Fish stores How do you know it's a good one?

How do you pick LFS to shop at? What are some red flags to watch out for?

I've been using petsmart and Amazon for supplies and equipment so far and have bought fish from two different local LFS. One had zero customer service but great selection and fish looked on average reasonably healthy. Some were clearly mislabeled though. The other store I really like the customer service and they are happy to provide advice. Freshwater selection is more limited but they do carry a lot of the stuff that's not going to be at petco or petsmart like cpds and vampire shrimp. They also post new stock arrivals and sales on facebook which is kind of awesome since they are 30 minutes away.

What do you guys look for or want out of a LFS?

 

Making sure that the people who work there know what they are talking about. I like to talk to them about all sorts of different things. And I ask a lot of questions, they answer every single one. Another thing to look out for is the fish, making sure that all the fish look happy and healthy in their fishtanks. No diseases or anything like that. Some places, have one filter, and that filter filtrates all the tanks at the shop, I stay away from those, because that means that healthy fish share the same water as sick fish, and you don't want that. I personally go to petco most of the time just for supplies, like Omega One food, or new filter cartridges. I will never go there for fish, because they really don't take good care of the fish. I mean I'm always seeing dead fish there. It is just so sad. . You can tell if the people at your LFS care for the fish, and are knowledgeable.

 

My LFC had a tank labeled, not for sale. At closer inspection a small case of ich was in the tank. That's what got me coming back to him. Other stores either don't know or don't care that there selling sick fish.

 

How can you tell there's only one filter? Just ask?

 

I also look for fish that don't share water parameters who inappropriately share a tank. I stay away from those stores. Soft water fish and hard water fish don't belong in the same tank. Dead fish in tanks is an obvious one. Fish with heavy fins who are placed in with tetras - who in my experience tend to nip those long fins. It's super stressful, and hard for the fish to recover. I also don't like overcrowding - I know a lot of fish stores do this. Especially with cichlids to spread of the aggression and make it so they really don't have "room" to claim a territory - but I hate it. Just a few things I look for/pet peeves.

 

I also like to look at how the shop keeps their bettas. if they're in cups, it's generally not a very good shop. if the bettas have filtered, heated water, which they need to survive, then it's probably a pretty good, caring store that has knowledge on the animals they sell.

 

You can always ask them if there is one filter.

 

My LFC had a tank labeled, not for sale. At closer inspection a small case of ich was in the tank. That's what got me coming back to him. Other stores either don't know or don't care that there selling sick fish.

You wouldn't be from Vegas would you. It's not unusual for LFS to do that because mind does that also. Just wondering.

 

You wouldn't be from Vegas would you. It's not unusual for LFS to do that because mind does that also. Just wondering.

No NY lol