What Can We Do

[Inchworm]

What I don't understand is why some of the local pet stores, especially the chain stores, stock the kind of fish they do. How many of their customers are even able to house a pleco? Or and arrowana, or a snakeskin gourami, or an oscar, for that matter? And how many of these fish would anyone who shops there even want? Still, they are often to be found in these stores. The markup must be huge for them to stock them.

There are so many nice, small, even pretty fish, that would sell even better, that it just seems to me that it would make more sense to cater to the average person with a smaller, peaceful community tank and stock their sales tanks appropriately.

Now a local fish store, usually but not always, independently owned and staffed by people with years of experience, is something else again. This is the place to buy the specialty fish. Their sales help can answer questions, or at least recognize when something might be a problem, and advise their customers appropriately.

I've never stopped promoting the independent lfs. It's almost always worthwhile to travel, however distant, to shop at one. Take your time, go there at a time when it's least likely to be busy, and get to know the owner or sales people. The help and advice you receive will be worth it to you in the long run.

 

[Matty]

the markup is huge, my lfs sells asain red arowanas for $3500-$5000.

Anway, my LFS also has the traffic light sistem when it comes to aggression, as well as the minimum tank size for the fish to live comfortably. If someone inquires about a fish, they will ask them about their aquarium to determine if it is suitable...its a great store

 

[dgwebster]

too true on the local pet store vs LFS and what they stock.

My local pet store, at one time when I was young stocked gold fish (and lots of them) along with few tropical, mostly tetras and a few more "exotic" kinds.

Now, there is a half dozen goldfish to be seen and a bounty of unhealthy, not very well kept fish. They just dont seem to take the time to take the care. but their birds and rabbits and rodents seem ok.

I also support buying direct from breeders if possible.

What do most people do with their young in the event of the coming along? If you cant re-tank them yourself and trying to get local stores to take stock is like a kick in the.... shins.... (they like to (understandably) stick to their known breeders/sources). let other fish eat them? seems a littlr crel, although a fact of life in the wild.

damn that finding nemo. oh, what type or fish was gurgle in finding nemo? sorry ignore that, i'm side tracking here.