Aquarium fish and supplies: how to buy fish, plants and equipment well
First think about compatibility
The most expensive mistake in fishkeeping is to buy fish that will not get along with the ones you already have. Neon tetras, guppies and small danios swim peacefully in a community tank, while cichlids or tiger barbs may nip the fins of their neighbours. So in your request, say at once who already lives in the tank, how big it is and what the water is like.
New fish should not go straight from the bag into your water. Ask the seller how they kept the fish, and plan for acclimatisation and a few weeks of quarantine.
What affects the price
- Species and origin: common guppies or neon tetras cost quite differently from rare morphs or wild forms.
- Colour and fin shape: red veiltails or elite guppy lines are valued above plain ones.
- Size: juveniles are cheaper, but adult pairs of known sex that are ready to spawn usually cost more.
- Quantity: for 20 fish the price per fish is often lower than for a few.
- Equipment: the filter, heater, lighting and substrate can be a big part of the budget.
What to put in your request
- species — fish, shrimp, snails or plants;
- colouring — morph or fin shape;
- quantity and size — juveniles or adults, length in centimetres;
- equipment — tank volume, filter, light, heater;
- compatibility — what you already keep;
- city — pick-up or courier delivery;
- budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I am looking for 20 neon tetras, 3–4 cm long, for a 100-litre community tank with guppies. Toronto, pick-up or courier delivery. Budget up to $14.”
How to compare offers
Fish of the same species can differ a lot in quality. Ask about their age, whether the fish look active and healthy, whether there is a guarantee that they arrive alive when sent, and whether there was any disease in the batch. For live cargo the packing matters: separate containers, a heat pack in cold weather, a sturdy bag with oxygen.
Delivery is usually not included in the price of shrimp, snails and plants. Ask whether it is charged separately, and whether you can get your money back for fish that die in the first days.
How BlaBlaPrice works here
You describe what you are looking for once on BlaBlaPrice, and breeders and shops reply in the chat with offers: what they have, at what price and how they will deliver. The platform shows the best-fitting offer first, and sellers compete with each other. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose a seller. To see how it all works, read the “How it works” page.
For food, filters and accessories, see pet supplies, and for reptiles and amphibians with a terrarium see reptiles.
