Want to buy

[LizStreithorst]

I'm looking for some longish finned high quality Rosy Barbs.  Aquabid has nothing.  Anybody have a clue where I might find some?

[Ron Sower]

Take a look at Odessa barbs too. I love mine. Not long finned though.

[LizStreithorst]

very nice looking fish, Ron.  Are you breeding them?

[Ron Sower]

No. Picked them up at the LFS. They usually don't show a lot of color. But get them comfortable and...WOW!

[LizStreithorst]

Aquabid has nothing   I investigated them and it seems that they may not appreciate my 82 degree tank anyway.

[ghonk]

Petco. 

[Mugwump]

Petco. 

PetCo....AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....I wouldn't even buy a dog toy there....yikes !!!!!....well maybe a buck a gallon tank or two tho....

Our PetCo doesn't have very good fish....period.

[ghonk]

I worked at shops on and off for WAY to long,heard the horror stories from customers that bought fish from Petco,Petsmart and other places.
My advice to them was DON'T DO IT AGAIN,or i will have to slap you around some.

THEN i ended up working at Petco,pride doesn't pay the bills.Many of the fish looked like crap when we received them,and others would have went down hill quickly without preventive meds,yep i saved their asses.

It was one of the older stores,and the tanks had individual filtration.But i was told that eventually it would be switched to the MARS system since this was one of the few stores that didn't have it,OH GREAT the DREADED central filtration.No wonder all the fish you sell and up dead. 

The way they look at it is it will save maintenance time,which it will,only problem is the fish that don't die in the store will soon after purchase.
But the Aquatic Specialist will have plenty of extra time to clean up that pile of dog shit in aisle 4.

[Mugwump]

I worked at shops on and off for WAY to long,heard the horror stories from customers that bought fish from Petco,Petsmart and other places.
My advice to them was DON'T DO IT AGAIN,or i will have to slap you around some.

THEN i ended up working at Petco,pride doesn't pay the bills.Many of the fish looked like crap when we received them,and others would have went down hill quickly without preventive meds,yep i saved their asses.

It was one of the older stores,and the tanks had individual filtration.But i was told that eventually it would be switched to the MARS system since this was one of the few stores that didn't have it,OH GREAT the DREADED central filtration.No wonder all the fish you sell and up dead. 

The way they look at it is it will save maintenance time,which it will,only problem is the fish that don't die in the store will soon after purchase.
But the Aquatic Specialist will have plenty of extra time to clean up that pile of dog shit in aisle 4.

Yes, it's the management mentality that ruins the fish business at PetCo. ..I will say that out PetSmart does a remarkable job with their fish. Tanks are are always very clean, the fish are colored up and very active too. We don't buy fish there, however around town you don't hear the complaints that you do from PetCo. Matter of fact, I've never noticed anyone returning fish when I've been in there. We buy our dog/cat food there....sometimes air stones, etc too...good folks and a very clean store that allows dogs also...

[ghonk]

One good thing i can say about Petco,my local Walmart.OMG what a disaster.
They have since Deleted the dead fish section.

[Mugwump]

One good thing i can say about Petco,my local Walmart.OMG what a disaster.
They have since Deleted the dead fish section.

Yeah, ours is in the process of getting rid of it too. ..thank heavens...

[wsantia1]

My local Petco has some pretty good looking fish for a Petco. I haven't bought any fish from them but I have gotten a couple of Nerite snails and they are still alive and do a great job on the algae.

[BallAquatics]

Petco, Petsmart, Jacks, all about the same here.  The fish seem to be in good health, they just don't have anything of interest.

On the other hand, we have a new LFS that opened and sponsors our club.....

Only been there once as it's about 1.5 hours away, but it is a super nice place with a great selection of fish.  The young fella that runs it is just as nice as can be.  Hoping he can make it work.

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Over the last 20+ yrs, we've had a LFS try to sustain itself in the same good location. Na da....one guy has tried 3-4 times....a couple others twice....it does well for a year, or so...then poof..business drys up.....very sad...one guy. Dan, that I know well, has a store 30 miles from here that has been going for many years...but he can't get it going here....

[ilroost]

I'm lucky, there is a real nice fish store in Champaign. The Sailfin shop. It has everything and anything. They also sponsor our Auctions. They donate all the raffle prizes(last auction it was a complete 29 gal and a small canister filter}. Also donates a $50 dollar gift certificate to be auctioned. Jim the owner can and will order anything you ask for
Of course he is a few dollars higher on things than the chain stores, but i would rather spend the extra with him.