Fish better at fish only stores or Petco/Petsmart etc?

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greenday04

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Nov 28, 2004
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Concord, CA
I might know the answer already but just wanted other opinions. I was thinking that a store that carried only fish would be a better bet.

Thanks for the info. :)
 
Not always. It really depends on a number of factors. I've seen Mom & Pop type stores that were horrible, and big box stores that had great setups, with active, healthy fish. There's not a blanket condition that will cover all stores. It's important to review each location carefully, and apply the same criteria to both. You're more likely to find rare or oddball species at a fish-only store, but that does not mean the animal will be in good condition.
 
OrionGirl said:
Not always. It really depends on a number of factors. I've seen Mom & Pop type stores that were horrible, and big box stores that had great setups, with active, healthy fish. There's not a blanket condition that will cover all stores. It's important to review each location carefully, and apply the same criteria to both. You're more likely to find rare or oddball species at a fish-only store, but that does not mean the animal will be in good condition.
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There is an LFS around here that is horrible. I have no idea how it stays in business (though they do sell puppies....). Lots and lots of tanks........full of nasty water and dying fish. The Petco near us on the other hand has a lady working there that really knows here stuff. You can chat with her about African Cichlids all day long and she keeps all of her tanks sparkling.
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Not sure if there are any animal activists around here, but I hear alot of bad things about petsmart and especially about petco. Not so much the fish, but alot of horror stories about their small animals etc. Do some research you may be suprised. Not to say there aren't some that are probably excellent, but I am lucky enough to really like my lfs and choose not to shop at the big stores! I don't mean to start a debate or anything, just my opinion!!!!
 
Thanks guys,

Gulp, I love your tank w/the flagstone in it, how cool. What size tank is that and what, if anything besides clean the rocks, did you have to do to the flagstone before adding to the tank.
 
greenday04 said:
Thanks guys,

Gulp, I love your tank w/the flagstone in it, how cool. What size tank is that and what, if anything besides clean the rocks, did you have to do to the flagstone before adding to the tank.
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That's a 110 gallon tank. I bought some slate stepping stones from Pike's Nursery (a garden place in Georgia), took them home, and busted them into smaller pieces on my driveway. :D I only paid somwhere around $25 for all that rock when my local pet stores wanted $1.50 to $2.00 a lb for their rock. :eek: I actually bargained with them a bit and bought their broken stepping stones pieces that were laying around the palates for next to nothing. When that was all gone.....I bought 2 other full sized stepping stones.

I cleaned the rock with a scrub brush and lots of hot water. I was a little paranoid about some chemical or pesticide being on the rocks....but everything turned out fine and I save a boat load of $$. :)
 
I have a Petsmart just down the street from me that appears to take good care of their fish. My only complaint is that they don't stock that big of a selection.
 
As said above it just depends on the shops you have locally. The Petco nearby me has a good selection of fish that is very well kept and is inexpensive while the non-chain store has a wider variety of fish that are in ok conditions and the prices are ok...not too expensive but not too cheap either. For me I shop at both and buy the fish that catch my eye... recently 2 German Blue Rams from the LFS.
 
DoctorP… I do think it depends on the store but when it comes down to it I think it is the people that work there. If you put the best quality fish in the crappie stores you have nothing, but if you put middle of the road fish in the best stores then you have an ok LFS.
 
the PetLand near me is awesomes. Just awesomes. plural on purpose. thats how awesomes it is. not awesome. awesomes.

2000 gal Pacu tank
50 gal arowana/gar/pictus tank (they sell quick, so its not relly inhumane if they're like 5 inches.)
100s of ghost shrimps and free snails for me. I get free baby crawfish that get mixed with the shrimps! I <3 knowing peoples for freebies.... awesomes
 
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