Do you buy fish from Petco or Petsmart?
- Thread starter Chrisk-K
- Start date
Even LFS will have dead fish in the tank. It really all just depends on how often they check the tanks. Of course, LFS do tend to care more about their fish and have less repeats of sickness, but its always possible.
I only buy Betta from Petco, why? They have so many kinds and they are still young. They are in clear water, in light and easy to get to. They also have lids on them.
I buy all other fish from Petsmart. Then again, I'm pretty much done buying fish. Maybe Goldfish in the future. Their Betta are in blue water, dark shelves, and are very hard to get too, they also do not have lids. They tend to be big, old fish in there too.
I have bought sick fish from both stores, they had Ich, while my tank also had Ich. They all recovered just fine and no losses. But I really wouldn't buy from either when you see any fish that is sick until at least a week after no more signs. Of course, if your willing to risk it and medicate the fish, just go for it. You can always return it later.
I only buy Betta from Petco, why? They have so many kinds and they are still young. They are in clear water, in light and easy to get to. They also have lids on them.
I buy all other fish from Petsmart. Then again, I'm pretty much done buying fish. Maybe Goldfish in the future. Their Betta are in blue water, dark shelves, and are very hard to get too, they also do not have lids. They tend to be big, old fish in there too.
I have bought sick fish from both stores, they had Ich, while my tank also had Ich. They all recovered just fine and no losses. But I really wouldn't buy from either when you see any fish that is sick until at least a week after no more signs. Of course, if your willing to risk it and medicate the fish, just go for it. You can always return it later.
Same here.
My local Petsmart actually has better livestock than the local LFS. Their staff are the usual drones that know nothing about fishkeeping, but the fishes are very well taken care of. All my fishes that I've purchased there have been in top health so far. I haven't lost a single one yet. *knock on wood*
ETA: Their 14 day guarantee is also much better than the LFS' 48hr guarantee.
The only fish I buy from Petco are Bettas, strangely enough the Bettas at Petco tend to be healthier than the ones at my lfs.
The 5 otos I bought from Petsmart all died, but I don't think the store was to blame for that. I have no issues with our Petsmart-the fish are well cared for and the clerks very friendly, if a bit misinformed. On the other hand, we also have an lfs with a healthy and varied selection of fish- but I won't buy there. The owner is a rude, surly jerk who gives out wrong information just to sell his stock. (I once overheard him telling a customer that a few koi would be fine in a 20 gallon. The man has been in business for years and should know better.)
My other fish options are PetSuppliesPlus, aka ich factory, and Petland, which I boycott as they sell puppymill puppies. So, it's either Petsmart or online. =) PetSmart actually have some Jewel Cichlids I've been eyeballing....
My other fish options are PetSuppliesPlus, aka ich factory, and Petland, which I boycott as they sell puppymill puppies. So, it's either Petsmart or online. =) PetSmart actually have some Jewel Cichlids I've been eyeballing....
I only bought my platties from petsmart, the one closest to my house has quite knowledgeable staff(there must be 10 petsmarts and 5 petcos within an hour from here), and had no issues with them, its been almost 5 months and I cycled my tank with them. I didn't realize there was a very good LFS only a mile from my house when I started. Then found 2 more within 10 miles....:duh:
Everything else has been from two LFS', depending on what they have(between two of them there isn't a lot that they don't have).
Everything else has been from two LFS', depending on what they have(between two of them there isn't a lot that they don't have).
