I'm not happy with PEts at home.. North Wales

Where I live (close to Wrexham, north wales), I feel rather limited in where I can buy stuff.

I can only buy filters for my Mirabello aquarium at the Grosvenor Garden Centre (nice, healthy looking tanks, a bit far) or Pets at Home in Plas Coch (Very close, but lots of dead fish, slow service even by British standard).

Yesterday, decided to go to Plas coch to get me a "top-up" in tetras.

Saw a tank with no dead fish, so thought, there's where I'm going to get mine and asked for 2 cardinals and 3 rummy noses.

At first, the person starts madly chasing the fish for at least 5 minutes, making the aquarium looking all messy and all whilst I'm thinking he's going to give these things a heart attack!

He gets bored so asks another colleague to get them.

She opens the aquarium closest to her (a different one) fills a bag with that water then after another 10 minutes (I told her to quit on the cardinals that we couldn't see anymore anyways and just get me 3 rummies) she takes the fish and puts them into this water from another aquarium. by that time I think to myself that these little fishies don't have a chance in **** and today, we already have a casualty.



I'm never buying fish there again, even if it means driving off 20 more minutes!!

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

In fact, I'm going to Bridgemere now.

Nice fish place there. almost an hour drive, but at least I know they treat the fish better!
>

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

In fact, I'm going to Bridgemere now.

Nice fish place there. almost an hour drive, but at least I know they treat the fish better!
>

but would the fish live for an hour in the bag?

Peace Out Callum!

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I don't know how close this is to you I think its quite close but in my experience maidenhead aquatics are great for fish

Bold Heath
Wyevale Garden Centre, Mill Lane,Bold Heath,Widnes,WA8 3UU

Less than five minutes from the M62, this store is located to the west of Warrington on the A57?

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I don't know how close this is to you I think its quite close but in my experience maidenhead aquatics are great for fish

Bold Heath
Wyevale Garden Centre, Mill Lane,Bold Heath,Widnes,WA8 3UU

Less than five minutes from the M62, this store is located to the west of Warrington on the A57?

Thanks but that actually IS an hour away.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

what are they thinking at that shop?! sounds like nothing much. I don't blame you for going to a different shop and the fish should be alright with a 1-hr journey, we've done that. On future trips, perhaps you could do what we did - take a cooler with crumpled newspaper (or hand towels better yet) in it, then you can 'cushion' the fish on the journey home as well as protect them from sunlight or A/C vents and I think they're calmer that way in the dark or near dark if we leave the cooler lid open just a little bit.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

sounds a good idea


We bought 3 more tetras and 2 corys and a plant and I think that will be it for us until we get another aquarium!

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I think Pets at Home are just rubbish anyway! I have 2 by me and I'm never getting fish from there again. Theres always dead fish in there and they are labled wrong. :-\ I don't think they care much about the fish.

Gwenz

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

HI Deus, I have an hour and half drive home from my LFS, and never do have any problems. I put their bag in a box which keeps them upright, and out of drafts, just make sure the store understands you have a long drive home and ask them to allow a little more air room in the bag.

I have brought fish from as far away as Fairbanks, which is 5 hour drive, and never lost one! It makes all the difference if the store cares, and gives you healthy fish and good care.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I have a Pets at Home near me too, and they seem the same... I've bought fish from them a few times before, and not one has survived for more than two weeks. One didn't even survive the ten minute drive home

The people there are hardly ever helpful and don't care about the fish, whether they're dead or alive. They cram so many into one tiny tank with no light, plants or food, it's no wonder they can't keep up with all the dead ones


By the way I'm new here, so... hI

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Welcome on board, Purple_Phoenix. Sounds like you have quite a crew there! I hope you can find a LFS that does care more. I usually don't have any problems with the fish I buy. Things always happen though. Right now I am having a terrible time with a lovely large 8" bala shark.
I had transferred him over from my 55 gal tank to a new 125 gal tank, he and another bala really did need the room. Well the process of catching and moving, stressed him out so much, and probably damaged his slime coat, well......he now has a patch of fungus, and one cloudy eye. THIS is where my LFS is a problem. I had some medication to treat it, used all I had, then drove the 160 mile round trip to try to get more of the same medication, which was working fine, just to find they were out. So I got other medication, and have been using it now for 3 days, and the cloudy eye is back.....with still no way to get the right medicine. :'(

Hope you enjoy the forum, and find lots to join in on. This really is a friendly crowd of fish nuts.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I ship fish and it sometimes takes 48-72 hours for them to arrive.

As long as they move along like they are supposed to, everything works out fine.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Wow... 160 miles for the wrong medication. I'm not a huge fan of buying over the internet, but I would if it saved going that far. I hope it clears up soon. I'm having trouble with a cory cat with a fungal infection, which looks as though he's growing a third eye :-\

I did find a decent-looking site which ships fish, but postage is (inevitably) very expensive. It would be worth it if you were planning on buying lots, not just one or two fish. The stores round here tend to stick to neons, mollies, guppies and an awful lot of goldfish, so I might have to give it a go someday.

Everyone's so friendly here

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I agree ordering on line is a good option, and I do it, but not if I need it ASAP, because we live in a rural area. Fed EX won't even deliver here, UPS will but they only come out one time a week. This means if I order it say Tuesday, it won't be in at a time to catch the same week Friday delivery, so it will be another whole week before it gets here.....I will call into Anchorage, which is a 240 mI round trip and see if they have it.....I may make one more trip, cause my two balas are a great part of my tank, and I just can't give up and watch him go down.....

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I too have an hour and a half drive to get to a descent LFS. We have a small shop here but they are quite pricey. As a result I've taken to buying online in bulk when I can. In fact 90% of my setup equipment were online purchases. (tanks are from PetCo...... My PetCo is OK). The only thing live I've ordered are snails. They arrived 100% A.OK. I make the trek for food mostly .......... and to wish, plot and plan. ;D

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

That plotting and planning IS the best part. I had my tank all designed 6 months before it actually got put together. I am very happy with my choises, and on line I saved huge $$$ over buying things locally like the 2028 Eheim filter. That, by the way was over $200 cheaper on just that one item! You have to add in shipping, so in reality it is still less, but maybe not as much as I let on.....

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I love the 'planning' part too... I just end up doing more of the 'wishing' most of the time. If I can get a new filter, I'd be able to get fish for my other tank, though. Or an axolotl. Now that's wishful thinking.
I'm not sure I trust shipping live fish... Might have to try and see.

I'm having a panic with my fighter fish, and pets at home don't open till tomorrow >

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

here we don't call them fighting fish we call them bettas

Peace Out Callum!

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Sorry... I'm having a panic with my betta, and pets at home don't open until tomorrow.

I've always known them as fighter fish.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I did but that ok I used to aswell but now I think its just encouraging to call them siamese fighting fish

Peace Out Callum!

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Sorry... I'm having a panic with my betta, and pets at home don't open until tomorrow.

.

What problems are you having with your fish? You got me off on a tangent, I'd never heard of an axolotl before. Why would you want those? Just curious, since I'd never seen them before, I'd like to know, and are they hard to find?

What size tank do you need a filter for? I spent many hours day dreaming of just what I wanted to get for my new tank, but when it came right down to it, I got what the store had. Not the best way to do it, but by doing all that research ahead of time, I at least knew what I was getting, and how it would fit in.
I think if you can get regular express mail like overnight FED EX, or UPS it would be worth a try to have them shipped. Where I live they won't do that. If I have them shipped I'd have them come to a friends house in Wasilla, the town my LFS is in (160mI round trip), then I'd just drive down and pick them up. Most reputable places will pack them with air pellets, and something to absorb ammonia. Then just be very careful of acclimating them to your water.

Hope your fish is ok. By the by does it have a name?

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I'm having problems settling in a red-tailed shark that I have. He was pretty calm at first, but now he owns the whole tank, and he didn't take a liking to my betta. I turned on the light in the morning and searched for him, only to find him stuck in a plant, facing downwards with.. no fins. At all. Just his poor little body floating about :'(

I suspect it was the shark. He was poking him about until I stuck my hand in and got him out.

Shark's called Jaws and Betta was called Marble.


My other tank's just under 10 gallons. It's not a tropical one, but I have an extra light and pump. I'm excited about an advert I've seen for a fairly cheap six foot one, though.
Let's see... Axolotls...

They're gorgeous! I can't find any pictures that do them justice. I like the white ones best, but I probably won't be able to get one now. Still, I think a six foot tank may be able to compensate.

I think I'm going to leave the internet ordering for now. I'm happy flicking through the local 'Trade-it' and searching out fish from there. At least then I can see them before I buy them. I did find a good site for aquarium plants, though. You can't guarantee which ones you get, but ?6 for 50, you can't go wrong! (?6 = about 12 or 13$US)


Hopefully I'll be able to get another betta

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Let's see... Axolotls...

They're gorgeous! I can't find any pictures that do them justice. I like the white ones best, but I probably won't be able to get one now. Still, I think a six foot tank may be able to compensate.

Ah, I know those as water dogs. Probably just a local thing. I knew someone who had one. They are pretty cool, I don't know about "gorgeous" though lol. I always thought he was kinda funny looking. Oh well, you know what they say about the eye of the beholder.

Sorry to hear about your Betta. I had an albino red tail shark. He always chased others out of his area, but never really attacked anyone. Any time I had fish die, I always found him munching on the deceased.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I don't know how close this is to you I think its quite close but in my experience maidenhead aquatics are great for fish

Bold Heath
Wyevale Garden Centre, Mill Lane,Bold Heath,Widnes,WA8 3UU

Less than five minutes from the M62, this store is located to the west of Warrington on the A57?

One of the members of loachesonline.com works at Maiden head aquatics in peterborough(hope I spelled it right). Is that the one you went to?
carol

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I would go for the 6 foot tank! The bigger the better for keeping water conditions good. The filters and lights can be expensive for that size however. Like I said, online is best!

So sorry about your betta, I have read that red tailed sharks can be agressive, but you said you had 2 bettas, were they both in the same tank? I know silly question, but......

I have 2 bala sharks, which are lovely and peaceful in a community tank. I've had them in with cardinal tetras for months, as well as all sorts of other community tank mates, and no problems.

It makes me furious when I have an aggressive fish. The only one that ever got me to the boiling point however was a Chinease Algae Eater.......RIP I wouldn't just assume because your RT was pushing the betta around that it was the one that did the deed! Fish are a bit like chickens, once one is shown to be hurt in anyway, all the fish in the tank will take turns....... :'(

If you get a filter on the 10 that would be a lovely home for a betta.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I would like to think that it wasn't the shark, but all the other fish I have are very peaceful. The water conditions are fine, apart from the pH going slightly higher than normal (unclear why, really) but this wasn't enough to kill it. And the other fish were completely unaffected. Hmm...

I did phone up about the 6 foot tank, but whoever placed the ad gave them the wrong number
It does come with all the stuff though, so I only need to worry about the cost of new filters and lights if and when I need to replace them. It also said that they had a couple of fish that the buyer can have, so I assume there's plants and gravel and whatnot.

I'm getting some aquarium plants (Well actually, loads) because they're cheap and will keep me in good supply. So if anything, my 10 gallon will be used to house and grow those before I put them in my aquarium.

Gozer: Come on, you have to admit they are cute. Did you never notice how they always seem to be smiling at you? Did your friend have a white one? They have to be the best
Anywho... 10 gallon's now for plants, 6 foot (if and when) for fish. So... no Axolotl/Water dog for me.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Yeah Purple_phoenix it was white. I will give you the cuteness. They do have a certain......... Je ne sais quoi.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

No more axolotls left :'(
Still... It means I can't be tempted to buy one

You can call me Laura. Or whatever. I don't mind... stick with Purple_phoenix if you really have to

The people with the six foot tank finally changed the advert, and we rang up today. May be a slight problem with the fact that it's going upstairs and weighs at least 10 of me once it's filled up. My dad won't be happy...
I'll let you know if it all goes ahead though, and be sure to post some pics of it

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

6 foot, is it 125 gal? With rock, and water it could weigh close to 1500 lbs, that can put a lot of stress on a floor, and might need special support. They are very nice however, and now that I have one set up, I highly recommend getting one this size. The fish love the room. I have 2 bala sharks that had been in a 55. They are happier in the bigger tank. They just cruse back and forth, and spend lots of time looking on the bottom for food. A tank that size also takes a couple of men to move, they are heavy.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

We've thought about these things... The weight seems to be the only issue still standing. My floor is extremely strong, though! And it's not an old house... I tend to use bogwood rather than rocks, and lots of plants, so that should take at least a little weight off. It's 150 UK gallons... I know US are slightly more, but I'm not sure by how much exactly

There will be four people there when we go to pick it up, and.. well, up to about 10 here!

Yeah, my fish would have a field day in the big tank!
I don't know if you saw a forum post about clown loaches and how big they can get... but on reading it, I've realised I'll have to move mine. Silly me for believing the people at pets at home : .There are a few fish that come with the tank, so it will have to depend on that really - I might not change it round much, I might move all of them around.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Okay, I was just putting my shoes on this morning to go pick this tank up. The people are expecting us there in an hour. My dad comes down and gets stressy and says that he's decided now that I CAN'T have this tank. I was literally going out the door. At least if he had said 'no' in the first place, I wouldn't have got my hopes up about it...

Still.. I spent about 10 hours playing round with my old one today. Separated out the different colours in my rainbow gravel, and made a pattern out of it. And, before you think I've totally lost it, I took some pictures and am going to use them for my metamorphosis art project. Yup... it didn't take long for the fish to mess my work up once they'd started.

I'm going to put them on here sometime, so keep a look out in my sig.

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

I am so sorry to hear you can't get the big tank. You have showed extreme restraint and adult attitude in this. I have the utmost admiration for young adults that still respect their parents enough to defer to their wishes, even when it seems unfair.

My hope is that your father would do some reading of this forum, and he might still reconsider. A large tank is so much easier and healthier for the fish. My comment about the weight was only meant to forwarn, not deter your getting it. First you can check out the weight bearing capacity for the floor joists , size and spacing.....Take this info to your local lumber yard, they should be able to tell you the lbs. / square inch, the floor can hold.....Then you would see if it will be safe.

Fish in the Frozen North

 

Re: I'm not happy with PEts at home..

Hehe... wow, I don't know what to say now. I've learned by now that when my dad says 'no', he means it. There's no saying I didn't challenge him about it, but I knew I wasn't going to win.

I was really excited about getting the tank, but I can see his point. It wasn't because you said about the weight - it was the first thing my dad thought of when I first asked him.

We did consider putting in floor strengths or getting someone in who knows a little more than us, but it's too much hassle, apparently. As for the local lumber yard... I don't know at all where one is, so chances are the closest one won't be anywhere near here. I'll see if I can find someone/thing on the internet.

Still, if not I will have to wait until I have my own place, then I can have as many fish as will fit.

 

i've got to agree! I have 2 pets at home stores near me (wakefield and colton) and both are hopeless full of diseased fish for sale. however, the wakefield store has had a re-fit and have loads of display tanks which look fantastic, and the fish looked good last time I went....maybe they've recently hired staff that actually know a thing or 2 about fish? I still wouldnt risk buying anything from there though! I just go to entertain the kids! they won't let me walk past without going in to have a look! my favourite shop is same distance away, but not part of a franchise and have staff that KNOW about fish, its half the price of pets at home AND the fish are healthy and live AND there's more variety. ("paws for thought" in leeds if anyone lives in yorkshire?)