I have read a lot about this, and while I think most people acknowledge it is possible, many regular shippers feel the losses are generally higher than when shipped with water. One of the australia shipments we received, some of the pieces were shipped "damp" and the survival rate was not as high as those shipped in water where there were essentially no losses. You still need to ship overnight, express, so you may only be looking at $30 difference (does not even buy you a piece of liverock!)

While I have never shipped multiple corals in the same bag (excluding ricordia florida) I could see how someone would do this with zoas if the shiping container was tight on space. Zoas generally don't mind touching and should not get that stressed. That being said, sandwich bags and a non-insulated box does not show much of a commitment on behalf of the seller, so they may not have been thinking this when they shipped.

I hate to turn this into an ethics debate but I believe that people should be allowed to mention vendors names when discusing bad or good experiences as long as it is not derogatory in any way. Canreef is an information sharing bulletin board and has a responsibility to support vendors that practice good reef keeping ethics. If people aren't kept informed as to who practices good ethics then the bad vendors get to stay in business praying on the innocent reefers out there and the good vendors don't get the credit they deserve.

Pop

There goes the can of worms opening:lol:

Please don't that is not what this is about.

This thread is about talking to the people who supply us with some of the most unique corals we have seen in Canada Ever. Not to bash or slam them

I think their support is very important, other wise we loose the ability to get anything beyond xenia and button polyps

If this thread is heading into a Bash fest I will ask it to be closed

Jason

This isn't about bashing its about making sure that no one else deals with the same person you did and has their money taken from them. I like to hear about good experiences so that I can support that vendor so they continue to support the hobby in a positive way.

Its only bashing if its exagerated or not true.

Thanx

Sean

I second the vote for shippers to experiment with dry shipping. Following Calfo's advice, it seems a safer (though less 'comfortable') alternative. Has anyone here experimented?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/eb/index.php

As far as dry shipping goes...would it be beneficial or detrimental to ship with just enough water to cover the frag? I always ship with lots of water and use styrofoam on anything I can attach to it like Candy Cane, Duncan, Euphyllias, etc. Not gonna work for the Brains though... :D

unfortunately that is not how it usually works out. I feel a better Idea is to try work with our vendors that work against them.

Speaking in general terms benefits everyone. People learn what is to be expected and our Vendors learn what is necessary to keep our business.
Dozens of times this issue has come up on Canreef. Please do not end this discussion with further posts on vendor reviews
Thank you
Jason

Calfo says damp paper towels or kelp-type seaweed... it's counter-intuitive to my mind, but his explanation makes sense, I guess. I've never tried it.

I believe the theory is (and I could be wrong) that when a coral is packed in water there is a build of of waste and coral slime which can pollute the water.
So if your going to pack in water, more water is better.
I have sent montiporas (which can slime up really bad) wrapped in papertowel and sealed in bag plastic with no ill effect and that was 20hrs in transit

I appreciate the suggestion of dry shipping but as a vendor I offer a guarantee so I can only ship with a proven method that I feel comfortable with to make such a guarantee. I don't think many of the more sensitive acros would be in very good shape when reaching their destination with the dry shipping, especially if there is a delay by the shipping company. That said if someone wants to pay for the shipping I will send them a couple of sps frags free as an experiment.