I would ask the vendors on here which are their best sellers, as most of the vendors on here run that type of business (mail order fish as opposed to LFS). Everyone on this site I have found to be very helpful in trade secrets because ultimately it is about the hobby and not the money. Best of luck to you.
Starting my fish store-- stock ideas?
- Thread starter mshill90
- Start date
vfc;4765515; said:
Have you been to That Fish Place? Their fish are drastically over priced- and it seems like every weekend I go down, their fish quality gets worse and worse.
They have a humpback puffer in there.. it's got ick.. they won't treat it, but they said they would sell it to me since I talked to the livestock manager about the fish. The fish has been in there for months. I want to buy it just to save it and give it a good life.
One weekend I went there, they had Gold Datnoids... They were about 5 inches. One was upside down in the back dead where everyone could see... I went back the next day to get something I forgot, and it was still in the tank.
They don't seem to be selling fish as quickly as they used to.
They do have good deals on dog food though...
mshill90;4766125; said:Have you been to That Fish Place? Their fish are drastically over priced- and it seems like every weekend I go down, their fish quality gets worse and worse.
They have a humpback puffer in there.. it's got ick.. they won't treat it, but they said they would sell it to me since I talked to the livestock manager about the fish. The fish has been in there for months. I want to buy it just to save it and give it a good life.
One weekend I went there, they had Gold Datnoids... They were about 5 inches. One was upside down in the back dead where everyone could see... I went back the next day to get something I forgot, and it was still in the tank.
They don't seem to be selling fish as quickly as they used to.
They do have good deals on dog food though...
I agree Melissa, their products selection is amazing and well-priced. But their fish-live-stock is terrible. I agree with stocking rare fish
IMO you need to have something easy for you beginner or the ppl who dont really care just want fish. Something that is eye catching always seem to work around my area. And discus seem to work alot around most places ive been. Being a army vet and going all over the best stores always have discus. And offer a selection of fish you dont see everyday but arent going to give up your first born for. And anytime you can show a display tank say as teh customer arrives than offer that kinda fish so they can see the grown up part to me always works out well. But thats my opinion and past experience.
I would personally pickup cheap tanks on Craigslist and clean them up and sell them w/ no warranty. People are always looking for cheap tanks, and if you cut out the hassle of dealing with the sellers and cleaning the tank you could make a descent profit.
Plus then they can pick up the fish from you as well.
There used to be a place by me that would sell used tanks (Just their old dirty ones) and I would always head there first to see if there were any good deals.
Work that in with a trade in deal the tanks could come to you as well.
Plus then they can pick up the fish from you as well.
There used to be a place by me that would sell used tanks (Just their old dirty ones) and I would always head there first to see if there were any good deals.
Work that in with a trade in deal the tanks could come to you as well.
mshill90;4766125; said:
I got my best all-time fish from them (Titanium Flowerhorn). I did pay $100 but I feel I got my money's worth because of the quality.
I have additional pets (dogs, rabbits, birds) so when I make the 75 mile trip, I spend quite a bit at the store on other non-fish supplies.
I don't mean to discourage you, but you do have to consider the competition when you start a business. I would drive a few extra miles to Mechanicsburg (BTW - I lived and worked in Harrisburg for awhile) but only if you had something rare that I could not get anywhere locally.
BTW - In SE PA where I live, I have > 25 fish stores within a 30 mile radius of my house. ThatFishPlace is in the top three.
Anything Petsmart doesn't have, People will buy to impress friends. 
Have a Salty section, businesses eat saltwater show tanks up. (Not Literally.)
Do house call tank cleanings that racks in the do.
Have a Salty section, businesses eat saltwater show tanks up. (Not Literally.)
Do house call tank cleanings that racks in the do.
discus man. imo you could make the most profit off of those fish than any other freshwater fish. by them cheap wholesale and you could sell them relatively expensive
