I work at a petco and we have assorted cichlids but it is a rare occasion that I pull deads. they also come assorted in one bag. there's usually some pure fish but mostly hybrids. we also get them in two different sizes and the bigger ones seem do do just fine with each other. I guess it's like getting a mystery bag from the dollar general toy isle. it could just end up dissapointing but you might find something cool.
What are " Assorted Cichlids "?
- Thread starter Pyramid_Party
- Start date
I think every point here is pretty much on giving a good picture about it. To tie that all together, I'd have to say that places like Petco and Petland Discounts are really not a place you want to shop for your African cichlids.
I think the point Mike said underscore this. Even if you have no intentions of breeding, many times a hybrid itself is at a distinct disadvantage to survive as well as fit into a community. Let's also assume down the road, your interest change to breeding, you really do not want to use that stock. You roll the dice if you do, and starting out breeding and selling, passing off hybrids is a sure fire way to give yourself a bad name in the hobby.
I think most of these chain stores just are being lazy not to label and that it is easier to pile a group of them in for show and sell works for the store yes, but consider this as well. Why would you want to buy a fish from a place that cannot tell you, if asked, this is a "species" on sight? If they do not even know what they are selling, if you ask me, that's a sign you are buying from the wrong place. Pay the few extra dollars from a well established private breeder. It will save you many headaches.
I think the point Mike said underscore this. Even if you have no intentions of breeding, many times a hybrid itself is at a distinct disadvantage to survive as well as fit into a community. Let's also assume down the road, your interest change to breeding, you really do not want to use that stock. You roll the dice if you do, and starting out breeding and selling, passing off hybrids is a sure fire way to give yourself a bad name in the hobby.
I think most of these chain stores just are being lazy not to label and that it is easier to pile a group of them in for show and sell works for the store yes, but consider this as well. Why would you want to buy a fish from a place that cannot tell you, if asked, this is a "species" on sight? If they do not even know what they are selling, if you ask me, that's a sign you are buying from the wrong place. Pay the few extra dollars from a well established private breeder. It will save you many headaches.
i aggree with lupin most of the tanks here in the philippines has assorted africans
and most of the time lfs owners /employees doesnt have a clue on what they are selling
and most of the time lfs owners /employees doesnt have a clue on what they are selling
this is all true for the assorteds but you can still get good stuff out of other tanks. it's not all just a crappy hybrid free-for-all in every tank. there is still good quality fish in places like those as well.
true to that, petland has some good africans like strawberry peacocks, tropheus, frontosa, and alto. compressiceps....but my beef with them is that they are so stinking expensive, every other store in town for me is cheaper, even the best fish store in town is cheaper...which should be the opposite
spyke;3165271; said:
Strawberry peacocks are hybrids.
cichlid_starter;3167287; said:
I like petco, but no way the prices are better than online. The Quality is not as good. I can get wild caught for the petco prices of larger cichlids. I understand that your store has you, a person who knows his fish, but 20 for demasoni? How is that less than online? Almost 30 for a single tropheus. I can get grade A wild caught for less, and even rarer types for that price. I can understand liking your job and having to fight off outragous claim by people who are making things up about chain stores, but do not go the extreme on the other end. I like petco better than the other stores, but it is still a chain store. No matter how great you are, you are still stuck with corporation rules and guidelines (including stock, and where the stock is bought)
I hope that you do not take this as a personal attack, I think you are pretty good and on the level, but went too far with your comments.
Have you thought about trying to get a job at a regular LFS? Looking forward to meeting you at the end of the month.
If you are lucky, some PetCo and Petsmart stores beat "online competitors" prices. If you find a cheap price for say a Rena XP4 (reg. at the big chain stores for around $240 or so) print out the online ad and show a manager at the store, and they will match it. I remember I bought an XP4 for $165 at Petsmart from an online store.
Assorted (IMO) are just regular/common cichlids. There are the red/blue/albino zebra's, Melanochromis', Kenyi's, Acei's, etc. But I always found it odd that Lab's are not "assorted", yet they are sooo common, probably to stop breeding, etc.
Working at a LFS/pet store is a really good way to learn about everything Aquaria, and owning one is awesome.
Assorted (IMO) are just regular/common cichlids. There are the red/blue/albino zebra's, Melanochromis', Kenyi's, Acei's, etc. But I always found it odd that Lab's are not "assorted", yet they are sooo common, probably to stop breeding, etc.
Working at a LFS/pet store is a really good way to learn about everything Aquaria, and owning one is awesome.
