I can’t even take Petco

[Gourami Swami]

Ha that wouldnt surprise me. My son was probably just turning 2 when we started our little trips to shark.

AF has nice fish but the regular cichlids, plecos and small cats. Nothing that cant be found in an average lfs. I remember getting a tank priced and nearly wet my pants. Some outlandish number.

Not to be a fanboy, (and no I don't still work for them), but that's definitely not true of the cichlids! Only store I've been to that always has a huge selection of rare CA/SA cichlids. They get them all from Dan at CoA. Last time I was there they had tomocichla tuba, for example. The African cichlids, are more average.

 

[jaws7777]

Not to be a fanboy, (and no I don't still work for them), but that's definitely not true of the cichlids! Only store I've been to that always has a huge selection of rare CA/SA cichlids. They get them all from Dan at CoA. Last time I was there they had tomocichla tuba, for example. The African cichlids, are more average.

I guess it would depend in what someone considers common. I dont remember seeing many cool fish there especially oddballs. It was more of a comparison to shark aq.

 

[BichirKing]

Since the Starry Night cichlid (Paratilapia polleni) is Madagascan, and lays grape like clusters of eggs, that they hang on roots, or plants and Oscars are substrate spawners (that place eggs on flat/hard surfaces) and are from South America, the likely hood of hybridizing is very remote.

sorry duanes it was a bit of sarcasm.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I guess it would depend in what someone considers common. I dont remember seeing many cool fish there especially oddballs. It was more of a comparison to shark aq.

I don't think anybody considers Tuba common!
Again, I'm not paid to say this and don't wanna give them too much free advertising lmao. But the selection cichlid-wise is honestly the best I've ever seen in an LFS, I used to go to shark as well, they didn't get as many rare cichlids regularly. AF orders from CoA every couple weeks, so whatever CoA has in small sizes, is usually what they have.

 

[Supergeorge123]

I have been all over the country and have seen a correlation between a states minimum wage and the quality of local fish stores. As in when employees are getting 7.25 an hour the tanks are a disaster and when they are getting 12 an hour they are pristine almost everywhere. That seems to apply more to the chain stores than smaller shops.

 

[jaws7777]

I don't think anybody considers Tuba common!
Again, I'm not paid to say this and don't wanna give them too much free advertising lmao. But the selection cichlid-wise is honestly the best I've ever seen in an LFS, I used to go to shark as well, they didn't get as many rare cichlids regularly. AF orders from CoA every couple weeks, so whatever CoA has in small sizes, is usually what they have.

Tuba indeed are rare i also said "cool" i dont find them "cool". Im no way an expery on what K krichardson finds cool but i dont think he would find tuba to be worth the ride could be wrong tho. Anyone can order from dan and not pay AF's inflated prices. Even with his minimum order policy and shipping it would probably be more cost effective if the buyer lives in an area where he could sell off the extra tuba after growing them out a but and taking the pick of the litter. Not a bad store but for my taste its not in the same zip code as shark or monster aq

 

[Gourami Swami]

Tuba indeed are rare i also said "cool" i dont find them "cool". Im no way an expery on what K krichardson finds cool but i dont think he would find tuba to be worth the ride could be wrong tho. Anyone can order from dan and not pay AF's inflated prices. Even with his minimum order policy and shipping it would probably be more cost effective if the buyer lives in an area where he could sell off the extra tuba after growing them out a but and taking the pick of the litter. Not a bad store but for my taste its not in the same zip code as shark or monster aq

Well I agree with you the prices are a bit higher! That is probably because they employ a small army of people every day to keep the tanks so well maintained and deal with all the customers. Seems reasonable to me, you get what you pay for and the tanks at AF are spotless, the employees are all required to be knowledgable, and the quarantine practices are good. As far as comparisons to shark and monster- agree to disagree! I'd rather pay the 20% or so more for the selection and quality, and to not have to trek out to queens. Monster is an awesome store as well though

 

[note2self]

The fish are sick and aren’t for sale. It happens at every fish store not just the big ones. I’ve had fish that were sick from well known private fish store local to me that has a crazy quarantine protocol. It happens.

What I suggest is to either stop complaining about it or do like I did and negotiate to buy the fish at a discount. A lot of times they won’t know how to treat the fish properly so it stays sick for longer than usual and they will almost give it away. I’ve scored several fish this way. Just gotta keep asking the right people and be s solid customer.

 

[jaws7777]

Well I agree with you the prices are a bit higher! That is probably because they employ a small army of people every day to keep the tanks so well maintained and deal with all the customers. Seems reasonable to me, you get what you pay for and the tanks at AF are spotless, the employees are all required to be knowledgable, and the quarantine practices are good. As far as comparisons to shark and monster- agree to disagree! I'd rather pay the 20% or so more for the selection and quality, and to not have to trek out to queens. Monster is an awesome store as well though

Sorry to say this but their tanks are no cleaner than the petsmart two blocks away. Too each his own. I was never blown away by the selection of fish.

If we're going to follow the narrative of this thread then i should post a similar review for AF. I got an L600 from them that mysteriously died 3 weeks later and a pack tiger barbs with what i think had IP (easily treated) as clean as the tanks are illnesses are part of the game. No different than the op other than ich being easily treated.

The fish are sick and aren’t for sale. It happens at every fish store not just the big ones. I’ve had fish that were sick from well known private fish store local to me that has a crazy quarantine protocol. It happens.

What I suggest is to either stop complaining about it or do like I did and negotiate to buy the fish at a discount. A lot of times they won’t know how to treat the fish properly so it stays sick for longer than usual and they will almost give it away. I’ve scored several fish this way. Just gotta keep asking the right people and be s solid customer.

Good point. Ive gotten fish from some of our favorite vendors with issues no need to bash them or their importers. Stuff happens.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Sorry to say this but their tanks are no cleaner than the petsmart two blocks away. Too each his own. I was never blown away by the selection of fish.

If we're going to follow the narrative of this thread then i should post a similar review for AF. I got an L600 from them that mysteriously died 3 weeks later and a pack tiger barbs with what i think had IP (easily treated) as clean as the tanks are illnesses are part of the game. No different than the op other than ich being easily treated.


Good point. Ive gotten fish from some of our favorite vendors with issues no need to bash them or their importers. Stuff happens.

Yes, precisely my point earlier in the thread- No matter how nice the LFS is, it's very easy for sick fish to slip by unnoticed! Agree to disagree about AF vs. others in the area, like you say to each their own.