pet smart fish
- Thread starter DERECOLA
- Start date
I frequent both Petsmart and my family-owned LFS. I just like to watch all the fish, even if I can't own them... and I like to watch the fish I am thinking of buying for a long time to get to know their behavior and imagine how they will be in my tank, and as others have said give time for illness and such to be apparent before I buy.
In Champaign, IL we are fortunate to have a pretty knowledgeable daytime staff at PETSMART (never been there at night) who are all die hard hobbyists themselves. If they tell you something wrong it is not because they don't care, but just that they haven't come across that info yet. As another poster said I get WAY better info here and online than at either of my LFSs anyway.
I LOVE SAILFIN our family-owned store. Nearly everyone there is very knowledgeable and they work to make sure the new people learn to value being knowledgeable even if they don't know things yet. Employees will say things like, "go talk to so-and-so, I should have learned more about plants (rainbows, cichlids, saltwater, etc) by now, but he/she is an expert on that."
I think the biggest difference between the two though, is that Sailfin stands behind their fish. If a fish dies within seven days (or sometimes longer if they know you and your dedication to the hobby well) they will replace or refund it. If you decide to return a fish at anytime for any reason they will give you a % of the cost of the fish as a credit... no receipt, no questions asked.
Plus they have a much better selection if you like more rare fish, or beyond the basic species of any one fish (they often have five or more different types of corys for instance, and always a good selection of Killis, Rainbows and Cichlids). They are the only local Saltwater and Koi store around.
In Champaign, IL we are fortunate to have a pretty knowledgeable daytime staff at PETSMART (never been there at night) who are all die hard hobbyists themselves. If they tell you something wrong it is not because they don't care, but just that they haven't come across that info yet. As another poster said I get WAY better info here and online than at either of my LFSs anyway.
I LOVE SAILFIN our family-owned store. Nearly everyone there is very knowledgeable and they work to make sure the new people learn to value being knowledgeable even if they don't know things yet. Employees will say things like, "go talk to so-and-so, I should have learned more about plants (rainbows, cichlids, saltwater, etc) by now, but he/she is an expert on that."
I think the biggest difference between the two though, is that Sailfin stands behind their fish. If a fish dies within seven days (or sometimes longer if they know you and your dedication to the hobby well) they will replace or refund it. If you decide to return a fish at anytime for any reason they will give you a % of the cost of the fish as a credit... no receipt, no questions asked.
Plus they have a much better selection if you like more rare fish, or beyond the basic species of any one fish (they often have five or more different types of corys for instance, and always a good selection of Killis, Rainbows and Cichlids). They are the only local Saltwater and Koi store around.
A new Petsmart in the Toledo area I occasionally shop at has been up and running since January. So far they are keeping the fish alive and healthy looking. At each visit I see one-three dead fish though. Some staff know alot about fish, some don't. I bought three clown loaches there three weeks ago and they continue to be healthy. Previous to this purchase I bought two swordtails from a very nice LFS and they died within a day. It seems to me all the stores I visit have good days and bad days. Just as soon as I think they are the best store with the cleanist tank I will visit again only to find the opposite. The only store I would never buy livestock from is my local Wal-Mart, which has consistent bad tank conditions and lots of dead fish.
I don't know... my petsmart fish quality in MY area isn't bad. They beat many local shops(some of which I would never buy a fish from.. I've got STORIES!). Now, they lack knowledge, and only carry more common fish.... but if you KNOW what you're looking for, and they actually have it, and it looks healthy, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from them.
BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
Granted.. I've also seen Petmarts with Tiger barbs mixed in with slower long finned fish(can't recall the species... but the fins were long and flowing). And it all depends on the store...
BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
Granted.. I've also seen Petmarts with Tiger barbs mixed in with slower long finned fish(can't recall the species... but the fins were long and flowing). And it all depends on the store...
petsmart
My Petsmart has been good, but I agree with the others that the sales people there are not very helpful. They are especially dangerous because they always make it sound like they really know what they are talking about.
Thus, it might be better to find a local fish store that is knowledgeable. Then you have access to a consultant.
My Petsmart has been good, but I agree with the others that the sales people there are not very helpful. They are especially dangerous because they always make it sound like they really know what they are talking about.
Thus, it might be better to find a local fish store that is knowledgeable. Then you have access to a consultant.
I have had relatively good luck with petsmart fish. Thats the only store my wife will go to.
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I have purchased all my fish from, Petsmart. I did find that the staff, had no idea, about fish compatiblity....which lead me to purchase fish (dwarf puffers) that were not community fish, they had said dwarf puffers will be fine with other semi-aggressive fish. I will give them credit though the display tanks, and fish look healthy. I on the other had would never purchase fish or any animal for that matter from a Petcetera.
It's not always the retailers fault when fish are sick. Sometimes fish are sick before they even get to the store.
The Petsmart near me has a couple people who know their stuff. On the other hand there's a specialty shop nearby where an employee I talked to wouldn't know the difference between a Krib and a giraffe.
The Petsmart near me has a couple people who know their stuff. On the other hand there's a specialty shop nearby where an employee I talked to wouldn't know the difference between a Krib and a giraffe.
