I received an Indonesian octopus when ordering one from Mexico.
I was excited about LA finally showing animals from Mexico. Besides the very short remaining life span of the Abdopus furnished by LA, I prefer animals from the Gulf of Mexico because of potential health risks associated with some of the Caribbean animals (explicitly concerns with resistence to vibro bacteria commonly found in animals from the Caribbean). I have succsully place a couple of non-Caribbean animals in my tanks but tend to avoid doing so.
Many live animal facilities reserve the right to substitute and animal of equal or greater value than the one specified. I could not find this statement on LA's site but it may well be there. Additionally, I do not like to complain about LA as their shipping is second to none as is their guarantee. Unfortunately, the animals that interest us most are imported outside the protective environment provided by the primary facility so the control is not as strict.
Here is the email I sent to encourage more attention to the issue:
I was excited about LA finally showing animals from Mexico. Besides the very short remaining life span of the Abdopus furnished by LA, I prefer animals from the Gulf of Mexico because of potential health risks associated with some of the Caribbean animals (explicitly concerns with resistence to vibro bacteria commonly found in animals from the Caribbean). I have succsully place a couple of non-Caribbean animals in my tanks but tend to avoid doing so.
Many live animal facilities reserve the right to substitute and animal of equal or greater value than the one specified. I could not find this statement on LA's site but it may well be there. Additionally, I do not like to complain about LA as their shipping is second to none as is their guarantee. Unfortunately, the animals that interest us most are imported outside the protective environment provided by the primary facility so the control is not as strict.
Here is the email I sent to encourage more attention to the issue:
Live Aquaria Customer Support
I place and received the referenced order for an octopus from Mexico. The animal I received was an Indonesian octopus in the Abdopus family. The octopus was, as always, well packaged and in good condition but I wish to complain about substitution. I have avoided ordering the Indonesian animals because they have typically been older females that brood within a week or two of shipment or small nocturnals that are rarely seen. Additionally, I keep aquariums with animals native to the Gulf of Mexico and feel that keeping the inhabitants from a closely related area provides the best opportunity for minimizing exposure to pathogens not common to the animals placed in the aquarium. This is the first time I have noted you having animals from Mexico available and I was excited to try one after a fellow enthusiast place an order earlier in the week that established it was clearly not an Indonesian species.
I don’t know of a resolution to this incident as I would not risk the animal by returning it. I appreciate Live Aquaria offering octopuses as they are difficult for keepers to source but would request that this kind of substitution not be made without the consent of the aquarist.
Order Number: A2824164
Shipping Category 1: Fish/Corals/Inverts/Tank Cleaners/Algae - Ships from California
Item Details:
CN-77445 SW - Octopus, Assorted (Mexico) - Medium Qty: 1, Price: $49.99 each = $49.99
Subtotal: $49.99
FedEx Std. Overnight Air: $34.99
Shipping Category 1 Sub-total: $84.98