catfishlover123

Just curious, where do you like to buy fish?
I like Petsmart because of the variety.

-corydoraguy123

funkman262

I prefer to check out local non-chain fish stores (although just the other day I found a Petland and it's much better than the Petsmart and Petco and especially Walmart in my area). Personally, I think Walmart should stop carrying fish altogether.

Butterfly

We have a great local fish store owned by a hobbyist. But our Petco is really good also.
Carol

Lucy

My favorite place isn't so local (maybe that's a good thing lol). They've got a great variety with a website that lists new arrivals.

eiginh

I go Nature Aquarium located in Santa Monica. Non chain store and the owner is knowledgeable with fish and plants as well. He has a few tanks that are show case quality. Any question you ask, %95 of the time he will know the answers too and if he doesn't he will have the information the next time you come back. He spends a lot of time with his customers and makes sure his customers are satisfied with their purchase. All of his fish are fed with good quality food and all or most of the tanks are spotless. He has a pretty good amount of variety of fish for fresh/salt and invertebrates.

Chris123

Other There plenty of stores runned by hobbyiests that are way better then those

I chose other because all the rest have dead fish and are deasesed

click

Big Al's is my fav. I never had any problems with the fish bought from them.

1309mw

local pet store. i refuse to buy any from chains anymore after going to this place.

AlyeskaGirl

My one and only local petstore.

catfishlover123

I personally agree. Only pet stores should carry fish.

Morgan111

Gerbers.... local
Jacks.... small local chain
Petland... chain with good care and selection...
I think everyone should buy NO MORE FISH FROM WALMART

angel_scout

Big Als is where I ent when I tried when I was 15 (8 years ago) lol and thats where I weill go again when I get my tank and everything!

jglove276

Should of added LFS to your poll. That is the only place I go for fish however that is about the only thing I do because they try to push other products on me I don't need but I still go there, just cant beat the quality of there fish.

TedsTank

PetCo on occasion after inspecring ALL tanks first. Then Internet...you can establish a good relationship with many dealers...and my success rate with online and shipping is excellent but shipping is pricey!

Morgan111

I'll do the internet if I'm buying a lot because you can typically get free shipping.

catfishlover123

My local Petsmart's tanks aren't that bad. The last time I went I got friendly service from the employee who helped me with my fish.

funkman262

Last time I went to Petsmart their entire fish population was covered in ICH. I brought it to their attention and they shrugged it off and continued to bag fish for the other customers

cm11599ps

I usually buy everything from a LFS. There are at least 3 nice places around here that are under 15 minutes away.

1) Has the smallest selection of fish and also sells rabbits, reptiles and other assorted pets and supplies.

2) Has a much larger selection of fish and also sells the other little critters.

3) Is a fish only store. One half of the store has freshwater, the other half salt. At the front of either side are much larger tanks with the larger fresh and salt fish. I'd say there have to be about 300+ tanks overall. Cichlids are in one section, coldwater fish are all along the back wall. They always seem to have a pretty good selection of fish, decorations, supplies and anything else you need. They were even able to order my top frame which some people seem to have problems getting from their lfs. All along the left wall is an aisle with live rock, anemones and other inverts. I always wondered why those tanks were always fishless until I started reading about reef systems. lol I've never had to order a fish but I'm sure they could if I so desire. They seem to be good people and it's been the same owner for at least 25 years as far as I know.

Flyfrod

I use That Fish Place. They're my LFS.

pinksprklmonkey

I recently stumbled on a place called Pet Kingdom. I don't know if its a chain, though I doubt it. They really carry just about everything (kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs, an assortment of reptiles and amphibians some that I've never seen before, saltwater and freshwater fish). I walked around the fish sections and only saw one tank with fish that weren't looking so hot (fancy goldfish tank). I brought it to their attention, which wasn't hard because JUST the freshwater section had 3 guys working it, a guy went right over to do something about it. Anyway after talking to the remaining two I found out they were both students studying to be marine biologists! What a fabulous combination! They were very knowledgeable. AND the big reason I'll be buying all my fish there? You know what the first question I was asked about my tank??

"Do you know about the nitrogen cycle?"

ppate1977

I found an aquarium store named Aquarium Adventures. Their selection of fish is mind blowing. So far every employee I've spoken to gives decent advice too. My local petsmart is not terrible, but I've nerer actually urchased a fish there. Another store by the name Jacks Aquarium has a nice, healthy collection as well.

Morgan111

aquarium adventures.... isnt that by columbus? Jacks is a good local chain store that generally has decent fish workers if you ask around. I like the PETLAND off of I675 and they have a great saltwater selection most of the time.

anunez91

i love the LFS out here in ventura and in Thousand oaks, notably, TATS and a couple other ones i forget the name, but its just something about 3 dollar ottos that doesnt sit right in my stomach, every otto ive bought from my local petsmarts in oxnard and ventura have lived, were cheap, and are currently destroying the algae in my tank the petsmart tanks here are rather clean and the staff knowledgable, petco however....... not so much, still I love my LFS for their variet of dwarf cichlids and live plants at a relatively decent price. Ive spent a good 40 bucks on all my live plant stock currently, they also tend to have awesome deals and if your a regular (at TATS) sometimes you can convince them to cut you deals, its great. Unfortunately my local walmart was being rebuilt to include groceries and when i went there today, they had a very new, very small fish section, there were six 1" oscars in what looked to be somewhere between 5 to 10 gallons of tank, and they had GSP in with all the freshwater fish, it was one section of tanks kinda like the partitions at petco, im assuming all running off one sump, all the fish are obviously very very small and juvenile but i hope to god they sell it all soon or get bigger tanks, or else things are going to go south fast, ill try and get some pictures next time im there



i wish TFP or big als were my LFS............. that would be amazing

Morgan111

My local walmart always has GSP's and the are in the worst shape I've ever see and it make me sick EVERY time I see them and they usually have 20+ in a 10 gal, it kills me..... so I HATE WALMART FOR SELLING FISH

peacemaker92

I prefer the LFS too near my place. I don't really buy fish from chain stores because everytime I buy one from there, they end up dying in the bag... The LFS near my place, although not very clean, they're fish are cheap and kept healthy. The only time I go to a chain store is when I buy fish stuff, because I signed up as a member there so I can get discounts

Goldwing_Don

My LFS, the owner and i have been friends for 25 years.

Butterfly

That's always a good experience! We had one such place before we moved but he had to close. So many of the privately owned places can't make it these days.
Carol

Meenu

I like Fintique, a local store.

leeishom

i usually buy from asian owned fish stores - they carry most of the rare/expensive fishes and products for the tank. plus, they offer very good prices when buying more than 1 item at a time.
for example - 125 gallon glass tank would be $325 without tax.

REDKAHUNA

Private breeders, auctions,and auctions of local fish clubs. I cant say I have bought a fish from a fish store in 15 years. I sell many to the local stores but they never have things I want because I want to supply them with things they rarely will see.