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knowledgeable and honest staff.. when the know they help you, and when they dont know they are honest enough to say, "im not sure"


employees that care about the annimals they are keeping/selling

and good prices help too.. ;)

theres a couple.. whos next.. :)

first name basis, loyality, knowledge, & proofs in the pudding style tank setups!

I would have to say Honesty about what they are selling. ( hard to find ) lol

I would say in this order

1. Knowledge
2. Honesty
3. Good variation of items in stock, live & dry goods.
4. Price (we all want to save a buck!)
5. Location, I know that may sound weird but I don't like to venture to far for stuff.

I think that it.....maybe more as I think about it :)

Veriann has a good point and one that I ALWAYS use as a tool for "judgement day". I am, self admittedly, a real harsh critic of LFS, or any 'pet' store. It's just me and I won't budge from my stance on the proper set up and care of ANYthing we call a 'charge' or a 'pet'.

Veriann speaks of the "proof in the pudding" displays. This, in my opinion, does say it all. If you see a properly set system, whether for retail or display (and there are differences) then you know you are looking at a good experience ahead. These folks obviously understand the husbandry and therefore could probably be trusted for a) advice, b) healthy specimens and c) an honest relationship whereby you can continue to do more, and better business with them in the future.

Fow what it's worth, I happened upon one such store during my Summer travels. I'm going to defer to Gwen and Kevin or anyone else in that area, to either support or rebut this...but....

THE FISH STORE & MORE on Peachtree Rd. in Atlanta (Buckhead) is a very nice, clean, well run shop. Their displays are beautiful, their retail tanks were set up with both easy catch and basic needs in mind. The staff seemed to be very knowledgeable and honest and to boot, they had an incredible pico system in there that was just "lights out" healthy. That is the kind of place that would get my return business.

Dave

The one thing and the only thing I look for is how much they care for the critters, I see that and I know most of the rest is there, I'm very willing to pay a higher price to somebody who cares for the animal as much as I do. As an example the only LFS I deal with has a total of 3 people that work with fish, each of them takes the time to help figure out what kind of tank you want and this is the wierd part ... they share notes.... they not only know me by first name but my fish as well. We have been having a heat wave lately here (100-120 out) and they shut down sales of fish and even live rock just because of the danger to the critters on the ride home.

thats all I ever needed to see :)

Never been to The Fish Store & More, but they are an ARC sponsor. I usually read good things about them.

I like a store that will tell you no. "no, I won't sell you that because of A, B & C." Imagine Ocean in Canton, GA is like that.

The one thing and the only thing I look for is how much they care for the critters, I see that and I know most of the rest is there, I'm very willing to pay a higher price to somebody who cares for the animal as much as I do.


Here here. I grew up with 8 cats, 26 birds, a dog, several goldfish, a brother, and a sister and it still drives me insane when people mistreat animals (mammal, reptile, aquatic, sibling, or otherwise). The care that stores give their animals is a huge factor. For fish, if i see dead critters that have obviously been in there for a long time, i am out the door. If they needlessly stress fish, i am out the door. I don't mind clutter in the store, but it better not be a cespool.

As a note, i was in a 'big box' pet store recently looking for a clown loach (freshwater, sorry not marine at this point :) ). When i asked to see them, the employee reached into the tank and yanked out a large stone the fish were hiding around. I mean she just pulled it out as quick and casual as someone pulling up a weed from the garden :o . Of course all the fish went scattering in panic. I walked right out of that place. Those employees were not exactly pet smart (;) ).

As for a place i dig, i like Premier Fish and Reef in Denver. Lots of stock, well kept, and always willing to take the extra time to help you out (i.e. they don't rush things, perfect for marine fish keeping).

I like a store that will tell you no. "no, I won't sell you that because of A, B & C." Imagine Ocean in Canton, GA is like that.

nuts i was just about to mention this. I agree Gwen. It shows real integrity and concern for their fish when they say no. Although, i prefer it if they help you fix A, B & C rather than just sending you away (in which case i would just log on to TR!)

Besides all of the above, experienced hobbyists as employees!

Rather than repeat the above , I'll just concur with all. But, here's a typical story of a bad LFS. I'm going to name the store because this is first hand information (my personal experience) and people should know of this stores ineptness.

Cindi's pets in Fort Pierce, FL was established a long time ago and developed a good reputation. A number of years ago it was sold and there, as so often happens, went the good reputation. I go into Cindi's not to buy but to check for improvements over time. I've been coming to Ft. Pierce for ten years and now live here. Their saltwater section leaves much to be desired. Soon after getting new stock their fish show signs of listless, stress and disease. I've never bought anything from Cindi's. This story tops the list of things wrong.

A couple of weeks ago I stoped by and there in a large tank was a magnficent adult Atlantic Grey Angel, Pomacanthus arcuatus about 8" total length. It was obviously new to the store because it was healthy, fat and sassy, as they say. On the front glass was a sign announcing the type of fish and the price. It read, Adult French Angel $175 (Pomacanthus paru). I had to call them on this one. I asked the employee nearby, "Where's the French Angel"? He came around and pointed to the Gray and said, "right there". After a bit of frustrating discussion, he was not going to budge on this not being a French Angel because that's what they ordered, I asked if the owner/manager was in. A few minutes later I asked the manager the same question. Got the same reply, "That's a French Angel". My tone of voice changed to one of challanging. I informed him, I've been in this hobby and/or business for 59 years and strictly salt for the last 34 years and that was not a French Angel. He insisted!!! I asked if he had a picture book. He retrived one and handed it to me. I scanned the pages quickly and found the two angels both pictures being adult specimens. I showed him the French Angel first. His response after staring at the picture was, This French Angel (the one in the store) was subadult and therefore not of adult coloration". Then I showed him the Gray Angel picture. His mouth dropped open and he just stood there in disbelief. He said, "but I ordered a French Angel". Of course I had to add, "What you got is a Gray Angel".

I asked the manager if he recognized me as a customer, he replied, yes he'd seen me in the store on numerous occasions. I told him, I come in hoping to find improvements in their saltwater section so I could give them some of my business. But, I haven't seen anything to change my mind and not knowing the difference between an adult French and a Gray Angel is one reason I've never bought anything from Cindi's Pets.

I walked out frustrated as h&**. If you are in a business or hobby as far as that goes, doesn't it behove us to learn as much as possible about our livestock??? I think so. I'm no expert but, I know a little and can carry on a conversation with most people in the hobby. When I meet someone like many of you on TR that can teach me something I keep my mouth shut and listen (At least I try too. :agree: ). It's all about learning. I hope the manager and employee learned something from me.

OMG, thanks for letting me rant on about this. I've wanted to tell someone for weeks. :agree: As a hobbyist/business person for so many years I learned early on to be professional in my personal and business life. I challange each of you to do the same. (Not to imply that you are not) Your life will change for the better. I know first hand.

OK, I'll get off my soap box now. Next. :rotfl:

lol, well, nobody can marry personal & company slander in one sentance quite like u Amp! its a shame, u would think they would know what life stock they order rather than the general shape of the species as a verification. but not every owner or store clerk gives a s#$t! as ong as it sell & they keep ontop of the overheads their happy!

hey buddy, can u post me a link for info on the LCDs when u get a chance, my LFS is interested in taking alook! i'll have to give the address or a printable version!
thanks Amp!

I knew I found a great fish store when I went in and inquired about purchasing a Goby. The employee, who I know on a first name basis now, said, "Great, how long have you had you system?" I said, about 3 months. He said "You can't buy a Goby from me yet, you don't have a good enough sandbed yet." I said, you just earned ALL of my business!

i think after i get back from vacation i might get directions from ya and go there. that sounds like a place i would like. :)

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! those are the LFS u want

i think maybe that guy is one of the few fish store employees that might just have a salt water tank at home :)

Isn't that the truth!

I went to the "other" LFS to get some silversides because it is a mile from work. It is a chain store and I overheard one guy telling a couple that saltwater wasn't that expensive. That they could get started for about $200. I looked at the customer and said "I have $1500 in a tank that has 6 hermit crabs and 4 snails." You should have seen the look on the guys face. And the store employee turned and walked away!

lol people like that gives this hobbie a bad rep..

Like I said, hobbyists working there! We know it is NOT a cheap hobby.

I, too, agree with all the above. My pet peeve is finding livestock in stores that will certainly perish and that should not be available for sale or even collected. I have seen:

15" Black tip Reef Sharks in 55 gallon tanks (couldn't even turn around - they claim they were on order for a customer - I asked him what size tank he had - they said a 300g - I said they had no right selling them and walked out)

Coral polyp eating Butterfly Fish (Ornate, etc.)

Bandit Angel (a beauty from Hawaii, but will only eat sponge)

more Cleaner Wrasses and even Hawaian Cleaner Wrasses (I believe illegal to collect) than I care to mention

and many more. Sometimes the stores have no idea what they are selling. And sometime they just don't seem to care. Either way, these are stores that should not be in business.

My new favorite store is the one where the owner and I have become friends, and he has agreed to take me with him on his next visit to the various wholesale distributors he purchases from - and let me purchase anything I want at his cost. I have been saving my money for weeks and have (3) quarantine tanks ready to go ...

sweet deal u have there! im totally with u on the lifestock sham!, its a shame u cant save everthing from these people, even worste for the reef shark, 300g is abit of water, but not considering they reach min adult size in 3- 5 years.
its all about education, simplied education. people dont need to get into the science like we do, but something like a simplied questionare could determin what they can & cannot keep which every LFS should carry out for marine purchases! but at the end of the day, money talks. its a shame, cause most had the passion & good intention to start with, but like anyone running a buisness, the books are the focus point of standings!

Here's a great link to a web site of fish they believe should not be kept or collected, with reasons why. Some of it is a bit out of date. And we advanced reef and fish keepers have had success with some of the species on the list. But for the average fishkeeper, this is a great list of fish to stay away from.

http://www.aquariumpros.com/articles/badfishlist.shtml

Danamck, thanks for sharing this list.

I went to the "other" LFS to get some silversides because it is a mile from work. It is a chain store and I overheard one guy telling a couple that saltwater wasn't that expensive. That they could get started for about $200. I looked at the customer and said "I have $1500 in a tank that has 6 hermit crabs and 4 snails." You should have seen the look on the guys face. And the store employee turned and walked away!

Regarding this, did anyone see a rep from tetra fish products that went onto a day show a bit back, who insisted that a salt water tank was easier than a freshwater and more beautiful??

She set up one of those ten dollar theme tanks (spongebob squarepants, usa yadda yadda) that are like two gallons. She mixed up the salt water, poured it into the tank, put in plastic trees, a usa flag, and other plastic things. Blue gravel, and an air pump for the "filter".

Anyhow, she then spent a minute or two talking about the products, then once she was done (again after only two minutes) she said since the tank has had time to cycle (!!!!!!), We could now add the fish.

Catering to the wants of moviegoers everywhere, she said we would put in two nemo fish, and a dory. Now, im all for movies, but "proffesionals" (or ppl that are supposed to knwo what they're doing) who refer to clowns and regal tangs as "nemos" and "dory's" drive me NUTS!!

So anyhow, after naming the fish she was going to put in, she pulled out two bowls, one containing Two 2" clowns, and another with a 2" Regal tang.
She told the audience that saltwater fish are very hardy and can take alot, and due to this you can just dump them into the tank. WHICH SHE PROCEEDED TO DO!! She first dumped, yes, dumped the clowns, and then the tang.

She then put on the lid, turned on the light and said that these fish will be happy for years to come. Needless to say there was a 10 page thread on AP.ca of outraged reefers swearing never to buy a Tetra Product. After seeing a video like that, and knowing anything about fish, how could you buy andything from them.

thats not so much about lfs's, just a story.

But i have A Lfs store by me that is probably the best anyone could find, it's small, not like a chain store, but has healthy stock, and a TRUE HOBBYIST running the store. I know this is true because upon saying that he was a habbyist, i asked him why, he than gave me a map to his house saying that i could come by in about an hour when he closed up. I then went there to see 300 gallon reef tank with corals, fish, everything. All extremely healthy. I was extremely impressed.

He now knows be by name, what systems i have (or lack thereof) and asks me how my 120 setup is coming along everytime i go. :D

I'll see if i can find you the tetra thread though

Here's the link, the vid is in post 6, i couldnt gte it but maybe you guys can get it to work

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2193&highlight=tetra

Yikes - that's a sad story, Small Fry. I don't think I could purchase any Tetra products, not that I do.

And you bring up my latest pet peeve, or why I could never work in a fish store: Nemo & Dory. I have no problem with little kids calling clowns Nemo and Hippo Tangs Dory, but the hairs stand up on the back of my neck when adults do it (to each other - not to their kids!) I was at the Montery Bay Aquarium last week, and I heard one better. Everyone (yes, everyone - at least while I was standing in front of their reef display) was calling a Heniocus Butterfly "Gill". Ugggggghhhhh!

I feel better now.

OK, I'll give you the opposite story. The first time my niece saw my (maroon) clown she said "Mom! Look Mom, it's a fish like Nemo!" And she was only 4 at the time!

Ditto, Danamck.

Carmie -

You have a very smart niece.

Yeah, do you think we could get her a job at the big box pet store?

Yes - she could probably teach them a few things, even at her age!

Want to know a good fish store. Its the same that I mentioned above, Phishy Business in Gahanna, OH. But here is even more reason why, tonight I had no kids and no wife and nothing but time to kill. So what does a nerd like me do. FISHSTORE TRIP! So I had an hour before they closed and I went in an my favorite guy was working. Now they have I would say 1000 to 1500 corals for sale. The tanks are full and they get shipments on Mondays and Tuesdays and are closed then, so Wednesday is a great day to go.

One of the tanks they have is like a discount tank. it has small frags that may have been stressed or fallen off a rock or what have you . A great place to find deals on items if you have the time and are willing to nurse a frag or coral back to great health. My favorite employee says...hey Duane, I have had my eye on this all day, and I think it is a great deal. It was a ricordia that didn't look unhealthy that was about 1/2 dollar sized....$15. He said I am not sure if it got there by mistake or not, but it is there so $15 it is. It's in my tank now! The others that size were going for about $40-$50. Also, while I was there another employee said, you want a store Tee Shirt? I said heck yeah! What Color?

So you see, it is knowledgeable staff, great service that wins me over. Prices may be a it higher, on much stuff, but they have to cover standing around and educating as well!

for me as long as there stuff is healthy, they give you advice that may even mean they don't get money, and they actually care about the hobby. I'm Good

By the way wild, we're expecting to see a pic of that ric in your tank journal ;p

:sailing: :)

I'm with you all as far as Good advice, honesty, price, etc.

Another thing that really speaks volumes, is extremely clean tanks, the kind that you look at and think "How the hell does a tank get that clean, let alone stay that way."