating, what tankmates it might have had, etc. I want to give it the best possible care I can.

I'm very excited...I've waited 3-1/2 years to own one of these!

Peace,

Chip

 

[yellow_dog]

This has been par for the course for the marine center for the last few years. They never answer the phone! They don't always return your voice or e-mail message...depends on how "high ticket" your order will be. As for the "everything is quarantined and eating for 2 weeks," guarantee...I highly doubt that's the case given the condition of some of the items I received from them in my last order nearly 2 years ago. If you want the very same rare fish, there are other quality businesses that carry these and do answer your calls (Old Town Aquarium in Chicago, ultimate aquarium in TN).

 

[SPC]

Posted by marillion:

Also, for the record, 20" is nowhere near full size for a male adult titan. Try nearing 36"...that's why I love 'em!

-I'm just curious Chip, with all of the fish we have to choose from why on earth would you purchase a fish that gets this size?
Steve

 

[danmhippo]

Yellow Dog, I dunno man, the last fish I bought from them is the golden dwarf moray. So far to date, I still haven't seen anyother stores (online or local) ever carry them.

I'd say, if you have to have a very rare and special fish, check Marine center out. But for the common ones, go somewhere else.

 

[yellow_dog]

danmhippo,

Trust me, Old Town and Ultimate Aquarium get the same stuff marine center does! Marine Center gets their stuff from the very same distributors that everyone else does. Stuff is seasonal, so when it is available (a shipment comes into the country) all the high end stores get it. Ever wonder why when Marine Center gets rhomboid wrasses, they also pop up in high end stores and even FF Express? Same Source! Marine Center does not have a unique, special ability or connections to get you a golden dwarf moray...If none have been imported into the mainland US, you can't get one! I ordered from marine center a few times in the past, and was significantly disappointed in both the service and the quality...especially given the bold guarantees they make on their advertisements. Once I discovered that Marine Center was not the Exclusive place to get Rare fish, I just took my business where the service was better. I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I am hoping someone from Marine Center is reading this and it helps improve their level of service.

 

[danmhippo]

Does the other two stores you mentione do online sales? If you can provide a link that would be great!

TIA

 

[yellow_dog]

No web sites, but Ultimate does do mail order via phone (old town does if you know the owner). I don't have the number with me, but they advertise in FAMA if you have a copy handy.

 

[Len]

danmhippo,
Ever wonder why when Marine Center gets rhomboid wrasses, they also pop up in high end stores and even FF Express? Same Source!

I didn't want to jump in on this thread, but I can't resist with the mention of Rhomboid Wrasses. FFexpress has never had these guys. In fact, the only online retailer I've known to actually sell this wrasse is The Marine Center. The Ultimate Aquarium doesn't even know what C.rhomboidalis is (I've asked).

There are some fish that particular retailers can get that others can not. Although many share sources, collectors do have preferences who they sell to. Species like C.rhomboidalis are so rare that when they are available, only those well-connected or willing to pay big bucks get dibs on the handful collected/exported. For truly rare fish, buy them when you can get them (from any source you can get them from) since only a few show up every year/decade.

Now, if you had said C.lineatus, that'd be a whole different story.

FWIW, I agree that TMC's prices should be cheaper, and their service better. Old Town Aquarium also gets great stuff, although they don't have a mail order presence.

 

[Anonymous]

-I'm just curious Chip, with all of the fish we have to choose from why on earth would you purchase a fish that gets this size?
Steve

Many things attracted me to this fish : it's coloration, it's species (I love triggerfish in general), it's size, it's rarity, it's personality (again with the triggerfish thing)...and the ultimate bottom line : because I wanted to.

I have a 50-gallon holding tank all ready for him, running with an Emperor 400, an Emperor 280, and a 20-long caulerpa-crammed refugium tied in (pics forthcoming when he's in the tank tomorrow night). This will be for only a month, and then I move into my new house and he gets the 110-gallon (5-foot Oceanic, dual Emperor 400's, Amiracle wet-dry filter modified with live rock, 25-watt UV sterilizer, 200lbs live rock and quite possibly no other fish in the tank) in the living-room. I'm always planning larger tanks, since the house has no basement and rests on the ground. I plan on raising this fish to it's full adult length.

I'm not certain as to why this fish is my favorite, since there are others more gaudily-colored and easily-kept, but I'm also not certain why I went back to my ex-fiancee twice after our engagement ended, either.

My mind is a cluttered place, but I hope I've given you some insight as to my reasons for wanting and purchasing this fish. I know I'm not only excited to have it, but am looking forward to making it a favorite pet of mine (my kitten will be pissed, I'm sure).

Peace,

Chip

 

[danmhippo]

but I'm also not certain why I went back to my ex-fiancee twice after our engagement ended, either.

Well, I think that explains it quite clearly!

 

[Anonymous]

but I'm also not certain why I went back to my ex-fiancee twice after our engagement ended, either.

Well, I think that explains it quite clearly!

Hmmm...I think I just won the argument for HIS side, didn't I?

Crap.

Oh well, I'll get back to y'all when the fish is nearing three feet.



Peace,

Chip