Where do YOU purchase your freshwater fish from?

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Erin B

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Dec 10, 2014
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Out of curiosity, I am just wondering where a lot of you experienced fish enthusiasts get your fish from?

I am a newbie at this hobby and am located in Canada (Calgary) and aside from the local PetSmart or Pisces I am wondering where you get your fish.

Does anyone order them online?

Thanks!
 

fishorama

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Jun 28, 2006
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In Canada, I'm not sure, Big Al's I've heard of, I think they ship. Try to find a Can. fish board to see what others suggest. I bet getting fish from the US would be very expensive, that's where many of us here on AC live. Is there a site like aquabid (here). Is Pisces a chain or local? They may be able to order fish for you & there might be a local fish club or 2.
 

myswtsins

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Jun 15, 2008
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I almost exclusively buy from online or local breeders, have for years now. But I do like one of my local petsmarts above even the big dedicated fish stores or petco, every place is different with those chain stores just gotta find the good ones. Local clubs are a great source too though. Being that you are in Canada I don't have any particular recommendations, sorry.
 
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irishspy

There is a stargate in my aquarium.
I like to buy from my LFS and even a chain such as Petco. In either case, I make several visits before buying to see how healthy the stock is and how well-kept the tanks are. I've once ordered online, from LiveAquaria: the experience was flawless, but the shipping charges were murder. I'd do it again, if there was a species I really wanted that I couldn't find locally.
 
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Tifftastic

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Sep 9, 2008
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I've bought from a lot of different places and the most important thing is to just check that the fish are healthy. I've been to good petcos and bad ones, good petsmarts and bad ones, the horrid LFS and the amazing one. What matters is how the employees care for them and how good their stock is. The big box stores a lot of times use the same vendors as the LFS so it comes down to care in the long run
 
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NeverFadeAway86

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Jun 15, 2011
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I usually get all my fish From Aquarium Adventure in Columbus,Ohio. I love that store and have given them alot of business, now with that said they charge to much for African Cichlids IMO...

so I bought some African Cichlids from Blue Grass Aquatics and had them delivered to my home from florida to ohio overnight and all fish arrived alive and healthy, one of my females is already holding and ive had them 1 month

I have also ordered off AquaBid
 
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FreshyFresh

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Jan 11, 2013
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I'm lucky enough to have two great LFS nearby. One is new and the other has been owned/operated by the same folks for decades. The old school one isn't the cleanest or prettiest, but I've never lost a fish from them prematurely. I have bought fish from Petco, Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus, but it's always hit/miss from them.
 

tanker

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Almost all from LFS. Maybe a few things from Petco when it has a sale. I have 4 very good LFS very near me.
 

Belltrain

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There is a petco near me which I have bought fish from with great success. When I used to live with my parents the petco near them was horrible. I think it just depends on the establishment. There is a LFS I discovered near my house but I'm not very fond of it...
 
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