UK Fish Store Directory

[Kesaph]

few for Yorlshire

Living Death.... sorry world
armley, leeds, yorkshire

my geographical LFS.... Don't shop there tho!
Variety - 7, they do seem to have some nice species in there, quite a good selection but....
Quality - 0, wouldn't even give them a 1, they stock dyed fish and there's dead/diseased fish in virtually every tank, saw a tank with every single fish in it dead and no one had done anything, they'll quite happily sell anyone anythinhg, regardless if they're set up is suitable etc,
Service - 2, there's the odd person there who knows a bit but mostly staffed with teenage chav's who don't know/care about fish.

I only go there if I need some food/equipment in an emergency and can't get to any of the other shops a bit further away, took Ian round there to show him the fish cos one of his mates had said they're quite a good shop, wanted him to see for himself what I meant. We were both practically silent when we came out, it's really upsetting to see fish in such awful conditions.

Totally agree - I wouldn't darken their door unless it was with a bulldozer behind me!

now on to better ones!!

Tong Garden Centre
tong rd, just outside leeds, yorkshire
http/www.tonggardencentre.com/

Variety - 6, just standard stuff mostly but occasionaly have nicer stuff in, good if your just after some bread and butter stuff
Quality - 8, occasionaly spot dead fish but not v often, tanks are generally clean and fish stocking levels seem reasonable
Service - 6, really depends who you get, theres an older bloke and a young lass there who really know they're stuff, I try and ask them if I can, but they do have a few young lads there who haven't got a clue.

Generally OK, if you just want some 'normal' platys/tetra's/guppies etc then your fine, not a lot of point going if your after something a bit more specialist though as it's unlikely they'll have it.

Not got here yet. Might check it out this wknd

paws for thought (think that's what it's called!)
york rd, leeds, yorkshire

just found this one but first impressions are good
Variety - 8 had some nice fancy plecs which always impresses me! had a small but nice looking marine section, had flame angels which are just my favourite fish ever so that kept me smiling!
Quality - 8 we went in first thing in the morning (literally got there 5 mins before they opened so waited around to be let in when they were opening up) and there were a couple of dead fish in some tanks... but the bloke there was going roudn taking water samples from tanks to do tests and all dead fish were removed and tanks looking good when we went back a couple of hrs later that day
Service - 10 excellent, I was really impressed with the bloke there, they had a tank labeled as having a gold nugget plec but I couldn't see it so asked if it had been sold, he said yes it had but said if you like fancy plecs have a look at these and showed me some other really nice ones, ended up getting a lovely big fat royal for £30. Fair enough he was trying to get a sale but he did seem to know what he was on about and I asked about it's suitability with tank mates/sizes etc and he answered honestly.

I'll definately be going back there next week when my next tank needs stocking, will update my listings when I've been a few times and got a better idea.

This is my LFS. That is indeed the name.
I would agree with all the ratings apart from the staff one - and would go up a little on that.
They're really knowledgable when you ask pointed questions.

They have a satellite shop in Cross Gates which has a much smaller selection, one or two more dead fish, and an even more enthusiastic sales guy!

There's a FS in Leeds centre (can't remember the name), but it's small

Variety - 5 - too small to cater for more taste -no marine
Quality - 7 - never see dead fish and the tanks are never too full, though the shop itself is very cramped and a tad dirty. Is a little pricier than "Paws for Thought", but then as they're bigger stockists maybe they get things cheaper?
Staff - 7 - the old guy there seems to know what he's talking about.


Any more decent FS around the Leeds area?

 

[samyboy]

friends in soggy homes

birstall leicester, amazing fish shop all the fish i saw were in good heath (amazing array to choose from) very helpful staff and a very busy shop proving there good at what they do

natural world

syston, leicester, plenty there although ive noticed on several occasions they fail to clear out the dead fish in the coldwater section not many staff around and none of them seem like they no anything on the subject

 

[businesslamb]

I had a look round the new Maidenhead aquatics @ Cambridge today and came a way quite impressed

Variety 7 (a good selection of community fish, rift lake chiclids and some nice discus)
Quality 8 (not a dead one to be seen and no sign of disease)
Service 7 (didn't buy any fish but I was impressed as I bought a small tank for a quarantine set up and the guy asked if it was my first tank and was prepared to offer advice on setting up)

I think they are going to give Pet Paks up the road a run for their money

Cheers

Businesslamb

 

[mark.w.jones]

Wet Pets in Romford Essex

Looks like crap from the outside and there's no parking but it's like an aladdins cave once you get through the wooden ceilinged entrance corridor. Great variety both tropical and marine. Most equipment is buried behind the counter though where you can't look at it.

Variety - 9 (loads of different marines espcecially)
Quality - 9 (Clean tanks, hardly ever see dead fish)
Service - Not sure as Ive always known what I want before going in. Mostly older guys working there though. No chavvy teenagers so prbably 8

 

[digitalemotion]

few for oldham/rochdale in lancashire

pets at home

variety - 5-
quality - 1 (never been there yet and saw a tank that didnt have a dead fish in)
service - 1 (only 1 old guy employed there knows anything about fish, had to tell staff on more than one
occasion which were males and which were females, and they keep bettas in tanks with other
fish and also in tanks next to each other constantly)


booths garden center (oldham)

variety - 10 (no marines, but the coldwater/tropical selection is fantastic and they have a few oddballs
every now and then)
quality - 10 (only ever seen 1 dead fish, tanks clean and properly heated)
sevice - 10 (guy who mans the fish section is very knowledgable and makes sure people have the right
set upfor the fish they want to buy)

this is my lfs and the one i use the most, extensive range of tanks and equipment


fish world (oldham)

variety - 10 (an aladins cave with a huge selection of fish coldwater/tropical and marines)
quality - 10 (tanks clean and well heated/filtered, no diseased or dead fish seen and staff constantly
monitoring the fish whilst i was in there)
service - 8 (im only giving 8 cos i havnt yet bought any fish from there but from what i saw the
staff were knowledgable and very friendly)

this seems like the best shop ive come across in my area in terms of stock but of course i havnt had any of thier fish so may update this soon

 

[sammy86]

Abbey Aquatics
Stonham Barnes
Stonham aspal
suffolk

Variety = 8
Quality = 10
Staff = 9

Comments :

Although they dont stock as many varied fish - mostly, guppies, tetras etc there was some interesting fish i had never seen before too.

the tanks are spotless not one dead or ill looking fish - i saw one dead guppy but when i was there i saw the lady remove it - water change and added some treatment!

all the fish were lively colourful and well stocked (big tanks - not overcrowded)

the assistant i spoke to knew what she was talking about - she advised me what to buy and not what to buy - she warned me if fish got too big, or if they were nippy - also when i asked how many corys to buy he insisted they get bought in groups

the shop itself sells a vast amount of tanks/ornaments/food and such...

also the reptiles section is also as impressive.

 

[sammy86]

Felixtowe aquatics
56 Grange Rd, Felixstowe, IP11 2JZ

Small family company - its around the back of 'HAPPI PETS' (furry animals) you have to walk down the side to get to the aquatics

VERY cheap - plastic plants 60p!!! a huge varity of ornaments / treatment / gravel etc..
remarkably cheap tanks (entire tropical setup - something like a 30 gallon around 99 pounds! with stand)
very friendly staff.

medium sized fish room - i found that the tanks looked quite dark and dingy but on closer inspection very clean tanks - however the live plants tank looked nasty. however a wide variation of fish species (this is were i first saw blood parrots!) everything from red claw crabs to discus..

i didnt see any dead fish (i always look for them) all the fish looked happy and bright.

a great system for knowing what to buy - all fish are marked with 'stages' so you know how mature you have to have your tank before you can introduce said fish...

very very cheap fish.. my danios were something like 80p each

i was very impressed - for a small family buisness - the price is the main perk.

Variety = 7
Quality = 7
Staff = 6

 

[sparky_555]

For Pets.
Carlisle street.
East Yorkshire.
Goole nr. Hull

Variety - 8, good for such a small shop
Quality - 9, very clean and well looked after, tanks not too over stocked either, apart from a couple of show tanks.
Staff - 9, good knowledge and not greedy (i once went in for a heater and i asked them which would be suitable, instead of showing me the most expensive one in the shop, they put me to one of the cheapest, and its working really well.)

This is a very trust worthy pet shop, and i have bought most of my supplies from there.

 

[minkymaid]

I've one to add:

Ripples Waterlife at Wyvale Garden Centre, Shenstone near Lichfield, Staffs
variety 7
cleanliness 8
staff 9

and can i add summat about 'The Hollybush' listing - agree about the low mark for the staff, but when i went there i came away upset about a tank full of corys, the majority of which had lost one eye, some both. These fish were still on display and for sale. I can't remember what the tankmates were or if they were likely to have done this. I know it can happen, but i would expect a shop to act quicker or not to mix particular species together. Some of the other fish looked in poor shape too. I wouldn't recommend it!
Happy with my fish from Ripples...
x

 

[sparklefuzz]

Northeast

Fintasia
High Northgate
Darlington

Best one I've found so far. Its not a huge shop, but the fish they have are always in clean tanks with no dead fish. Haven't seen any horrors in any tanks. They have vast knowledge and give you time and attention. This shop is 15 miles away, but I won't buy my fish anywhere else.

Variety - 8
Quality - 10
Staff - 10

Billingham Aquatics Centre
Mill Lane
Billingham

Knowledgable definitely, my Dad swears by them. I found their attitude unimpressive whilst asking about blood parrots, because they don't believe in them. No need to be rude about it though. Friendly and happy to give advice otherwise.

Variety - 7
Quality - 9
Staff - 9

Peter Barratts Garden Centre
Yarm Road
Stockton on Tees

I would actually say that as far as garden centres go, it is pretty good. But they have a colour code system on each tank, green for a peaceful community fish, orange for 'slightly iffy' - my wording, not theirs, and red for aggressive fish. I went there to buy my betta on sunday, as they are literally 2 minutes down the road, and found the betta was coded green. I left. They are also always busy and don't offer or give advice willingly. Also, a few dead fish.

Variety - 6
Quality - 7
Staff - 3

Neatas Aquatics
West Row
Stockton on Tees

Variety is poor for tropicals, good selection of goldfish. Tropicals all very small. So-so for customer service, often a young person helping out, "Neata won't be in till later" type answer. Lots of dead fish. Too many for my liking.

Variety - 5
Quality - 7
Staff - 3

Keithlands Pets
Wilson Street
Middlesbrough

Been around a long time, good selection, happy to give advice, would take it with a pinch of salt though. No entirely convinced. Told me alot of crap about bettas.

Variety - 8
Quality - 8
Staff - 7

EDIT:

Johns Pet Centre
46 Borough Rd
Middlesbrough, TS1 5DW

Just wanted to add a note about this LFS. Haven't been myself, but sister-in-law has had exceptionally bad advice from this place. Advised keeping a female betta with a male for company. Sold her a red tailed shark and silver shark for her 10g tank, along with 1 clown loach, cherry barbs and neons. Use with caution. (and yes, she asked before buying everything.)

 

[Underwurlde]

Christchurch, Dorset Area

Pets At Home
Bailey Bridge
Christchurch

Variety - 8 Huge variety of freshwater tropical fish.
Quality - 8 Clean and no reason to explain 'death' to your kids.
Staff - 4 Polite, but the poor lad who tried his best to help me was way out of his water (no pun).

Cheap t'boot!

Southern Aquatics
Stewart Garden Lands
Southbourne

Variety - 10 Caters for all: Freshwater, tropical, marine and & pond + plants
Quality - 9 Packed with everything you need. (Apart from Arcadia bulbs!).
Staff - 7 Short staffed but knowledgeable - obvious the staff are fish hobbyists too.

Marked down due to:
a.) Usually, no questions asked.
b.) Short staffed on Sundays.
c.) EXPENSIVE

Hope I have been fair in my assessment.

Andy.

 

[bunjiweb]

Blimey, a "Pets @ Home" store with a good rating, thats gotta be a first.

Ben

 

[Bex]

I'd like to highly recommend my LFS. It's Maidenhead Aquatics in Binfield, Berkshire. If you're a plec head this is the place for you as they always have a nice selection of L numbers. It's very clean and there are never any 'floaters'. We saw some sick fish in a tank and told one of the staff and they immediately quarantined it. We have never bought any fish that have brought any illnesses with them.

Maidenhead Aquatics
Wyevale Garden Centre
Forest Rd
Binfield
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG42 4HA

They also have a good plant selection. All staff are very helpful, especially a guy called Pete who I think is either the supervisor or assistant manager.

Cleanliness - 10
Variety - 9 (10 for the plecs)
Service/Knowledge - 10 - they always ask questions about your tank size etc They wouldn't sell my friend any goldfish because his tank was only a bowl with no filter. All the staff have at least 2 tanks and are really into their fish.

Great place, highly recommended.

 

[jkarrows]

do any of the good shops ship via courier?

John

 

[Villy Valley]

Not sure the last time 'Ferrikins' went to Creature Comforts in Totton and Cadnam near Southampton. Cadnam is part of a garden centre and although they do stock some hardware the only fish they sell are for outside ponds. Creature Comforts in Totton is now run by different people and they have greatly improved. They stock vast quantities of fish accessories and do a range of cold and tropical fish as well as coral plants. They will look after sick fish and quarantine some. They have three dedicated 'fish' people in the shop and seem happy to give advice when asked. Most of the local community take their kids in their as a sort of free 'sealife centre'.

Villy Valley