Quick question on other post

[zackish]

In the beginner area it gives a list of sites to read for beginning aquarists. I read through "Pat's guide" and in there it said it is not a good idea to buy fish from the pet store. Well if you don't buy them from the pet store where would you buy them or get them?

[Drumachine09]

Magic fairies...DUHHHHH!


Just kidding. I think it means not to buy them from chain stores like "petsmart", "superpet", or "petco". I dont usually unless i can pick out a really healthy specimen. I normally buy buy them from an individually owned store.

[zackish]

Magic fairies...DUHHHHH!


Just kidding. I think it means not to buy them from chain stores like "petsmart", "superpet", or "petco". I dont usually unless i can pick out a really healthy specimen. I normally buy buy them from an individually owned store.


That's weird because petco and petsmart seem to have the nicest looking tanks whenever I go there. THen when I go to the regular stores they have real small tanks but a million fish. There are a few different good fish stores around me that aren't in a chain.

ALso, if you buy a somewhat unhealthy fish and you put it into your aquarium and it is very healthy, can the fish get healthy again or once it's on the wrong road it is soon to die?

[Drumachine09]

It depends on what is wrong with them.

[zackish]

ya i dont mean if they are full of parasites I just mean if they are like really stressed

[Drumachine09]

ya i dont mean if they are full of parasites I just mean if they are like really stressed


If they are already stressed, sometimes the stress of being netted, put in a bag, drove around, and them put in a new tank is enough to put them over the edge. But, most of the time, being put in a better tank with assumably better water conditions will perk them right up.

[cocoa_pleco]

you can buy from home breeders. I used to sell plecos i bred from my own home.

[Severus]

The only problem i have found with my local LFS's is that they offer little or no warranty on livestock and i have not been impressed at all with the upkeep of their tanks. Aside from one place.

[RobbieG]

I think it all depends on the store - one of the Petcos in my area takes excellent care of their stock and has very knowledgable employees.

The worst store in my area is a small locally owned fish torture chamber. I wouldn't put my hand in any of their tanks let alone a fish - the place is just plain disgusting.

[puddlekeeper]

.... also; the staff tends to be a little less experienced and inadvertently will miss lead you on compatible tank mates and the the type of water they need, PH info, and size too.

When I first started - I was looking for a bottom cleaner and was sold a Clown Loach (which gets HUGE) for a 28 gallon tank ...

Another time I was sold 2 Kuhli Loach's (look like worms) for an Oscar tank ...

... and the Fresh water eel's that will eventually need Ocean water!

You can only learn as much as the people you are associating with - kid's working in a store aren't always reliable sources of in depth information

[Lady Hobbs]

As long as your fish look healthy and are not showing signs of fungus or fin rot or ICK, I wouldn't be afraid to get them. I would keep them in quarantine in another tank for a couple weeks tho to make sure. That's all I keep my 10 gallon for.

Some stores keep their tanks up great and others do not. You just learn to shop in the places that do. It's not unusual for fish to get ICK after they've been home for a few days. They have been hauled into the store from fish farms in large quantities and are weakened and stressed. Some stores treat them and let them settle down. Others just mass sell and haven't the space to keep them quarantined.

[zackish]

well when I go to buy all my fish for my aquarium at once after it's cycled do I have to quarantine them?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i really think it is all about who is working their. The first fish i bought was from this lil local pet store that turned out was terrible. The old lady who worked their was simply too old to keep care of the store as well as it could be n the fish are kinda unhealthy and she tends to 4got some key info for the fish but my local petco employees are like 17 and dont know a whole lot but the fish are healthy. I find this forum to be the best source of info. I just ask around here to make sure im getting the right fish and then just go buy it.

[zackish]

i really think it is all about who is working their. The first fish i bought was from this lil local pet store that turned out was terrible. The old lady who worked their was simply too old to keep care of the store as well as it could be n the fish are kinda unhealthy and she tends to 4got some key info for the fish but my local petco employees are like 17 and dont know a whole lot but the fish are healthy. I find this forum to be the best source of info. I just ask around here to make sure im getting the right fish and then just go buy it.


There is petsmart, petco, and a few local pet stores around me, by far Petco has the nicest tanks and fish but I think it is going to go out of buisness soon because like 2 people work there only now and petsmart is right down the road. However, I have heard to buy fish from mom and pop stores and there is this place about 20 minutes away that seems like a good place so I might buy my fish there.