Where Do You Buy Your Fish From?

[fshinggrl]

Where do you go about getting your stock? I'm so new that I only know of 3 possible stores but I can only imagine that there are independent 'dealers' that may be local and of course, buying online. Pros/Cons of each?

 

[LoachLover]

I tend to just keep my eyes open wherever fish are sold...be it Petco or Petsmart, or there's a couple nice specialty fish stores in Minneapolis that I like to go to as well. I don't tend to buy online because I like to select individual fish.

 

[Oscar Betta]

I mainly get mine from my local pet store but sometimes I will go to Petco. (that's where I got my betta)

 

[Katty]

I get mine from the big chain pet stores (petco/petsmart), or a few small independent pet stores. One is located in my city, the other two I go to are in neighboring cities. I know there is a local fish club around here that I could go to, but I'm too nervous to check it out.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

most of mine come from petco and petsmart unfortunately. there are about 1000 pet stores around me and 95% of them are chain stores . its such a shame. especially when every petsmart has the same fish! i try to support the few independent stores around me but quite frankly they're pretty bad. without fail, at any given time i can walk in and find a couple dead fish. i can only imagine how cool it was back in the day, when all the fish stores were independent and none of them had the same fish.

i'd like to buy online but the shipping prices are always absurd. the lowest i've seen for a small fish is about 30 dollars.

 

[`Peter]

Petsmart mainly and a fish store in the city I live by. I personally hate Petco since it smells there a lot and I dont think they have a good variety at all and dont take care of their fish.

 

[kribensis12]

Petsmart, locals who belong to our fish club, out of city dealers if I am stopping by, and local auctions.

 

[GAB99]

most of mine come from petco and petsmart unfortunately. there are about 1000 pet stores around me and 95% of them are chain stores . its such a shame. especially when every petsmart has the same fish! i try to support the few independent stores around me but quite frankly they're pretty bad. without fail, at any given time i can walk in and find a couple dead fish. i can only imagine how cool it was back in the day, when all the fish stores were independent and none of them had the same fish.

i'd like to buy online but the shipping prices are always absurd. the lowest i've seen for a small fish is about 30 dollars.

but in bulk lol thats what im doing since im getting hard to find fish

umm for me so far its usually been lfs for my fish, they are great, and my chains as well, but they are "dumb" persay

 

[Inchworm]

There are three good independent lfs within a reasonable distance from my home. Each of them has been in the same location for around 30 years or so. They are serious businesses and their owners want to keep their customers happy and coming back.

I also buy fish from a few sellers on AquaBid. This is frequently the only way to get unusual species. In general, I've been very happy with my purchases.

I am also a member of the local aquarium society. At each meeting some of the members bring fish to sell at auction with some of the money being donated to the club. Some interesting fish can be obtained this way, often at bargain prices.

I've been trying to remember the last time I bought fish from a chain store.......

 

[SlyPolak]

The only stores that are around here are PetCo, PetSmart and PetLand. But me and the manager at the closest PetSmart are tight so he let me know they order from http/segrestfarms.com/ so I can just pick anything from there and he orders it for me.. ABOUT TO GET ME SOME APISTOGRAMMAS!!!

 

[snowflake311]

Small local pet stores sometimes petco. Yes I buy online too when I want a hard to find or rare fish no store can get for me.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Aquajardin, who specialise in the not so "bread and butter" common tropicals. Great fish, very patient and helpful staff, I picture tham ducking for cover as I arrive in the carpark!