There is a real success story behind Garnelio. In just over a decade, the shop has become one of Europe’s leading shops for invertebrates.
Reason is not only a well thought-out shop with versatile offer.
The noticeable commitment to animal welfare also played its part. Word has gotten around: the team now no longer only sells to individuals, but also to pet shops.
★★★★☆
(4.83 out of 5)
Test criterionRatingSelection★★★★★UX / handling of the web shop★★★★★ Payment methods / secure payment★★★★☆Communication★★★★★Shipping (Duration & Packaging)★★★★★condition of goods★★★★★Summary of the rating 4.83 out of 5*
Rating details:
Selection:
The selection is very large. Especially in the field of invertebrates you can often choose different sizes. Sometimes pregnant shrimp can also be purchased. There is a wide range of ornamental fish – including not only classics such as neons, guppies and armored catfish but also rather rare ornamental fish. Both offspring and imports are traded.
UX – handling of the webshop:
I can’t put it any other way. Garnelio is just fun. The Shopware-based web shop is designed for content and storytelling (at least the Shopware framework) and that’s exactly what Garnelio offers. In addition to classic shop functionality, you get a whole lot of content, interaction and incentives to browse.
The elements are very well arranged and the categories make you want to browse (e.g. the arrangements around Wabi Kusa plants – which are not often offered but are an absolute eye-catcher).
As such, the categories and menus are well structured and offer a good filtering option.
Animals / articles are very often provided with videos – so that you get a further impression in addition to photos. Next to the buy button, you can ask a question directly or report an error, so that the content can always be expanded by the users (many of you probably already know it from Amazon). The large number of questions and ratings creates an absolute added value, because as a buyer I get answers to important questions and I get opinions from others.
Payment methods:
The payment methods are quite classic – third-party providers are primarily used here. Paying through Amazon was not a problem. Direct debit is also offered.
Communication:
The communication was smooth. Positive is the possibility of contact forms but also a callback service.
Shipping and packaging:
Shipping took 3 days from order. The packaging was done in proper – appropriate packaging including thermal pack and instructions.
condition of goods
All shrimp and snails have reached their destination safe and sound.
General key data on Garnelio:
Focus of the shop
In addition to shrimp, crayfish and shrimp, Garnelio also stocks fish for freshwater aquariums. True to the name, the focus remains on invertebrates. But the shop expansion makes sense, since shrimp keepers often use community tanks.
who one garden pond fish, you will also find a selection of suitable fish here. Is supplemented with a small seawater area.
Where are the animals from?
The creators form a team of invertebrate fans. Most of them breed themselves and operate one for this purpose 500 square meter facility in Mannheim. However, because this would limit their range too much, they purchase additional animals from selected breeders.
Not only top German breeders among them: pure wild catches cannot be avoided in the invertebrate area because not all animals in the aquarium can be bred. But aquarists would like to have certain animals in their tank. Therefore, the Garnelio team also uses imports.
Live animals at Garnelio:
- Fish / invertebrates for ponds and aquariums, including cold water.
- Prawns, snails, crabs, mussels.
- Animals for the aquaterrarium: frogs and crabs.
- Sea water: shrimp, hermit crabs.
Other offers in the shop
But there is much more to discover here. The extensive range includes everything you need for keeping: This includes of course special feed and plants. Likewise the basics for the complete facility, i.e. substrate, roots, stones, clay caves. Even synthetic resin decoration is listed as an extra section.
Selection of aquariums and technology:
Garnelio has developed into an important provider for all freshwater enthusiasts. Even those who don’t keep shrimp will find what they are looking for here. cubes are of course available in a particularly rich selection. There are suitable filters in the shop as well as lighting, heating technology or osmosis systems.
Trendy products such as WabiKusa are also available. breeding facilities There are also shrimp professionals with several tanks on the shelf, as well as large and small ones paludaria. Garnelio also stocks books and fan articles.
What makes the shop special?
Garnelio is now one of the largest online shops for invertebrates in Europe (according to its own statement). Not only contributes to this variety of invertebrates at.
Good service and extras like a live arrival guarantee also help spread Garnelio’s reputation. But there is more that makes the shop unique. By their own admission, they lead many items exclusive, so you can only get them here. This applies to the Garnelio own brand, among other things.
Own brand NatureHolic
The Garnelio own brand offers Forage, plants and fertilizer. The feed does not contain any animal meal, as it does not belong in it and could damage the health of the animals. Only high-quality natural ingredients are included. This makes it particularly rich in vitamins. There is even an extra row for the important minerals.
You are important to them Avoidance of housing damage, and to make skinning easier for the shrimp. Garnelio even offers food for snails caught in the wild: they otherwise have a hard time in domestic tanks because they often refuse conventional food.
This is what the private label offers:
- lining
- water conditioner
- Plant
- minerals
- fertilizer
- Merchandise such as t-shirts
What extends the offer:
In addition to the range of invertebrates, a focus is on fishing. These are not just those that can be socialized with shrimp. There are also other common fish species, such as fighting fish. A filter helps to assess a possible socialization with shrimp. The filter even distinguishes between large and dwarf shrimp.
Special service: Aquascaping experts help with set-up
In collaboration with Sasha Hoyer Garnelio can offer a very special service. The knowledgeable aquascaping expert is happy to help set up complete aquariums.
He plans, puts together the equipment and builds everything on site. The service also includes a care plan so that everything continues to work.
The Service is chargeable, in two variants: either a one-time payment or payment per month. The latter makes sense if someone does not yet have that much experience and will probably want to ask frequent questions later.
Questions? Questions!
But not only with problems there are questions. They arise with almost every purchase. Then they are not as unique as one might think.
Garnelio has come up with something here: Each individual product is publicly accessible all questions that have arisen so far – including the answer, of course! This is how the shop and customers save time:
The Garnelio service is relieved and the customer quickly finds out the answer to his question. This often helps with a purchase decision. If not, Garnelio offers various contact optionsfor example using a form or requesting a callback.
High usability
Overall, the site looks very tidy. This contributes a lot to relaxed shopping. The classification is self-explanatory and many Filters make the search easier. With plants, for example, you can choose from nano, middle ground or background plants right from the start.
Garnelio also offers XXL, planted decoration, floating plants, mosses or in vitro. This is how you can search refine as desired, alternatively you can simply browse through the entire range. An extensive SALE department offers permanent opportunities to make bargains, with discounts of up to 33%.
The story behind Garnelio
The head and founder is Farshad Farhadi. He discovered his love for shrimp in Tehran. In 2009 he founded Garnelio with headquarters in Mannheim.
Here he surrounded himself with a large team that is equally passionate about invertebrates. Her work not only involves a great deal of specialist knowledge, but also respect for the animals and the beauty of nature.
That includes take particularly good care of imports:
They are only sold on after a certain period of time so that they can get used to them and diseases can be ruled out. When it comes to feed, attempts are made to train delicate varieties on domestic feed. In the meantime, they have become an international Network of selected breeders and sellers built up. Anything they don’t grow themselves, they source from there. According to their own statements, they are now Europe’s largest shop for invertebrates.
Where else can you find Garnelio?
in my own Youtube channel there are explanatory videos. The topics are wide-ranging: Sometimes it’s about presenting natural habitats, sometimes about the breeding facilities of colleagues or trade fairs.
In addition, Garnelio is active on Facebook and Instagram. So there are a lot of ways to follow the shop and not miss anything new. Of course, Garnelio also offers one Newsletter!
Knowledge sharing blog
Those who prefer to read will get their money’s worth with an invertebrate blog. Garnelio conveys a lot here Interesting facts about the animals and their husbandry. This is particularly helpful for beginners and is used for keeping animals, as it protects them from being treated incorrectly.
However, the topics do not only include the animals and their accompanying fauna. Aquaristics in general, technical presentations or aquascaping also occur again and again. The blog is very current: New posts appear once a week.
Payment methods at Garnelio
One On-site pick-up is possible in Mannheim. Please make an appointment for this! But the main business is about shipping. Unfortunately, payment by credit card is not possible. However, there are enough alternatives.
Payment options at Garnelio
+ Payment in advance by Bank transfer. Shipping will only take place after receipt of payment by Garnelio.
+ Instant bank transfer (online banking). Shipping takes place immediately.
+ With PayPal: own PayPal account required. With buyer protection, shipping is usually immediate.
+ On account via PayPal: Shipping takes place immediately, buyer pays the invoice later to PayPal.
Shipping: DHL and express three times
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