Boston shops

[xbanditsx]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as any. Does anyone know of any good shops in the Boston area?

 

[Nina7777]

Yes....its not exactly in boston but its pretty close. Its in Framingham called Tropical Isle. Right off of the Mass Pike on Rt. 9.

Haven't found any place better. they have a HUGE selection of both saltwater and Freshwater and their store employees are very good.

 

[xbanditsx]

I don't have a car, so I'm looking for something that I can get to on the T. Is there a stop nearby?

 

[Nina7777]

Hey...I checked it out online and there is a stop in both Natick and Framingham. I'm not sure exactly which one you would get off, but I don't think it would be that far from the stop. Do you know where the natick Mall is? Its practically right across the street from that.

For the T schedule you can go to www.mbta.com or click here:
"T"

It would probably be best to take the T to natick, and catch a bus from there.

 

[sinistral]

There was a thread about this some time ago...not sure what it is about Boston

I usually go to Skipton's which is across the street from Boston Medical Center in Roxbury. You can get there via the Orange Line to the Number 1 bus. Or the number 8 bus to South Bay, I believe.

There's also a petstore at the Stop and Shop mall in West Roxbury along the VFW Parkway called Pet Supplies Plus. Not a great selection of fish, but they sell supplies including food, medications, tank decor, and tank setups. Prices tend to be more reasonable than Skipton's. Depending on where you are located you can take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and then the Number 36 bus to the West Roxbury VA Hospital and then walk 10 minutes up the VFW to the store.

If you are closer to Chinatown/New England Medical Center you could always try Aqua World which is this semi-awful looking petstore buried deep in Chinatown. They sell a lot of koi and goldfish. Strangely, it appears that the store is half a fish store and half a dvd/vcd/cd media store for singers and artists from Hong Kong. Very weird. I've never bought from them so I can't vouch for their quality (either for the fish or the dvds). Chinatown of course is again accessible by the Orange Line (or the Red Line, or the Blue Line, if you don't mind walking a little bit). Or you could take the Silver Line there too.

Finally, I bought some fish at the Petco in Cambridge right near the Cambridge Side Galleria on First Street. Not bad for a large chain. You can get there via the Green Line if you get off at Lechmere and walk down First Street.

There are a few stores outside of the Boston area itself that I go to whenever I have access to a car, but you had specified T accessible, so I won't go into those. HTH~

 

[Angelbettas]

I live in the western suburbs of Boston and there are a couple other shops that are worth mentioning. First, there is Uncle Ned's Fish Factory in Millis. I've gotten some beautiful fish....and plants from them. I've also taken in young platies and guppies when my tanks became over-crowded, and received store credit. I know other fish they carry are from local breeders.

Another neat place is All Things Fishy in Marlboro. Although they badly need to straighten up their shop, they carry more unusual freshwater fish. Recently, I've bought 2 Sparkling Gourami, 4 Glowlight Danios (Danio choprae) and an Apistogamma panduro. It's worth the effort to check out their tanks to find something new and different! They also buy from local breeders.

I know these suggestions won't be helpful for the person without a car, but I like the idea of sharing experiences with other fishy friends! Any other New Englanders with good store suggestions?

 

[Nina7777]

Hey there Angel Betta! I've been to Uncle Ned's its about 10 minutes from where I work in Milford. I like to buy live brine shrimp from them.

Never been to the store in Marlboro, but I definately wanna go there now! We play golf in Berlin alot so I'm gonna try and talk my boyfriend to go there!

 

[xbanditsx]

I spent a few hours walking around Boston yesterday and found that shop in China Town. There were a whole lot of dead fish in the tanks and the rest didn't look all that happy. Otherwise, the only shop that I've found is one on Harvard Ave. It wasn't too bad, but I don't know that it's anything spectacular. Anyone have a comment on this store?

 

[Nina7777]

I spent a few hours walking around Boston yesterday and found that shop in China Town. There were a whole lot of dead fish in the tanks and the rest didn't look all that happy. Otherwise, the only shop that I've found is one on Harvard Ave. It wasn't too bad, but I don't know that it's anything spectacular. Anyone have a comment on this store?

Hi- I've been there once. I got a few mollies from them a few years back. They were alright for a day or two but then came down with a nasty case of ich, and i hadn't had ick in my tank for four years before then. Also the person who sold them to me, said i could put 12 of them in my 10 gallon.

So i don't know how trust worthy they are. but then again i haven't been there in awhile.

 

[sinistral]

Which fish store is on Harvard Ave? I hope it isn't one that I mentioned! That would mean I'm losing my mind.

Sorry to hear about your experience with the store in Chinatown. The other time I went there recently I saw a whole bunch of fish devouring a dead fish in one tank. I was hopeful that might be an aberration, but apparently not...

 

[xbanditsx]

It's called The Pet Shop or something like that. If you take the Green Line (outbound) to the Harvard Ave. stop and take a right, it's a block or so on your left.

 

[sinistral]

Thanks for the reply, I'll have to check that out soon!

 

[mooga]

you should try to get to "pj's pets" in saugas. It is behind the square one mall on rt.1. they have a large assortment of freshwater fish and some saltwater too. not only do they have the run of mill types but the oddballs too. it is probably the best pet store as far as well kept animals that i have seen. definately a place to checkout.