PetsMart Cichlids?

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I have a Midas and a Jack Dempsey that were both purchased at Petsmart. They are very nice looking with no noticeable deformities.

The Midas is 9" and is 16 months old. He is extremely mild for a Midas and the only real complaint has to do with his size. I was expecting him to be a bit bigger than he currently is. After about 7" he started to grow super slow, went through a breeding phase where he stopped eating and got super aggressive. He has mellowed back to normal and is starting to gain in girth but still seems to be a runt. I was expecting him to be about 10.5' by now, but he is happy!

The Jack is only about 1.75" and lives with the Midas. The Midas does not even pay attention to him. The Jack has a very healthy appetite and seems pretty outgoing.

I have lots of stores in my area to choose from but overall most of the Petsmarts in my area have high quality fish and I have not had problems with them.
 
I currently have a "midevil" from petsmart and he is everything I wanted from a midas. I at one time had a JD from there and he grew to be one of the best JD's I have ever seen. Grew to about 10-11" before I sold him. My local petsmart takes excellent care of their fish, so I generally go there for common species. My only complaint is that I probably could have found a midas for a little cheaper if I looked around more. That is the only fish that I'd say petsmart carries that was a little over priced.
 
Honestly, I've always had great luck at my local PetSmart. The tanks are always clean and the fish look great. I've never had issues with anything I've purchased from them. PetCo gave me a few problems with Velvet. Otherwise I have an LFS here that I go to for that something special.
 
I bought some of the Geo. Surinamensis a long time ago and I knew they weren't Surinamensis at the time but to this day I have no idea what they are and that bothers me. I still have them but will probably never buy fish from Petsmart again.
 
Dude, don't support either (petsmart or petco). The fish you are looking for is like, what, $2 extra at a LFS? The chains are the main reason you see the LFS's go out of business. They have crap fish, uneducated employees, they buy from animal factories, and spread inaccurate info. You are going to support that while the LFS starves? Your LFS (presumably) has employees that work there because they actually like fish, not because they need a part time job and bagging fish is easy. They would probably order anything you could possibly imagine (or at least try to) for you. If they don't have the RD you are looking for, ask. They will get it. My personal favorite is they are actually friendly. I am on a first name basis with most of the employees at most of the LFS's around me. Every time I walk into a chain store, there is a new rude employee there that has no interest in actually working.

This is our hobby. Support it. The fish business is very cut throat. Next time you are in a chain store, look around. If thats what you want for the future of our hobby, go ahead and save a buck. If not, throw the LFS guy some action.
 
frnchjeep;4791798; said:
Dude, don't support either (petsmart or petco). The fish you are looking for is like, what, $2 extra at a LFS? The chains are the main reason you see the LFS's go out of business. They have crap fish, uneducated employees, they buy from animal factories, and spread inaccurate info. You are going to support that while the LFS starves? Your LFS (presumably) has employees that work there because they actually like fish, not because they need a part time job and bagging fish is easy. They would probably order anything you could possibly imagine (or at least try to) for you. If they don't have the RD you are looking for, ask. They will get it. My personal favorite is they are actually friendly. I am on a first name basis with most of the employees at most of the LFS's around me. Every time I walk into a chain store, there is a new rude employee there that has no interest in actually working.

This is our hobby. Support it. The fish business is very cut throat. Next time you are in a chain store, look around. If thats what you want for the future of our hobby, go ahead and save a buck. If not, throw the LFS guy some action.
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The only thing I hate about petsmarts by where I live is they are freaking stupid, when it comes to selling the fish to people they half the time don't know what they are talking about . I heard an employee tell a customer that a oscar could live in a 20 gallon take all it's life I being an ***hole told the employee ookkk did you know that an oscar can grow to about 16" long the guy looked at me and tryed to tell me I was lying that an oscar only got 6" long I was so pissed I called there main office and complained and guess what never saw that employee ever again. I really wasn't trying to be an ***hole but half the problem starts at the petshop when an earisponsible(sorry a little drunk)employee doesn't know what there are talking about and selles someone a fish and they can't house it and it ends up getting abused because they where misinformed god I hate that sh*t sorry guys .:irked::irked::irked:
 
I very much agree with supporting my LFS. I buy all my food, supplies, filters, etc. from one store in particular. I have purchased all my breeder fish from the same store, especially since I am able to get some history on them as well. I spend an average of $35-$50 per fish at my LFS.

But, I don't feel even a tiny bit guilty for buying a bag of community fish when Petsmart has their $1 sales! I have picked up some Cichlids and Oscars as well along the way...all very nice fish. Trust me, if the LFS is going to go under because I only spent $1,200 there last year and didn't give them the $100 I gave to Petsmart too...well, you get the point! :)
 
I heard a employee at the petsmart by where I live tell a guy that a pacu would be just fine living in a 55 gallon I was walking by and just laughed.
 
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