Lawnmower Blenny in Petco 2nite! Should I go back 4 it?

[rxdoc_85]

just to add to the petco woes, don't expect to get very good advice there about your fish choice or tank in general. when i've been there i've asked questions, and received answers that i later found were totally bogus. again, it varies from store to store, but generally the people working there might not even have an aquarium, and may in fact know nothing about fish, they're just the only person available to get the fish out of the tank for you. your locally owned joint is so much better, and they are experts in the field and will give you the best advice. mine here even tells me when NOT to buy something, even though it costs them a sale, it's what's best for my tank, and i appreciate that.

 

[AnnetteG]

well, my Petco isn't the best, but it's not so bad as all those stories. I got my Royal Gramma there and all my Chromis and the yellowtail blue damsel and my Scooter. They're all doing very well. They do a decent job of taking care of their tanks and there is one lady there who has been in the hobby herself for 20 years who takes care of the fish and tanks, so I think they're mostly okay. I have seen a dying fish a time or two, but that's everywhere. I don't however, understand why they keep the SG so low there. It's 1.017 or 8! One guy at a different store than this one, told me that it keeps the fish from getting diseases. As I was standing there looking at several tanks that had dead or dying fish in them.

Anyway, I think I've talked myself out of this Blenny for the time being. I really only go in there most of the time for normal supplies, food, whatever and I always have to look at the fish to see what they have. Obviously, from the ones I have so far, I find it hard not to buy them sometimes. Only thing stopping me tonight was that after getting my new light, my new skimmer, my live rocks from TBS, my new RO/DI unit and several good coral frags over the last week, I'm supposed to be on a spending freeze for the time being. :silly:

eta: I don't ask for advice at any big box stores. I come here or I go to my favorite LFS guy.

eta: Okay, if I'm going to have one, THIS is the one I want!

 

[Miss my puffer]

I have actually had better luck with petco than the two lfs near it (sad to say). I do see alot of sick fish there and have quit buying fish there since the new lfs opened, but the two other lfs had just as bad fish (for some reason the fish I bought from them just didn't survive, no ich outbreaks, they just didn't adjust for some reason, although I was present when one sold a white spotted tang to a customer who obviously had no clue, I no longer go there). Unfortunately I have been burned so many times that I do not trust the lfs or the big chain store (although the new lfs is slowly breaking me down, they turned down a whole tank sale because the customers wanted to buy the tank and fish all in one trip and the lfs wouldn't let them do it).

 

[Catpicklesdog]

Not being able to comment on Petco or similar (we don't have them over here) I can comment on the Lawnmower Blenny. They are just so darn cute. Mine has the most characterin the whole of my tank. I have a variety of corals, soft and hard, and have never had a problem with him eating/pecking at any of them.

With regard to your comment about the shops salinity levels - a lot of stores do keep their SG levels low for a couple of reasons:

1/ Cost of salt mix is less (even aquariums that haul in natural seawater will dilute it with freshwater for a saving)
2/ Parasite and microbial levels are reduced (these lifeforms can't make the osmotic stretch as well as macrolife)
3/ Gas solubility or oxygen content is enhanced, increasing the cattying capacity and, possibly the health of the system.

Hence why it is so important to acclimate new purchases properly.

HTH

 

[schigara]

I was at my LFS about a month ago looking to get a Lawnmower and was about to get one when I spotted my Starry Blenny and got it instead. You may want to check one out.

I personally liked the look of the fish better. It's basically the same fish except for coloring. Has the same behavior and same diet.

Starry Blenny or Snowflake Blenny

 

[40galreefman]

shig, nice blenny i like the colors makes me thnk i might look for one of those instead of a regular lawnmower blenny once i get my tank goin

 

[Solastsummer]

other than petco the closest LFS to me is 3 and 1/2 hrs away! I was going to buy most of my stock from petco but now im worried! what should i do!

 

[Catpicklesdog]

other than petco the closest LFS to me is 3 and 1/2 hrs away! I was going to buy most of my stock from petco but now im worried! what should i do!

Only advice I can offer on that dilemma is to make sure you have a QT tank and make sure you see the fish eat at the shop. I'd also resist any impulse buys so that you can research your chosen fish so you know what to look out for in terms of appearance, health etc.

 

[Grins]

We should really be QTing all fish anyway, no matter where they come from. And we should be really hesitant about buying fish that look ill no matter where they come from. My fat and happy yellow tang came from PetCo but no, it isn't where I'd recommend shopping for fish locally, but it is possible to end up with a nice specimen if you're careful.

 

[AnnetteG]

other than petco the closest LFS to me is 3 and 1/2 hrs away! I was going to buy most of my stock from petco but now im worried! what should i do!

Open a fish store! LOL Seriously, though, I would plan monthly or so day trips to the other store. I just can't imagine you'll have many choices or variety at the Petco. Mine pretty much always has the same fish and inverts and they never have any corals.