Whats up with the Petco Petsmart people??????

[tlagoon]

Just wondering. I have read a bunch of posts about people who buy fish from Petsmart and Petco and it seams like they feel that these are great places to purchase fish. I am not trying to knock anyone. It's just that in MD we have have hobby level aquarium shops and although I will look at the fish in The P stores when I am getting dog stuff I would not consider them a source of quality fish. I have been keeping fish for 20 plus years I managed a retail hobby level fish store and I keep over 10 tanks now. This does not make me better than anyone on here by anymeans. I am just courious I guess. Do you guys not have hobby level shops out there.

 

[Fishes33]

Petsmart's fish are ultra expensive and all common

I am looking for top predator exotic fish only my lfs have them avaliable from time to time

 

[cassharper]

lol, we must be reading two different threads. All of the threads I see mentioning the big box stores are complaining how terrible they are. Some of them have decent fish though, still a tad pricey.

 

[Ransom]

same here in the uk the chain stores only hold the common stuff and almost double the normal price which sucks but it pushs real fish keepers out to the smaller private owned shops

 

[Miles]

Sometimes there aren't any better options.

Sometimes the LFS are more expensive than the P stores.

Sometimes the P stores have better knowledge than LFS.



Depends on the situation and area.. most cities have a quality LFS. My only good LFS doesn't do exotic predatory fish unless its a special order...

 

[fishyjoe26]

here in the dfw(dallas fort-worth area) of texas. they are basicly priced the same. the petsmarts and petcos i've been in have nice and healthy fish. i've gone to the more popular stores and i've seen dead fish after dead fish in the tanks.

 

[mohawk]

I live in the palmsprings Ca area.,., theres only 3 "fish shops" out here.,., 2 of which only deal only in saltwater and out of the 2.,., 1 works in custom installs by appointment only.,., the 1 store out here that carries any kinda freshwater has 1/4 of her store devoted to FW with the vast other 75% being all salt.,.plus she seems to be a very arrogant person.,.., and sells die injected fish .,,., Petsmart.,., is my best option for a local place .,., I try to order most of my supplies on the internet.,. but end up there once a week or so.,,. the Petco here.,., has dirty fish.,. wont even buy plants there.,., but the Petsmart.,., is clean., reasonably priced., has a decent stock.,.and will order if you bug them enough.,, and.,., has some fairly decent girls working there.., Either way.,.,I wish I didnt have to.,., but petsmarts the best thing in my neighborhood.,., ill even go across town to any of the 4 or 5 other petsmarts to see what theyve got.,., as they all tend to carry slightly different stock

 

[mihailx32]

in north jersey there arent many lfs i have one and it is very hard to get common fish at a cheap price so petsmart or petco are nice for that but the rare fish the kind worth keeping. you can only find in a fish retail store. great places. but for filter media, food, decor and cleaning products there is no place better then a petsmart or petco. atleast in north jersey

 

[FSM]

I have no problem buying common species from petsmart (petco in my area is terrible) but they don't really have anything uncommon. I would have to go to a LFS to get other things.

 

[chesterthehero]

ive got the full mix here

both good and bad petcomart and good and bad lfs