Should I trust Petco/Petshop /etc with getting fish?

[Camshaft Ramrod]

All pet stores are different. You could go to one Petsmart/Petco and see an outbreak of ick and drive 10 miles to another and be perfectly fine.
Large chain stores are not all the same. There are
too many factors. You have different management, employees, fish farms.


Your best bet is just to go around to all of the LFS's in your area. Take a look at the fish. look for noticeable signs of illness Are the tanks clean? Is there a snail outbreak? Do the employees know what they are talking about or are they telling you what you want to hear? Look at the selection of fish.

Every store has it's ups and every store has it's downs. Prices, selection, knowledge. Just find one that has a combination of the three that appeal to you.

Or just drive to all of the pet shops in a 15 mile radius once a week like I do.

Also, a quarentine tank helps.

 

[clgkag]

. However, CLGKAG, I have read on here of many people with hybrid/mislabel issues at lfs' as well. It happens everywhere.

I was just meaning they buy such a large amount of fish it is more likely to happen. I have seen it in Mom and Pop stores also. Just less frequently.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

It doesnt matter, what matters is whatever one carries the fish you want and whatever one has healthier fish. But the main problem with any store is being careful not to get duped. If you know what fish you want and are educated about it thats fine. But if you go in there clueless and hope for them to give you good recommendations, then youre in trouble either way. Dont ever take an employees word for it, they can tell you all kinds of bogus info.

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

I was just meaning they buy such a large amount of fish it is more likely to happen. I have seen it in Mom and Pop stores also. Just less frequently.

mislabeling all depends on management.

 

[HPIZZLE]

Just remember you have more chance getting a hybrid or a mislabeled fish from a chain store.

thats not always a bad thing,
ever looked in the african tank?

 

[Swiftwater]

Go ahead and try it, they have a 14 day return policy if your fish died or if you don't want it but you have to bring a sample of your water and they test it, I think if the water parameters are wacky they won't give a refund but give an exchange for the dead fish.

You could ask them to let you net your own fish, they've always let me do that.

 

[pdbrady]

I was just meaning they buy such a large amount of fish it is more likely to happen. I have seen it in Mom and Pop stores also. Just less frequently.

Yeah, I wasn't saying you were wrong, just pointing out that it happens everywhere.

 

[snyder810]

hey mislabeling is how i'v gotten half my more expensive fish. haha use that to your advantage. just know what your getting and you'll be fine at any store. the average quality at chain stores isn't at high but many get their fish from the same place as lfs, so you are just as likely to find a great looking fish there as any. so shop around and don't judge the store by its name.

 

[blue_pill85]

Its better to help local businesses with your customer anyways.

I agree! but you have to do whats best by you, yes I prefer to go through family companies as opposed to corporate whores, but if the lfs is selling crap fish and petsmart isnt so sorry I have spent quite a bit on my tanks I wont screw that up because of a grudge against corpations. and my local petsmart and petco are USUALLY pretty good. IMO find one place and stick with it people are more likely to go the extra mile if youre a frequent face in their store ANY store. (unless youre a jerk)

MFK VENDORS ALL THE WAY!

 

[Footballref50]

I work at a Petco and YES fish do get mislabeled and there are hybrids. I feel that most employees i've met at Petco specifically dont know much about aquatic life but there are always 2-5 people employed at said store who do and are just like us, very enthusiastic and informed on aquatic life. So my opinion is it depends, if you don't know much about fish don't buy from them coz chances favor that u'll be misinformed but if you know what you're doing and the fish looks healthy no reason not to purchase because its from a conglomerate store.