The Marine Center...not answering the phone?

[eddi]

I am expecting an order from the Marine Center today so this topic is very very timely for me. I do not have the fish yet, but so far I have been pleased with TMC. Here is my story.

I called last Wednesday and talked to Randy to order a pair of Japanese Swallow angels and a Chevron tang. Randy called me back on Thursday to tell me the female of the angels did not look good and would not ship it. I decided to wait to get the order until he had another female; Randy called me back on Monday to tell me he had the female and everything was ready for delivery today.
Yesterday he called me again to tell me the Chevron tang was unavailable.

Now, I don't know whether he never had the fish to begin with and was simply hoping to get one in, or whether they really did not look good and he did not want to ship them. However, so many times mail order companies simply leave stuff out without notifying the client that his willingness to keep me posted impressed me. So unless the angels look horrible when I get them, I would order from them again.

As far as prices I think they are average. Maybe just a tad high but nothing outrageous. And while I certainly realize they do not have every fish they list on their site, just the specials alone are more than most mail order places.


Eddi

 

[FMarini]

Hi:
My impression of why Marine center has many rare and unique stuff is becuz he has people (cherrypickers) at the entry sites for the fish, at ths major wholesalers and the like.When all these cool fish come in, much of it gets misidentifed and thrown into the same pile as other fish, its onl when an experienced persons look at it and says thats a rhomboids wrasse or in my case, Imidactus filamentous vs imidactus calydonia. I also got my rare solid yellow dwarf fuzzy this way.
So while other places get these fish they get them becuz they order flasher wrases and in this order happens to be a unique wrasse -perhaps by chance
frank

 

[yellow_dog]

Sorry Leonard,

Those were lineatus at FF Express (my point was when these "rare" guys come in all of the "usual suspect" retailers that carry rare fish get their hands on them). There was a rhomboid that sat at Old Town for over a year without being purchased a while back (same time Marine Center had them) and I was offered it for less than $200 (half of the original asking price). While I agree that there are only a few retailers that carry rare fish, I have legitimate gripes with Marine Center. Mainly that their claims on the webite about quarrantine, eating, or their ability to cherry pick from the west coast distributors (unless you have inside knowledge, FMarini) are a bit suspect and unverifiable by consumers. On one of my orders, I was sold a fish and a coral as part of my order, was assured that they were eating and healthy and that he was looking at them as we spoke...the next day no shipment arrived and after MY efforts to get a hold of them was told that they did not ship because they did not have any of what they had sold me the day before. Another time, I ordered a juvenile red sea regal (tough to get, that's why I jumped on it when they told me they had one) and received a full blown adult that was fried with brookynella and later was told by them had not been in for more than a couple of days before it got shipped to me (I have a credit for my next order that I have refused to use).

 

[Anonymous]

For the record, Frank, I think your yellow dwarf fuzzy lion is awesome. What a fantastically unique fish.

The titan trigger arrived this morning, about two hours ago, in all it's three-inch glory.

I took it home and acclimated it over about 40 minutes, and kept the lights off until I go home for lunch. Then I'll check it out and see how it's doing. However, it looked healthy, and started to color up a bit before I left.

Pictures should be forthcoming tonight at some point.

Peace,

Chip

 

[sedgro]

I just wanted to second Old Town Aquarium in Chicago getting just as unique and rare stuff as The Marine Center. For those of you looking for Golden Dwarf Morays they have two right now - an adult and a juvenile ($260 and $200) respectively. Also in their stock list right now is a Rhinopas frondosa, Smith's Butterfly (from Pitcairn Island), Mitratus Butterfly, Bimaculatus Anthias, PINK long tentacle anemones, Blue line (aka Septrionalis) angels, and a Leukranos as well as Thiele clowns to name a few. They have a website but not an online store and are usually (but not always) willing to ship some of the bigger ticket items. I live in the area and visit pretty much weekly so if you are on the lookout for something let me know.

sedgro

 

[eddi]

ok, here is the outcome of my order. Overall I am pleased.

I had ordered a pair of Japanese Swallow angels and a pair of purple banded shrimps. Everything was supposed to be in stock as of yesterday. I received the two angels but only one of the shrimps. Not a huge deal, but the goal was to get a mated pair, so that is now shot. Also, I was charged for three heat packs, but only found one in the box. Again, not a big deal but something.

The angels are good size and look good.

This was my first time ordering from them. I am upset about the shrimps, but I probably would order from them again, as no one else had the angels in stock.


Eddi

 

[kevin b]

I just wanted to second Old Town Aquarium in Chicago getting just as unique and rare stuff as The Marine Center. For those of you looking for Golden Dwarf Morays they have two right now - an adult and a juvenile ($260 and $200) respectively. Also in their stock list right now is a Rhinopas frondosa, Smith's Butterfly (from Pitcairn Island), Mitratus Butterfly, Bimaculatus Anthias, PINK long tentacle anemones, Blue line (aka Septrionalis) angels, and a Leukranos as well as Thiele clowns to name a few. They have a website but not an online store and are usually (but not always) willing to ship some of the bigger ticket items. I live in the area and visit pretty much weekly so if you are on the lookout for something let me know.

sedgro

what is the url for this store's website?

thanks

 

[Len]

http://www.oldtownaquarium.com/

I don't know if they're willing to ship.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow...oldie thread but goodie.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Pictures should be forthcoming tonight at some point.

Well, this has to be a first. I'm quoting my own post from 4 years ago because I never posted a picture of my titan in this thread. So, even tho I no longer have it, here he is!

Peace,

Chip

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Chip,
What happened to him?

 

[Anonymous]

As usual...I moved. I've moved 17 times in the last 8 years...tough to move all those tanks. I broke down the 60" triggerfish tank and sold them all.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Minh Nguyen]

The Clown trigger, and Ocellaris was what got me to Marine Aquarium. It was a disaster. Where did the time go?

 

[Anonymous]

Heh...time. I'm over 9 years in the hobby now, and I can barely remember my early tanks.

I had 7 triggers in that 60" tank, too...whooooooaaaa, Nelly!

Peace,

Chip