Why should I buy africans at petsmart? Here's why!

[KATALEKEEPER]

Buying Africans from PetSmart is my favorite way to grow my collection. I love to support my LFS, but when you want a tank with 14 fish, it becomes quite expensive. That is the benefit of PetSmart. The prices are much lower, but so is the quality. My favorite tank there is the Mixed African tank. You never know what you will find, and I have found a lot of times you will find expensive haps and even riverine Africans there. And these fish will all be sold at 10 dollars to you, making them quite the bargain.

Examples that I have come across:

Katale island mbuna. At PetSmart: 10 bucks. At imperial tropicals: 30 bucks;

Zebra obliquedens: At PetSmart: 10 bucks. At live aquariua: 30 bucks.

 

[Rayfishowner]

Although I also advocate supporting your lfs, Petco/Petsmart does have some great bargains!

 

[Deadeye]

I agree, coming from someone who doesn’t have a nearby LFS, and frequents petsmart/petco (especially pre COVID), the big box pet stores are often pretty good. Most of my fish are from petsmart/petco, and all are doing great. I’ve found a couple of rare Africans as well, and even the common fish wind up looking very nice.
They used to have even more rare fish at petsmart, but about 5 years ago, a lot of the cool stuff stopped showing up.
Also, everything is underpriced. I can’t stand the prices for some things at the lfs.

 

[Milingu]

Might only work if you never want to breed them and you don't care to buy a pig in a poke.

Luckily in Europe you can buy high quality f1 Mbuna for 9-12€ at some commercial breeders or importers that also breed or buy fry from hobbyist fish keepers.
Non Mbunas like peacocks are more expensive but the quality makes up for it.

Or you directly buy from other hobbyists.

The more low quality fish you buy the more it gets offered.

 

[tlindsey]

Just my 2 cent I bought juvenile African Peacock Cichlid out of a mixed tank. Imo if you got all males and don't intend to breed then I personally don't see a problem with that. Here are a couple I picked up from lfs. Unfortunately don't have them anymore.

 

[DJRansome]

Agree with milingu., especially the part about not distributing fry or letting the adults out of your home. The problem comes when fishkeepers decide they are a certain species and start calling them by that name. Like Katale island mbuna and Zebra obliquedens.

If you just call them "peacock" or "hap" or "mbuna" without a genus or species or collection point name, that could work.

I would MUCH rather buy excellent quality mbuna for $6 online (none of the vendors mentioned). Especially when my alternative is buying unknown fish from PetSmart for $10.

 

[Adamson]

My concern is that almost all of the African cichlids they have in stock are juiced, and will lose the vibrant coloring a week after you bring it home.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Petzone: Congo Tetras, $11
Petsmart: Congo Tetras, $4

 

[KATALEKEEPER]

My concern is that almost all of the African cichlids they have in stock are juiced, and will lose the vibrant coloring a week after you bring it home.

that's true. I have mostly gotten lucky though.

 

[Deadeye]

I’ve found the peacocks are hit or miss, but all of the petsmart mbunas I’ve gotten have been beautiful.