HM/HM Plakats in the SF Bay Area

DaveDoles

DaveDoles

Can I have it like that?
Jul 8, 2005
23
0
1
San Francisco, CA
Recently moved to San Francisco a month ago. Got my feet under me with a job, so I'm ready to resume the hobby I abandoned during those adolescent years. Been reading through almost every thread for the past few months.

So yeah, I'd like to know where the great LFS's are. I've heard about a couple on Clement. Googled me a directory of LFS's all over NorCal, only a few were in SF.

I've been to the pet store in Serramonte mall. They only carry common male bettas (they overstock too btw; parrot cichlid the size of my fist along with two plecos the same size in, what appeared to be, a 20 high; pretty sad).

So, let's just say the LFS's I've been to have been not so great. I also heard about the SF Aquarium Society and their usual auction after the meetings. Not too hardcore for that yet.

Girlfriend dragged me to look at the bettas while we were shopping at Walmart. She got one from there several months ago. I've bee scolding her Aquaria Central style about getting a heater at the very absolute least.

I'm just looking for Halfmoons or Halfmoon Plakats. Aquabid has a great selection with, what seems to be, pretty hardcore breeders. But these breeders, however, are all in Thailand. So, I don't feel quite safe going that route.

Girlfriend lives in Sac until May. I'd be down to visit any LFS's between here and the 1:30 drive to there, although I'm aware of the stress risk when driving extensive mileage with fish in the back seat.

Oh yeah, and what would be great tankmates for a halfmoon, one who would be kind to their fins?

If you all think I should house the HM/HM Plakat by itself, then I probably would do it the way Mrs. EMG has her gallon ones. I'm just partial to a community. But if nothing's compatible, I won't do it. I don't want one of those scoldings from anyone here that make people feel stupid. It's funny how the experienced fish keepers are the regulators of fishkeeping.

Sorry for the long thread.


Dave
 
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Dave,
Check out 6th ave flowers and aquarium on 6th and clement. They have a variety of fish. They are a help yourself store, so you get to spend as much time as you want to net your own fish. They do not carry betas, or atleast I have never seen any there. There is always petsmart above serramonte but it is a box store.
 
Donot be afraid to buy from Thailand...I have imported many and they are all of the highest quality and usually 25% cheaper then if I had bought them in N.A. Check out the feedback on aquabid to be sure...
Be EXTEREMELY careful of giving him a tank mate...Those big fins are so delicate that it would be a shame to lose them to injury...If you want a "centerpiece" fish, keep him alone so there is no chance of damage.
Also, no plastic plants...they will shred his fins to tatters...Good luck in your quest and support Thai bettas :)
 
TheMightyQueenPixie said:
Donot be afraid to buy from Thailand...I have imported many and they are all of the highest quality and usually 25% cheaper then if I had bought them in N.A. Check out the feedback on aquabid to be sure...
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Pixie,

I was just concerned that the transhipping would add substantially to the cost. I'd pay good money for a nice betta, but don't want to run the risk of it being DOA. But if you've bought from Thailand, and, I'm assuming from Aquabid, then I'll take your word for it.

Jericho,

I'm not too keen on going the petsmart route, but probably only for a tank and some supplies. But not for HMs or HM Plakats.


Thanks guys.

Dave
 
hey dave, im not sure i you are still driving to sac to see your gf. i assume you take the 80 east right? if you do, i am in davis and there is a great pet store here. the name of the pet store is Pet Cartera, or something like that. it is owned by an old married couple who has been here for 35 years. They have a great selection, and they are very knowledgable. I not sure if they have the exact fish you are looking for, but if oyu give them a call, he can probably try to get some when he goes to the wholesale dealer (tuesdays and thursday he goes). hope this isnt too far.
 
bladeruner143 said:
hey dave, im not sure i you are still driving to sac to see your gf. i assume you take the 80 east right? if you do, i am in davis and there is a great pet store here. the name of the pet store is Pet Cartera, or something like that. it is owned by an old married couple who has been here for 35 years. They have a great selection, and they are very knowledgable. I not sure if they have the exact fish you are looking for, but if oyu give them a call, he can probably try to get some when he goes to the wholesale dealer (tuesdays and thursday he goes). hope this isnt too far.
Click to expand...

Love Petcetera (pronounced like etcetera I believe) Good little store I would recommend it also. There's a good store in SSF. Underwaterworld is the name I think. He keeps strange hours so you might want to look up the number and call. If you've already found on dave could you let me know. I be interested since I'm in the area also.
 
Hey guys, thanks for the wonderful feedback. It's appreciated a great bunch.

Pixie:

The shipping costs don't seem too bad. You don't seem too concerned with them. I just didn't want them to be an arm and a leg. The website is great, found my way to the CBS website, joined their Yahoo Group. Haven't found any breeders yet. Navigation through CBS's website is pretty bad, guess I just have to look harder.

Blade:

Yeah, I go to Sac or she comes here when our schedules permit. I'm down to go to Davis on the way to Sac. The only thing I'm worried about is the stress of driving. Would this be something to be concerned with? Because, we'd probably park the fish at her place since Sac is closer. Probably spend the night or so, then back to SF. What do you think? PetCetera sounds like a dope store, pretty cute that a couple held on to it. I'll be sure to check it out, mos def.

Hike:

Sounds good, I'll be sure to google Underwaterworld as soon as I finish this reply. About the LFS's I've visited....if you read Jericho's post-the second, after my initial one-he mentions one store. I stumbled upon an online review of Sixth Avenue Aquarium at CBS's website. Notice how it gives one fishy out of a possible five. Mentions bad equipment, setups etc. I honestly thought the SW setups, although clever, were pretty tacky. The FW tanks were, as the review said, murky. The SW setups were stacked on each other. You have to see it; I've never seen anything like it. A lot of stuff you'd see at a tidepool exhibit. I thought it was cool that you pick your own fish, too.

Still, I honestly don't think anyone should judge an LFS by someone else's eyes. Check it out if you're in the area. They did have cool SW sharks, stuff you see Steve Erwin handling. Trippy.

Also, Nippon Goldfish on Geary is closed. My good friend said it was open a few months ago, but I don't know what happened. I've visited it a few years ago, seemed pretty nice from what I remember. Other than those two and the one at Serramonte, I haven't been to any good LFS's

I get paid on Friday so I'm determining what sort of setup I'm going with. In a nutshell, I was thinking of going with a 10, well planted. It's going in my room because I don't want to put it in any common areas. So, a 10 would be ideal in my situation. Although the child in me wants a 29.

Other than that, Pixie, is it ok if I have cories in with a betta. Could a betta be a centerpiece albeit with cories or in a small community?


Sorry for the long post.



Dave
 
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