Expanding on the hobby

[Tempestuousfury]

What is the cheapest way to get new fish and tanks? I would have put this in "buy and sell," but I thought it'd be better here for some reason.... The cheapest place I know of is Walmart, but they aren't the most reliable (and they don't sell for much cheaper than other stores). I have yet to try a few smaller pet store however... Is there a store in the Chicagoland area that you guys'd consider cheap. I'm trying to get a job to support my hobby (but primarily for college), but so far, the best I can do is use my meager allowance of $5 a week. Any suggestions besides the internet ( I don't want to risk damage during shipping, defects, scammers, etc, etc.)

In short, what's the cheapest way to get new fish and tanks?

 

[FanOFish]

Walmart is a good place for tanks, supplies, etc. Prices are hard to beat but I would find look around before buying any fish. If you are in a large city you should have several to check out.

Look to see if their tanks are clean and free of dead fish, ask the people helping you what kind of tank they have at home. After a couple questions and a visit to several shops you will know where to buy your fish.

 

[rsz]

look in the bit in your local newspaper, sometimes you can get them cheap out of that

 

[pondfreak4365]

I love to shop garage sales. Sometimes you can find nice complete setups cheap!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Unfortunately, it's too cold for people to hold garage sales now, . I was planning on looking for an aquarium at a garage sale earlier, but didn't find one. My stepmom brouhgt home a very small, portable one, but that need aeration.
Thanks for the tip, though.

 

[lizard]

Before I was as "into" the aquarium hobby as I am now, my mom and I were at a rummage sale that had an aquarium and "stuff" at it. For some reason, I opted not to get it. I'm kicking myself for that now. It was only about two months ago...

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[Tolak]

Hey there t.fury, I'm om the s.w. side ( Evergreen Park). Check out http/www.gwasoc.crosswinds.net/ If you look in the classified section there is a gentleman selling 10 & 20 gal. tanks. I bought an old 60 gal jewel tank from him a few weeks ago that I am slowly in the process of rehabbing. He lives in Elmhurst and I believe he stores some of the tanks in Berwyn. He's a really nice older guy with a ton of tanks, some may need a little cleaning up though. E-mail him, he got back to me in less than half a day.

I'm not too familiar with the northern suburbs, but out this way there's a place on 144th. & Cicero called Animal Island that sells a lot of tanks, their number is 708-293-0600.

Try the Trading Times that comes out every Thursday, it can be found at some convience stores, although a lot of what they've had lately is larger tanks.

Swap-o-rama flea market sometimes has stuff, but that's kind of hit and miss.

Hope some of this info helps!

Tolak

 

[carppy]

yeah watch your local newspaper want ads, go to the private aquarium shops and see if there's a local aquarium society, because they have auctions n stuff, I boutgh my 40 gallon, fully equipped(no stand)and with fish for $30 canadian, I bought my 60gallon for 40 with some equipment, and I just bought my 100gallon fully equipped with cabinet style stand for $250. Even keep an eye in the pawn shops, and traders, swap meets, and flea markets.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

That sounds good. There's a place near my town that sells animals ranging from reptiles to mice to fish. I could try there, maybe they have tanks as well...

Tolak, I went to the site and found the page with the things for sale. It says 10 and 20 gallons for $10 and up, but doesn't mention if it's fully equipped or not. I'll keep looking and check the site again...

 

[guppymonkey]

If you are just looking for cheap tanks (and not for fish to occupy them) Walmart should work. They have pretty cheap prices even if they don't know anything about how to keep fish alive (never buy fish there). I wish I had room for dozens of tanks, they don't cost that much for ten gallon tanks. I have seen them at PetsMart for ten dollars (just the tank though).

 

[Tempestuousfury]

My funds are extremely low and won't be going up anytime soon. If I do get money, I'm planning on buying a guinea pig. I bought both tanks from Walmart, and with the gravel, plants, and fish the cost was around $80. If it was around $40, I wouldn't mind, but $80 is far, far too steep now.