dcfreshwaterfish.co.uk Avis 

If I could give zero stars, I would. We placed a B2B/trade order with DC Freshwater Fish for live fish and lily rhizomes to supply to our own clients. The delivery was incomplete and not as described: multiple fish were materially smaller than the size bands sold (not a borderline measurement issue), the “Colourful Mix 20” were well under the stated 2"–4" (around 1" or less), and items were missing (including mirror carp). The lily rhizomes were not received, and we were not provided with Royal Mail tracking to evidence dispatch. This caused immediate issues with our own clients (including a children’s home that were excited to stock a new pond and were then badly let down). We also had clients refusing to pay until quantities and sizes are corrected. When we raised the complaint promptly, instead of taking ownership and offering a remedy, DC Freshwater Fish relied on a rigid “claims” process and demanded staged photographs in a specific format — a requirement that was not stated on their website/product pages and was not presented during the order process/confirmation. They then refused to engage meaningfully on remedy unless we complied, despite: - the fish having already been placed into client ponds; - repeated netting/handling being inappropriate from a welfare perspective; and - key issues being incapable of being “photographed after the event” (for example, missing items and missing dispatch documentation). The “Colourful Mix 20” was supposed to comprise 5 x Golden Orfe / 5 x Golden Tench / 5 x Goldfish / 5 x Canary Goldfish, yet we only received goldfish. This meant we were charged more per fish for a single type than we would have been if we had purchased goldfish individually, despite this being marketed as a “special deal” and despite us ordering as a trade customer on purported trade pricing. We were told the fish would be fine in packaging for up to 48 hours, yet they then attempted to rely on a 5:30pm same day cut-off to block complaints. We also had five fish die from the Colourful Mix — they were far too small/young to be shipped and did not survive. Despite having two weeks’ notice, on the day of dispatch we were told they only had 1 of the 8"–10" koi available. We were told we had a credit balance, but multiple emails requesting our overpayment back have been ignored and they have kept hold of "our money". They said they would investigate and provide dispatch/packing information (including the Royal Mail delivery), but then ignored correspondence and provided no meaningful update or evidence. Packaging and identification/packing documentation were poor, making it difficult to verify what had been supplied. Overall: unprofessional, unhelpful, and uncaring about livestock. As a small business, we have been left out of pocket. Avoid if you need reliable sizing, complete orders, and aftersales support when something goes wrong.

If DC Freshwater Fish addresses the concerns raised and refunds accordingly, this review can be updated.

Amazing service from David - Thank you for my fish

placed an order for some koi, arrived safely and healthy, some really beautiful fish!! Lovely customer service from start to finish will definitely buy from these guys again, they really care about the fish!

I ordered 4 guppies from this website, a pigeon blood, blue Moscow, black and king cobra. For all guppy website listings they specify gender apart from the king cobra. So, me not looking close enough, I wanted all males. The guppies were delivered in a single bag and, surprise surprise, the king cobra was a female. However, I did not know this until the next day but she either arrived pregnant or became pregnant immediately. I feel that shipping guppies together is bad practice. I was able to give her to a friend who has a female guppy tank but in my mind this situation should never have happened. I contacted the company as soon as I became aware of what had happened and I haven't heard back from them, plus the website still doesn't specify a gender for the king cobras.

My pigeon blood arrived with a split tail which occurred during transport as the fragments were in the bottom of the bag. I emailed them and did receive a response that this should heal without issue. As I said, I followed this email with an explanation about the king cobra and am still waiting for a response from the 26th of November.

I will not buy fish from here again

SCAM!!!

First of all, I bought a platinum white butterfly koi, it looked beautiful on the advertisement, and had long fins.

When it arrived, it looked nothing like the picture listed, it resembled more a Sarasa goldfish and wasn't even platinum white.

The customer service was also terrible. I emailed them, telling them I was sent the wrong fish, I even provided pictures but they ultimately said they won't provide a refund or send a replacement. So I'm very upset that I've been scammed after spending a good amount of money.

I’ve ordered fish online from several farms over the years, but this one is definitely the best. Every delivery has been well-packed, and the fish arrive healthy and active. The website’s easy to use, and customer service actually responds. You can tell they care about the fish and the buyers. Consistently reliable, great quality — wouldn’t order from anywhere else now.

Outstanding quality fish!
Received my order last week but wanted to give them some time before I left a review. All fish are doing great and feeding well with zero issues. Customer service was also A*. Will certainly purchase from here again in the very near future. Thanks guys keep up the great quality and work.

Just had fish my fish delivered this week, quality is amazing and they are all thriving and doing great. Great customer service already made a second order cannot wait for that delivery! Thanks a lot

Ordered a bunch off different mixed koi and goldfish all came on time decent size all healthy and all doing great as always from dcfreshwaterfish

We recently had DC Freshwater Fish come in to sort out our garden pond. I have a child with additional needs who has become obsessed with fish! We recently moved homes, and there was a small pond in the garden, so we decided to restore it for our son.

David, the owner of DC, came over to advise and provide a quote for the work. During his visit, he noticed that there were still fish in the pond. He offered us a boarding service for them at his fish farm while the work was ongoing. This meant we could find out exactly what was in there, while also checking the health of the fish.

On a personal note, David was brilliant with our son — letting him count the fish, identify what species they were, and showing him how to tell whether they were healthy. This wasn’t something we expected from a contractor, but it showed us that DC has a great ethos and genuinely cares about their clients. David even joked that our fish were off for a “five-star spa break” at his farm!

He explained that he could offer this service for fish of any size, as he has multiple outdoor ponds and lakes, as well as large indoor filtered tanks. I asked what would happen if, in the future, we ever decided to fill in the pond, and he reassured us that he could come to remove and rehome the fish, doing so in an environmentally friendly way — something very important to us given our son’s needs.

The entire process, from my first call to completion, took six weeks. During the planning phase, DC offered us several options at different price points, covering not only the building work, materials, and finishes, but also all the plants needed to create the right habitats and environment for both the fish and local wildlife.

When it came to choosing the new fish, David sat down with my son and me, listening to what my son wanted to see in the pond. He then explained which breeds could live together and the costs involved. As mentioned earlier, some of the original fish that had been boarded at DC’s farm weren’t suitable to return, and David took care of this for us too.

The work was completed to the highest standard. What I had imagined in my head was delivered — and more! DC has embraced technology, and I can now monitor everything about the pond through an app on my phone, making it so easy to manage. The entire project ran smoothly, and we had very little to do once the planning was complete.

DC is fairly priced across all aspects — from the build and stocking to the ongoing quarterly inspections and health checks for the pond and fish.

I honestly can’t recommend DC Freshwater Fish, and especially David, highly enough. Not only for the quality of their work, but also for how amazing David was with my son — taking the time to explain everything and let him be involved. As I mentioned, he’s completely fish-obsessed, and with his learning difficulties, he can sometimes be a challenge, but David was absolutely fantastic with him.

If you need anything related to fish or their habitats sorted, call DC Freshwater Fish — you won’t be disappointed!

David and his team are very Knowledgeable about the fish and the environment they need to be in.
I will be using them again.

Website was easy to use. Fish arrived on time and healthy. Thanks guys. Will use again

I'm so disappointed, I dont know where to start with this diabolical place.
Firstly once I ordered the fish the order changed to over a week instead of two days delivery, Harry explained he has to go and net the pond and find the fish then leave them to check on their condition for a few days, nothing of this on the website but ok reasonable, then the day before the fish were due to arrive I get an email, one of the fish cant be found, errrm getting strange here, whys it still advertised and wheres the settling indoors for a few days so they can keep an eye on them? I tried to be nice, accepted the other fish could be sent when found and the rest of my order the next day, also tried to explain I'd be happy with any fish with bigger eyes for my son as long as it wasn't dark colours, this was agreed to but went straight over Harry's head, there was multiple bigger eyed fish advertised yet he didn't have these either.
I recieve the rest of my order with the fish DEAD or DYING. They were all piled into the smallest bag, no protection in the box, oxygen but no water so the dead had died stuck to the side. I explained this to Harry and sent a picture, no more questions asked, he was going to replace with the original missing fish and all that was lost.
I then waited a further two weeks, no contact. Asked Harry and he said he hadn't found the bubble fish still and now couldn't find a Ranchu either to replace (all still available on the website). He could send the rest of my order as he had them already netted. Harry also complained he had got in trouble as was supposed to ask for water testing etc (fish had died in transit), the website t&c doesn't state anything of the sort, however I am a fish enthusiast, I test my water often at the local fish shop and offered this proof and had to tell them I wanted a refund I had been waiting for etc, Harry said nothing.
I got the other fish the next day, Two green loaches I didnt order (ordered golden), one Fancy goldfish abour 1cm across (purchased bigger) 1 tench with whirling disease so was dead within hours.
The 2 bags had a hole, the bag was flat to the bottom of the box and these fish were suffering terribly with no padding or polystyrene etc to protect these poor things. I haven't bothered to contact these imbeciles, its like chasing gold dust, they're blatantly incapable of running a business. I have got proof of everything though and I am taking this higher.
Please for your own sakes aswel as the fish, Avoid this place like the plague!

Most of the fish died in a week the fish I all ready had are still alive

Ordered 6 Rudd and only 5 were supplied, some were delivered injured and within 3 weeks 2 have died.
Not impressed.