Buying fish @ LFS vs Petsmart, Petco, Ect.

[Industrial]

I go to petco to buy all of my Bettas. One of the petcos by me has a really nice selection. I also buy fish that are on "special" at petsmart to use as feeders. Last time I bought 6 Buenos Aires tetras at 25 cents each on clearance.

Other than that I get almost all of my fish from the LFS I work at. My boss lets me order fish for myself. I check around other LFS for unusual trade ins too, but almost all of their fish I can get much cheaper and healthier at my LFS.

PS. in my area, LFS are cheaper or the same price as chain stores.

 

[mshill90]

I buy from any fish store if they have good fish and good prices.

 

[Lab_Rat]

I buy from whoever has healthy fish that I want. Generally, the LFS have better selection and more what I want. Regardless of the source, you should QT.

 

[smitty03281964]

The way things have evolved over the years many LFS are no different that Petsmart, Petco, etc. Many employees at the LFS do not have any more knowledge that employees at the chain stores. However there are still a few pet stores in my area representing themselves well.

 

[KyAsh]

We bought half our fish from Petsmart because they were on crazy sale and looked very healthy (still doing great!) and then the other half from our LFS. I don't mind paying a little extra from the LFS to support them, the guy who helps us is so knowledgable and always willing to help. I guess it just depends on location, our Petsmart is good, nice and clean (no dead fish or ich I have seen) so I don't mind buying from them. But our LFS is great so I also don't mind buying from them!

 

[Tropicalfish34]

LFS fish are a lot more healthy and you can get fish you don't see as often.
My local LFS had a sale on tsn rtc hybrids last week. To bad my fish would get eaten and the tanks to small or else I would have got one.