Has anyone bought fish from the big name stores during this time?

LoverofBettas

LoverofBettas

Active Member
Member
Messages
222
I was curious; is the procedure the same? How do you pick the fish you want while maintaining social distancing? I really want some of Petsmart’s beautiful platies, and the prices are better in store than in places online. Additionally, you can pick the gender in store, and I want males.
 

Advertisement

Advertisement
I didn't go to Petsmart/co but for my LFS I really didn't like because they picked out your fish. Only kinds and then you got whatever they threw in a bag for you.
 
Petsmart closes at 7pm instead of 9pm for me. Mine only has 1 cashier but theres no precautions for social distancing or anything. Only when getting fish, the lady had me stand behind the blue line, either it was protocol or just herself was being cautious. Nothing about 6feet apart when checking out though. They also do not accept returns either... I tried returning a tank lid i bought BEFORE the virus happened and they still said no.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #6
I didn't go to Petsmart/co but for my LFS I really didn't like because they picked out your fish. Only kinds and then you got whatever they threw in a bag for you.
Click to expand...
Awww Did you just watch from a distance? How did you check out?
 

Advertisement
Good point. What did they do at your LFS?
Click to expand...
My LFS just wants us to get what we need and leave. No looking around for fun and no big groups. None of the employees were wearing masks both times I went unfortunately
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #8
Petsmart closes at 7pm instead of 9pm for me. Mine only has 1 cashier but theres no precautions for social distancing or anything. Only when getting fish, the ladh had be behind the blue line, either it was protocol or just herself was being cautious. Nothing about 6feet apart when checking out though. They also do not accept returns either... I tried returning a tank lid i bought BEFORE the virus happened and they still said no.
Click to expand...
Yeesh... I forgot about how close you stand to the cashier when you’re checking out at those big name stores hahaha

My LFS just wants us to get what we need and leave. No looking around for fun and no big groups. None of the employees were wearing masks both times I went unfortunately
Click to expand...
Does your area have a rule for only going out for essentials?
 
Awww Did you just watch from a distance? How did you check out?
Click to expand...
No. You ordered/called ahead. Then when I got there you called again letting them know you're there and they come out, tell you your total, take money, come back out with fish
 
Yeesh... I forgot about how close you stand to the cashier when you’re checking out at those big name stores hahaha
Click to expand...

Yeah and not one employee was wearing a mask but then again every store is probably different. Ive been ordering items online instead
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #11
No. You ordered/called ahead. Then when I got there you called again letting them know you're there and they come out, tell you your total, take money, come back out with fish
Click to expand...
Oh! I’d like that if I wasn’t looking for a specific gender. Still, I wonder if my local pet smart does something like that and I wonder if I could try sending it back until I get what I want hahaha; although I wouldn’t want to waste too much of their time.
 

Advertisement



Oh! I’d like that if I wasn’t looking for a specific gender. Still, I wonder if my local pet smart does something like that and I wonder if I could try sending it back until I get what I want hahaha; although I wouldn’t want to waste too much of their time.
Click to expand...
Yeah. One lady asked me if the fish were fine. Second time the guy thrust the bag at me and walked back inside. That was the worst. I got a bloated guppy that died 2 days later from dropsy
Keep in mind this is my lfs. Not petsmart/co
 
Yeah. One lady asked me if the fish were fine. Second time the guy thrust the bag at me and walked back inside. That was the worst. I got a bloated guppy that died 2 days later from dropsy
Keep in mind this is my lfs. Not petsmart/co
Click to expand...
That sounds more like something a big box store would do and not a LFS. They're not living up to expectations
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #14
Yeah. One lady asked me if the fish were fine. Second time the guy thrust the bag at me and walked back inside. That was the worst. I got a bloated guppy that died 2 days later from dropsy
Keep in mind this is my lfs. Not petsmart/co
Click to expand...
I guess we just have to roll the dice hahaha, hopefully the employees at Petsmart will be able to be more flexible. I understand if this time is stressful though.

That sounds more like something a big box store would do and not a LFS. They're not living up to expectations
Click to expand...
That’s so true! You’re usually supposed to be able to look to the LFS for sage advice.
 
PetSmart has been on my nerves too. I have a 50 dollar decor ornament that I want to return for in store credit and they are telling me not right now.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #16
PetSmart has been on my nerves too. I have a 50 dollar decor ornament that I want to return for in store credit and they are telling me not right now.
Click to expand...
So pet stores cancelled returns? Anyone know why?
 
A lot of stores in general have temporarily suspended returns, including Walmart.
 
That sounds more like something a big box store would do and not a LFS. They're not living up to expectations
Click to expand...
If I’m correct FishGirl115 ’s LFS is blue fish aquarium, and if so you are getting the complete and utterly wrong idea. Bluefish is one of the best LFS in the midwest, and StarGirl15 can vouch for that. Corvus Oscen did a tour thru it.
 
Is it to reduce store traffic?
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it's an employee safety thing, to reduce their exposure to customers currently. Walmart told me to hang onto receipts and returns will be honored whenever they decide to stat doing returns again.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #21
Pretty sure it's an employee safety thing, to reduce their exposure to customers currently. Walmart told me to hang onto receipts and returns will be honored whenever they decide to stat doing returns again.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it's an employee safety thing, to reduce their exposure to customers currently. Walmart told me to hang onto receipts and returns will be honored whenever they decide to stat doing returns again.
Click to expand...
Ah, that’s fair.
 

Advertisement



I got a few corys about 6 weeks ago from a Petsmart. One died two days in. The other two are fine. The last time I went into the Petsmart, it looked like the tanks had not been maintained for 6 weeks. Algae everywhere. Dead Fish all over. It was deplorable.

I have been shopping at my LFS a fair amount. They are also a feed store, so they stay open. The guy there is really nice and knowledgable, but the stock has gotten more and more depleted as time has gone on. It's probably only about 30% stocked now. He tells me that none of the breeders are bringing fish in right now.
 
I got a few corys about 6 weeks ago from a Petsmart. One died two days in. The other two are fine. The last time I went into the Petsmart, it looked like the tanks had not been maintained for 6 weeks. Algae everywhere. Dead Fish all over. It was deplorable.

I have been shopping at my LFS a fair amount. They are also a feed store, so they stay open. The guy there is really nice and knowledgable, but the stock has gotten more and more depleted as time has gone on. It's probably only about 30% stocked now. He tells me that none of the breeders are bringing fish in right now.
Click to expand...
A feed store/LFS? that would be my one stop shop!
 
Recently walked by the fish tanks on my way to pick up some dog food at Petco and nearly every tank was empty. Not sure if there's a supply issue or if they don't want people hanging around looking at non-essential items. Maybe it varies from one store to the next.
 
Nope, haven't gotten any fish. My parents don't want to, and tbh I don't want to go out and go through the hassle just to get more fish. To me it currently just isn't worth it no matter how you look at it.
 
If I’m correct FishGirl115 ’s LFS is blue fish aquarium, and if so you are getting the complete and utterly wrong idea. Bluefish is one of the best LFS in the midwest, and StarGirl15 can vouch for that. Corvus Oscen did a tour thru it.
Click to expand...
LOL hilarious I really dont know.....for shame.
 
  • Thread Starter
  • #28
I got a few corys about 6 weeks ago from a Petsmart. One died two days in. The other two are fine. The last time I went into the Petsmart, it looked like the tanks had not been maintained for 6 weeks. Algae everywhere. Dead Fish all over. It was deplorable.

I have been shopping at my LFS a fair amount. They are also a feed store, so they stay open. The guy there is really nice and knowledgable, but the stock has gotten more and more depleted as time has gone on. It's probably only about 30% stocked now. He tells me that none of the breeders are bringing fish in right now.
Click to expand...
Did you have to wait outside and call ahead for what you wanted???
 
My niece bought some guppies from a big chain store recently but I have no idea what the atmosphere was like. I think she picked them out specifically but not 100%. I got some from the LFS and they did want you to be 6 feet away however no one had a mask on. I wasn’t picking out specific fish but I would guess I could have asked for a certain gender and checked the bag before it got tied up. I saw two employees and 4 other customers while I was there. They had marks on the floor to indicate how far 6’ was but no other precautions
 
Did you have to wait outside and call ahead for what you wanted???
Click to expand...

Nope, just walked in both the Petsmart and LFS. Both are deemed essential here, so I can go in. I will be happy once this is all over so the stores can get stocked again.
 
Went to PetCo to grab some gravel and another aquarium, all they had was a few cichlids. Every other aquarium was completely empty
 

Advertisement



My state has mandatory masks when any time not in your own house, most stores are curb pickup only. My local Petco suspended all live animal and plant sales, only necessity supplies for existing pets. Hoping that doesn’t apply to their poor bettas that are always sitting in their little cups.

My LFS pretty much sucks. They let you come in and pick out whatever but they’re super unhelpful at best, rude at worst. I called and asked if I could get some “pest” pond snails to see if they would eat the hydra in my tank. First the guy Dave on the phone never heard of hydra, and then said sure come on over for the snails. So I drive 20 mins to the store, and I get there and ask for Dave and they say he’s left for the day. I asked about the pond snails and they said, “Oh we don’t have any of those.” There were like five employees standing around me, looking borderline hostile. So I left without snails and without meeting Dave.

I wish there was another LFS near me, haven’t found any yet though.
 
Yes. Actually it was Bluefish. My aunt loves the place and I've heard so many good things, so I tried it out. I've had 3 bad experiences. I plan to go back after quarantine/covids over to see if it was just poor service due to that
If I’m correct FishGirl115 ’s LFS is blue fish aquarium, and if so you are getting the complete and utterly wrong idea. Bluefish is one of the best LFS in the midwest, and StarGirl15 can vouch for that. Corvus Oscen did a tour thru it.
Click to expand...
 
I was curious; is the procedure the same? How do you pick the fish you want while maintaining social distancing? I really want some of Petsmart’s beautiful platies, and the prices are better in store than in places online. Additionally, you can pick the gender in store, and I want males.
Click to expand...

I went to Petco a few days ago to pick up a plant. It was just me and a few other teenagers on a Tuesday afternoon. The fish guy just got the plant I wanted and gave it to me. All the employees had masks, but other than that they didn’t seem to be too concerned about the social distancing. I would just go midweek if possible, when the stores are pretty empty.
 
If I’m correct FishGirl115 ’s LFS is blue fish aquarium, and if so you are getting the complete and utterly wrong idea. Bluefish is one of the best LFS in the midwest, and StarGirl15 can vouch for that. Corvus Oscen did a tour thru it.
Click to expand...
Oh well, I'm just getting my info from what I'm being offered. I didn't know her store and I don't know who this Corvus is. All I know is the store isn't letting them pick healthy fish
 
Recently walked by the fish tanks on my way to pick up some dog food at Petco and nearly every tank was empty. Not sure if there's a supply issue or if they don't want people hanging around looking at non-essential items. Maybe it varies from one store to the next.
Click to expand...
Petco has been unable to order fish for the past couple months due to corporate decree (? oversight? not sure what to exact call it, corporate wouldn't let the stores order fish, they allowed small animal and bird orders about two or three weeks after they stopped orders, mainly for "food" animals like mice and rats - they still allowed common/comet goldfish and rosy red minnows to come in as those are considered "food" as well). Bettas were unable to be ordered and none were being sent automatically by suppliers. So everything at my local petco pretty much was wiped out, recently got a new group of fairly healthy looking bettas in.

On another note Petco can now order live fish and plants again (plants were also suspended). It likely is the same for Petsmart.
Petco employees have a mandatory mask wearing policy currently.

On a second note, people are doing a lot more fish tank and just buying so many pets? I wonder what will happen to those pets when everything opens back up and they are back at work and their kids are back at school.
 
I was curious; is the procedure the same? How do you pick the fish you want while maintaining social distancing? I really want some of Petsmart’s beautiful platies, and the prices are better in store than in places online. Additionally, you can pick the gender in store, and I want males.
Click to expand...
Yep, everything is the same. I just got platies today from Petsmart
 
I work at a big box petstore, and let me tell you, it's pure heck.

Record sales at the total expense of the employees' health and sanity.

Social distancing is a lie made up by the government.

Kill meee....ead:
 
While being locked inside the house, I occupied my spare time by rearranging my 5 gallon. Then I bought ember tetras. Now my MTS is kicking in and I'm trying to avoid wasting my savings
 

Random Great Topic!

Add Plants Before Fish Or After?
Add Plants Before Fish Or After?

Today's Deals


Amazon Daily Aquatic Deals

Amazon Aquatic Coupons


Advertisement



Advertisement








Advertisement




Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005!

Fish Lore is an amazon affiliate and some pages may contain links to aquarium related products on amazon: Affiliate Disclosure

Aquarium forum statistics

Threads
427,391
Messages
4,714,452
Members
127,556
Back
Top Bottom