Ok so I have been on a wild goose chase to find good LFS in my area. I think I have been to most of them about now. So here's a little rundown on where to go and what to expect if you're in my neck of the woods.
I will add links to websites if they have. or just the town they are in and name and you can yellowbook them if you ever wish to go there.
Start with the chain stores.
My fav.
Jacks Aquarium and Pets.
www.jackspets.com
I have been to about half of there stores. and this much is true if you know where one is that is new go there instead of the older stores. The older stores are setup like local owned and operated LFS with sponge fliters and 20longs as there tanks.
but if you get a newer store they all have the nice DAS setups.
they usually all have some tankbusters that people have brought in to get rid of and sometimes you get good stuff that way. They carry there own line of water conditioner which I love b/c I can get enough to treat 7K gallons for $30. They also sell feeder fish for $.10 each and $.25-.30 for larger feeders. and most of the time the feeder stock does not look to have any external parasites.they also carry a nice line or Hikari foods and Newlife foods. It is however harder to find a Jacks massivore. I have only found one that stocks it. all other need to order it. another good thing about this place it corperate is in Ohio so if they have something you ar interested in but it's a corporate it can be shipped within the week.
Petsmart
www.petsmart.com
I have only been to one in Columbus,OH. But it wasn't to bad. no rare or monster fish but they did have good deals on tetra foods (which I feed to my RBPS and golds) The selection is a general small fish and Oscars nothing rare. Feeders fish are ALL over that store though for some reason. There is what seems to be a feeder gold in everyother tank? I don't get that. Other then having good prices on Tetra foods I would not wast my time there.
Pet supply plus
www.petsuppliesplus.com
I have been to three of these stores. One in Marion,OH one in Findlay and one in Piqua,OH. All store seem to be run by a bunch of fools. If it's not someone talking to you like you are uninformed it's them just being plan not around to get something or answer your questions. they sometimes have good fish but never and monsters b/c the largest tank I have seen there is a 72 bowfront. allways have a assorted african tank (like everyone else) Food and supply prices are not that great and I have only ever found pima fix and melafix for resonable prices there. So not worth the trip unless you want assorted africans.
Petco
www.petco.com
I have seen the one in Marion, OH.
It was not a great store for fish. However if you got a dog it's a good store. lol Fish are kept in good condion but again nothing more then barbs neons and africans and oscars. No large tanks.
It's a pass if there is somewhere else. If i'm in marion I will go to pet supply plus before petco for fish needs.
PetLand
www.petland.com
There is only One petland I know of or have been to it's in Findlay,OH.
this one is easy just DON'T go there. everytime I have been there they have little to no supplies and most of there tanks are bare. Also they do not do custom orders.
Aquarium Adventure
www.aquariumadventure.com
This one is in Columbus. And there are mixed opions about this one. They ARE high priced so unless there is a livestock sale it's semi worth it. they do have a good selection of supplies and dry goods. But all at a higher cost. However this is the only chain store that is all fish. so it has it's ups and downs. If you want to go to one place and get EVERYTHING to setup a nice BIG tank it's Aquarium adventure. b/c they are the only ones that will have a big tank in stock. most others will only keep a 125 in stock at largest. and AA will keep 220s and had a marineland 300 wide the last time I was there. They have a decent selection of fish. and a The best selection of Plecos I have seen in any fish store yet. The one thing I do not like about this store is there unwillingness to sell out of display tanks. I don't see why any store would not sell a fish when someone says ask your price. I have tried to buy a fish from them that WAS for sale and no one bought it then they move it to a display tank and now they won't sell it. Odd but whatever. they have the best selection of liveplants and cory cats though I have yet to see. All and all it's worth a 2 hour walk through lol.
Now for the small hole in the wall places. (little gems sometimes)
Pet Zone
Marion, Ohio
this place is in a small strip mall. It's not to hard to find but the staff is odd. the younger guy that works there is your best friend if you're there alone. (so use the buddy system when going here lol) Hey have the whole 20L with sponge filter setup with a small preformed kio pond. stock it's terrible but mostly small community fish. Did however have a 5" black rhom. that was a nice suprise. supplies and food are not in good supply or quality. some fliter media in this isle some in that. not a good selection on Aquariums either. they do have some nicer reptiles/snakes if you're into that. All and all not worth the trip unless you call ahead and knwo they have what you want.
Dave's Tropical Fish
www.davestropicalfish.com
Toledo, Ohio
This one is by FAR the hardest to find that I have been to yet. It's in a residential area and it is a house. the only parking is on this little side street. they do have some nicer stuff. and can order good stuff. I was told they have a supplier that can get pimas (I wasn't interested) but this place had a nicer setup a few 180gal DAS displays (you know those stack and divids you see all the time) and 2-125s with some nicer Oscars and some big Bichers 4 of which were over 10" of of them over 13" ( I bought him) Also had some nice angle fish. and a do think it was a xanthic JD But I could be wrong. Had a good supply of RBPs and a 5"+ gulper cat. (only One I have seen for sale in person) and a small niger cat. It's worth the drive if your in the area but it's hard to find.
Livestock good people GREAT. they have a wholesaler that's supposed to be friends with ArapimaG. Good place to stop and talk if your board and close. Also are willing to drop prices if buying a more expensive fish. They knocked 10 bucks of my bicher just b/c I was worried about talking him almost two hours home. So 10bucks off made the deal better and they told me to call if he didn't make it.
The fishman Pet store
www.thefishmanpetstore.com
Mansfield, OH.
this place has a nice website for a small LFS but the stock isn't that great. They have some monsters. Giant Gourami (sp) two lungfish, two 10"RTC, two walking cats one 8" one over12", big albino severum, and a whole bunch of JDs. They do have cheep bulk foods but I did not ask about them so not sure what brand or what exactly they were.
I would call ahead and ask this place what they have before you go. Prices weren't bad for a local place and I think he would drop some prices if asked nicly lol.
Fishy Business
Bucyrus, OH
This place is a gem. I just found it today. and Loved it. I will be back there. It's Easy to find and Easy to get to from just about anywhere. first thing I saw was a giraffe cat (NFS) and giant gourami(NFS) nice selection of tanks and good selection of fish. 20" RTCxTSN 30" royal CK. 14" CK, 3-7"+ CL, 15" fire eel, blue phantom pleco, Baby giant gouramis (for sale). Very clean very nice staff. And are willing to try and order fish. they are not set on a what they send us is what we get basis like the chain stores.
Some of the big fish I.E. royal CK were kept in small tanks. A 125 but it might end up in my 585 soon.
As of now that's all that I ahve been to. I think I am making a trip to either clevland of cinncy durning x-mas shutdown at work. Then I will have more places to share. I need to get in good with a LFS owner that goes to wholesalers and see if I can ride along sometime. to see what wholesalers have.
So hope this helps anyone in my area.
I will add links to websites if they have. or just the town they are in and name and you can yellowbook them if you ever wish to go there.
Start with the chain stores.
My fav.
Jacks Aquarium and Pets.
www.jackspets.com
I have been to about half of there stores. and this much is true if you know where one is that is new go there instead of the older stores. The older stores are setup like local owned and operated LFS with sponge fliters and 20longs as there tanks.
but if you get a newer store they all have the nice DAS setups.
they usually all have some tankbusters that people have brought in to get rid of and sometimes you get good stuff that way. They carry there own line of water conditioner which I love b/c I can get enough to treat 7K gallons for $30. They also sell feeder fish for $.10 each and $.25-.30 for larger feeders. and most of the time the feeder stock does not look to have any external parasites.they also carry a nice line or Hikari foods and Newlife foods. It is however harder to find a Jacks massivore. I have only found one that stocks it. all other need to order it. another good thing about this place it corperate is in Ohio so if they have something you ar interested in but it's a corporate it can be shipped within the week.
Petsmart
www.petsmart.com
I have only been to one in Columbus,OH. But it wasn't to bad. no rare or monster fish but they did have good deals on tetra foods (which I feed to my RBPS and golds) The selection is a general small fish and Oscars nothing rare. Feeders fish are ALL over that store though for some reason. There is what seems to be a feeder gold in everyother tank? I don't get that. Other then having good prices on Tetra foods I would not wast my time there.
Pet supply plus
www.petsuppliesplus.com
I have been to three of these stores. One in Marion,OH one in Findlay and one in Piqua,OH. All store seem to be run by a bunch of fools. If it's not someone talking to you like you are uninformed it's them just being plan not around to get something or answer your questions. they sometimes have good fish but never and monsters b/c the largest tank I have seen there is a 72 bowfront. allways have a assorted african tank (like everyone else) Food and supply prices are not that great and I have only ever found pima fix and melafix for resonable prices there. So not worth the trip unless you want assorted africans.
Petco
www.petco.com
I have seen the one in Marion, OH.
It was not a great store for fish. However if you got a dog it's a good store. lol Fish are kept in good condion but again nothing more then barbs neons and africans and oscars. No large tanks.
It's a pass if there is somewhere else. If i'm in marion I will go to pet supply plus before petco for fish needs.
PetLand
www.petland.com
There is only One petland I know of or have been to it's in Findlay,OH.
this one is easy just DON'T go there. everytime I have been there they have little to no supplies and most of there tanks are bare. Also they do not do custom orders.
Aquarium Adventure
www.aquariumadventure.com
This one is in Columbus. And there are mixed opions about this one. They ARE high priced so unless there is a livestock sale it's semi worth it. they do have a good selection of supplies and dry goods. But all at a higher cost. However this is the only chain store that is all fish. so it has it's ups and downs. If you want to go to one place and get EVERYTHING to setup a nice BIG tank it's Aquarium adventure. b/c they are the only ones that will have a big tank in stock. most others will only keep a 125 in stock at largest. and AA will keep 220s and had a marineland 300 wide the last time I was there. They have a decent selection of fish. and a The best selection of Plecos I have seen in any fish store yet. The one thing I do not like about this store is there unwillingness to sell out of display tanks. I don't see why any store would not sell a fish when someone says ask your price. I have tried to buy a fish from them that WAS for sale and no one bought it then they move it to a display tank and now they won't sell it. Odd but whatever. they have the best selection of liveplants and cory cats though I have yet to see. All and all it's worth a 2 hour walk through lol.
Now for the small hole in the wall places. (little gems sometimes)
Pet Zone
Marion, Ohio
this place is in a small strip mall. It's not to hard to find but the staff is odd. the younger guy that works there is your best friend if you're there alone. (so use the buddy system when going here lol) Hey have the whole 20L with sponge filter setup with a small preformed kio pond. stock it's terrible but mostly small community fish. Did however have a 5" black rhom. that was a nice suprise. supplies and food are not in good supply or quality. some fliter media in this isle some in that. not a good selection on Aquariums either. they do have some nicer reptiles/snakes if you're into that. All and all not worth the trip unless you call ahead and knwo they have what you want.
Dave's Tropical Fish
www.davestropicalfish.com
Toledo, Ohio
This one is by FAR the hardest to find that I have been to yet. It's in a residential area and it is a house. the only parking is on this little side street. they do have some nicer stuff. and can order good stuff. I was told they have a supplier that can get pimas (I wasn't interested) but this place had a nicer setup a few 180gal DAS displays (you know those stack and divids you see all the time) and 2-125s with some nicer Oscars and some big Bichers 4 of which were over 10" of of them over 13" ( I bought him) Also had some nice angle fish. and a do think it was a xanthic JD But I could be wrong. Had a good supply of RBPs and a 5"+ gulper cat. (only One I have seen for sale in person) and a small niger cat. It's worth the drive if your in the area but it's hard to find.
Livestock good people GREAT. they have a wholesaler that's supposed to be friends with ArapimaG. Good place to stop and talk if your board and close. Also are willing to drop prices if buying a more expensive fish. They knocked 10 bucks of my bicher just b/c I was worried about talking him almost two hours home. So 10bucks off made the deal better and they told me to call if he didn't make it.
The fishman Pet store
www.thefishmanpetstore.com
Mansfield, OH.
this place has a nice website for a small LFS but the stock isn't that great. They have some monsters. Giant Gourami (sp) two lungfish, two 10"RTC, two walking cats one 8" one over12", big albino severum, and a whole bunch of JDs. They do have cheep bulk foods but I did not ask about them so not sure what brand or what exactly they were.
I would call ahead and ask this place what they have before you go. Prices weren't bad for a local place and I think he would drop some prices if asked nicly lol.
Fishy Business
Bucyrus, OH
This place is a gem. I just found it today. and Loved it. I will be back there. It's Easy to find and Easy to get to from just about anywhere. first thing I saw was a giraffe cat (NFS) and giant gourami(NFS) nice selection of tanks and good selection of fish. 20" RTCxTSN 30" royal CK. 14" CK, 3-7"+ CL, 15" fire eel, blue phantom pleco, Baby giant gouramis (for sale). Very clean very nice staff. And are willing to try and order fish. they are not set on a what they send us is what we get basis like the chain stores.
Some of the big fish I.E. royal CK were kept in small tanks. A 125 but it might end up in my 585 soon.
As of now that's all that I ahve been to. I think I am making a trip to either clevland of cinncy durning x-mas shutdown at work. Then I will have more places to share. I need to get in good with a LFS owner that goes to wholesalers and see if I can ride along sometime. to see what wholesalers have.
So hope this helps anyone in my area.
