LFS in your area

Rockford:
Petland
open 7 days a week
small chain store
tropicals and saltwater

I've been here a lot more lately, and its usually pretty clean, i must have hit a bad day, this is also one of the larger petlands.


Quad Cites shops

Petmart
pros- lots of tanks
cons-many tanks were empty. not a lot of selection. A few dead fish and the Betta's were mostly dead or near dead.

not to be confused with petsmart, pet mart has yet to impress me despite being back a couple of times. the last time they actually had some stock though so it might be worth visiting if in the area, but don't get your hopes up.

Davenport
Aquatic enviroments
now open 7 days a week

Moline
Pet Depot
7 days a week
salt and fresh

they changed their schedual for summer, and are now open on sundays. I met the owner the last time i was in there, nice guy and I continue to be impressed by this place. they have great selection, and will order.


needed to update some things I had in my first post, the changes are in the quotes. Also have a few new places to add.

Rockford:

Terri's Aqualand Pet Center
7 days a week
fresh and salt
This place was a huge disappointment for freshwater. they have some occassional interesting things, but I couldn't bring myself to buy anything there, health was a defiante isssue i felt. the low point was a discus black with stress with worms, and they appear to have central filtration.

South elgin
Sea Escapes
http://seaescapesltd.com/
7 days a week
sea and salt
This place is pretty cool, very clean and professional, and a very good selection of salt. Worth checking out if in the area.

Petland
small store, very limited selection, but right around the corner from sea escapes. unless your looking for common tetra's, you can probably skip this place, no salt.

St charles
Critters pet shop
7 days a week
no salt

this place is pretty small, but they do have some interesting things including shell dwellers (but bring your id book since they appeared mixed with other africans), lots of plants and a few plecos and cory's not found at the big box stores, also some nice full grown angels. Don't go with high expectations, but this isn't a bad little store.

Batavia
petland
another little petland, limited selection, no saltwater. Some big oscars though.
 
NIAGARA REGION LFS

Country Aquaria
Facer St
St. Catharines, Ontario Canada

this guy has been in business for over 20 years and knows everything about anything Fishy related, both FW and SW, prices are a little bit more on the pricey side, when you purchase fish but the knowledge and information and tips you get from this guy is well worth the extra looney or toonie :)
 
Here are a few that I frequent.

Fairmount Aquarium: http://www.fairmountaquarium.com/
3253 Milton Ave
Syracuse, NY 13219

My favorite LFS, and it just happens to be about 2 minutes away from my house. They have a wide variety of fish and their tanks are always very clean. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They guarantee their fish for 5 days after purchase, but I have never had one prematurely die or get ill on me.

---------

Tropical Fish Emporium
159 Hardenburg Ave
Auburn, NY 13021

This one is a ~40 min drive for me, but it's usually worth it. They have a huge selection and a small but knowledgeable staff. The owner has been sick and not working in the store for some time, and in my opinion the quality has gone downhill a bit, but it is still one of the best stores in the area. Good prices, too.

---------

Fish-n-Stuff
2704 Lodi Street
Syracuse, NY 13208

I've only recently discovered this one. The store is incredibly cramped, and filled with very loud birds, but the fish looked pretty good. A smaller selection, but everything looked very healthy to me. The woman who owns it is very knowledgeable, and I would recommend at least checking this one out.
 
Appalachian Tails
119 Griswold St.
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 657-2872
Website: http://www.appalachiantails.com
Notes: very small fish selection but all are tank raised and in very good shape. No dead fish very very clean.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aquatic Wildlife (next door to panera bread)
179 Deming Rd
Manchester, CT
(860) 648-1166
Notes: I went into here for the first time and was completely blown away by the knowledge of the staff. Store is sort of small but has a wide selection. Great Store!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fintastic Aquariums
2315 Silas Deane Highway
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860)257-4100
Website: http://www.fintasticaquariums.com/
Notes: I'm still iffy about this store. I'm not sure exactly what tho the tanks are very clean and supplies and knowledge is thro the roof but just something doesn't mesh well. I brought a couple of things so we'll see how it goes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waterbury Aquarium
580 Lakewood Road
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 757-3832
Notes: This supposedly was a "great" store yet when I was in there it was TERRIBLE! A lot of empty tanks, lots of dead fish, a really really really sick turtle just terrible stuff. I wouldn't go in there to buy anything. I'd rather go out of the state.
 
Charlotte NC

Fintastic
2135 Ayrsley Town Blvd Ste C
Charlotte, NC
(704) 525-0049.
http://www.fintastic.us/
Monday - Saturday: 11AM-8PM
Sunday: 1PM-6PM

Of all the pet stores in and around Charlotte I've seen this one has the widest selection and the fish look the healthiest. Definitly worth a visit. The merchandise prices are higher than petsmart, but the selection is wider. It's a really nice LFS.
 
Pets Plus is a pretty good chain. I live in Morrisville PA, and the two stores closest to me are great. They will help you with any questions you have, and have a huge selection of FW fish, and a separate SW section too.
They are pricey on the tanks but their service and selection are top notch.
 
Creepy Crawly Critters
Ottawa IL
Small shop, but high quality. Independant filtration, and a few differnt species. some prices are high, and its small but if passing through worth a look.
 
Fish Cave
1002 Henderson Dr
Jacksonville NC 28540
(910) 455-7466

Great prices and they offer a good variety of clean healthy fish.
 
Top stores for Toronto, ON, Canada

Menagerie
549 Parliament St
Toronto, ON M4X1P7
416-921-4966

North American Fish Breeders
2260 Kingston Rd.
Scarborough, ON
416-267-7252

Finatics
599 Kennedy Rd S
Scarborough, ON
416-265-2026
 
Northwest Atlanta area:

Atlantis Aquarium
3125 Roswell Rd NE
Marietta, GA 30062 Map
(770) 977-5882

very nice selection of fish, large plecos and other large fish, manager knows what's up with fish and will treat you right
 
AquariaCentral.com