So you've decided that an aquarium is for you but you seem a little unsure about which store to visit? Do I try a specialized store and pay top-dollar for my fish and supplies? Or do I go to one of the many large franchised retail stores? What about shopping on the Web? Thrift or Garage sales? What will be best for me? Well read on and perhaps this page can help clear up the confusion ( or maybe make it worse.)
EQUIPMENT:
I do love to shop and call around on the best prices for my tanks, filters, gravel, decorations, lighting and just about everything else that is NOT a living animal. Some of the larger stores ( i.e. PetSmart, PetCo, Walmart) can have some better prices on "Items" vs. the specialty store, however they all tend to carry the same stuff and if you are looking for that unique item, you may have to rely on your specialty store.
If you are a thrift minded buyer, garage sales and auctions are a super source of decent equipment, just remember these entail a lot more searching and a lot more initial cleaning than the store bought items. But taking the family out and searching can be great fun!
Buying over the web can be convenient however you never know what you are getting exactly until it reaches your doorstep, plus most of these entail a handling and shipping charges that brings the prices back up to those of your local pet store. Purchasing disposable items (i.e. filters, bulbs, chemicals and sometimes dried foods) can be found on the web however at sometimes a great savings and web shopping can save you some money as well as time since you can shop virtually 24 hours a day and have your supplies shipped directly to your house every month.
FOOD:
Depending on what food you use in your tank and how much you go through in a given time will pretty much determine the best way to buy your food.
Frozen Foods should always be bought locally at your specialty shop since larger chains and deliveries through the mail can sometimes results in receiving food that has been thawed and refrozen. Bacteria will grow in this state and kill your fish ( I know from personal experience, trust me on this one.)
Flake/Pellets can be purchased from any source, whether you are looking for best price, or have a loyalty to your pet store. I prefer my specialty store since I am there so much anyhow, its just a convenience factor for me.
And now for the big one...
FISH: Where should I get them?
Over the web?, a big risk, you pay for shipping but you never see the fish until they get to you, and a lot of these die in transport or soon after. At a large chain store? Perhaps but look at what kind of tank setup they have first, many of these department stores "Daisy-Chain" all their filtration systems to help cut costs. The problem with this is if a single fish in any of the tanks has a parasite or disease, then good bet is that ALL the tanks and fish are contaminated.
Look for separate filter systems on each tank, most common is under gravel/lift tube filtration. To be able to tell the difference between daisy chain and separate filtration systems look at the tanks for where/if water comes into the tank and leaves. If you see a couple of small jets attached to the top of a tank with a dense colored background, that you cannot see through, chances are this is a daisy-chain system.
If on the other hand you see lift tubes ( a lift tube is a clear plastic tube that appears to be stuck down in the gravel base of a tank, usually located in the back corners of a tank. ) with working air bubbles coming from the bottom of the tube and exiting out the top, this is more than likely a separate system. You can always ask to see their set up and filters, if they won't show you, find another store.
Specialty stores are usually the best for purchasing fish, maybe 10 or 20% higher cost than the larger stores but they definitely have a healthier stock of fish and will usually go out of their way to locate that special fish for you. I can not tell you how many times my local specialty store has gone out of their way to acquire a particular fish that I really needed to make that special addition to my tank. Besides, if that fish I saved a dollar on ends up causing health concerns for my other fish, and I have to treat them or worse yet, replace them all. Did I really save anything? Think about it.
GREAT STORES TO VISIT:
Just a couple of my favorite pet stores here in Washington State.
COUNTRY PET SHOPPE, Thrifty Shopping Center, Kingston, WA. 360-297-4165
Great friendly store, not tons in stock but they more than make up for it in the ability to get those special orders filled for me. Talk with Mark or Stephanie and find out for yourself what a gem of a store this is.
( and as a side note, this place has the cleanest tanks in the state! They really take care of their fish! ) Proud to be an AquaBabies Boycott supporter!
FARMLAND PETS & FEED 9000 Silverdale Way, Silverdale Wa. 360-692-0415
Pretty crowded store but a great selection of fish and supplies and they usually have those hard to find fish in stock! Besides can any true Fish Nut ever complain about there being too much stuff in a fish store?
The PET ZONE Hwy. 99 & 200th ST. SW. Lynnwood, Wa. 425-673-7772
Brand new owner, kind enough to let me take some photos of her fish for this page. Many fresh and saltwater fish to choose from. You got to check out her African Cichlids, many rare ones! Ask for Debbie, she's great.
And now those that have been submitted by other visitors, is yours here?
THE FISH PLACE 1321 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80503 (303) 776-3152
The fish are very healthy, and they can help with some great advice and available products. Ask for Connie Hilgers or one of her great staff members!
RMS AQUACULTURE 4 stores in the Cleveland Ohio area. 4927 Robinhood Dr. Willoughby, Ohio (440) 975-9090 15151 Pearl Rd. Strongsville, Ohio (440) 572-3474 7484 Broadview Rd. Parma, Ohio (216) 901-8188 6629 Engle Rd. Middleburg Heights, Ohio (216) 433-1340
These people care and will really go out of their way to help you, ask for April!
WALLY AQUARIUM 6493 Little River Turnpike Alexandria Virginia 22313 (703) 354-3399
Nearly 90% of the store is dedicated to us fish "nutz", lots of stock and selections available, check em' out! Ask for Kevin, he will be happy to help you with your fish.
Mr. Pet's Canada, British Columbia Maple Ridge 22778 Lougheed Hwy. V2X 2V6 (Across from Valley Fair Mall) (604)467-6252
A great store in western Canada, even has a currency converter right on their website!
Talk with Greg or one of his fine staff members to get the best prices in B.C. for your fish and other supplies. Proud to be an AquaBabies Boycott supporter!
If you have a favorite, in Washington State or not, let me know and I will gladly list them here for you!
Now on the lighter side from DaFishDude's Club Members!! Top Ten Ways to Tell If You Just Entered A Really Bad Fish Store...
#10.) When even the plastic plants can't survive in the tanks!
#9.) When all the tanks filters are "Daisy-Chained " together!
#8.) When the fish jump out of the tanks on their own!
#7.) When the store has to meet EPA Standards for Oil Slick Containment for their tanks!
#6.) When the tanks have more trash than the back seat of a teenagers car!
#5.) When the clerk says "No, Sir, those aren't dead, they're supposed to float that way"!
#4.) When don't need the yellow pages, you simply follow your nose!
#3.) When the clerk uses a Po-Peel Pocket Fisherman instead of a net to get you your fish!
#2.) When the clerk sells you a piranha as a good community fish for your award winning guppy tank!
And the number one winning entry into the "You know you have walked into a really bad fish store when...... The in-store Sushi Bar has been closed by the Health Department due to "undisclosed" reasons!
