This month, our readers give tips on choosing a reputable local fish store.

More... (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/tips)

yeah .... carefully! :D

:hb: well if you ask me i would google them. most likely yo will find a site on all most everything especially on how good of a costumer service a place will give you.

I walk in and look around. Than when someone walks up and says "Can I help you??" I than say,,,,can I have this fish(snapper, or grouper,something that would eat corals) in my reef tank???? If they say yes, than I say thanks and look around a little more and than leave.

The only difference between you & me, is id give em a serving & walk to their book section & say here, read this you twerp! :huh: Then the sales clerk would politely remind me that he did in fact tell me individual temperaments will vary & i should feel free to ask for any more assistance.

I grab the sales clerk, give him a great big bear hug that seemed to take him completely by surprised , then proceed to walk to my car saying "i'll be back"

I go to me car, grab my on-stage smashing axle guitar & proceed to walk back into the shop playing a heavy air solo riff then transform into rock cliquiest induced gear smasher, popping every tank that doesn't have livestock in it!

After what seemed like 10min because it was written in the script at that point to slow the camera down to half speed so my every expression could be captured, i calmly walked over to the counter & produced a credit card & said "im good now, i want to pay for the damages"

The clerk still in dis-array quickly swiped the card before the owner of the store could say "WTF happened here" & the transaction was done.

I then proceed to walk briskly out the door to my car & as i pass a bin i throw the clerks wallet & his newly acquired credit card i lifted from him during that bear hug into the bin! Muhahaha.

The End.

The internet is one of the best things to ahppen to this hobby. Defintely use Google, local forums and clubs and most of all do your homework.

By looking around you can tell a lot off the bat. Any salesperson worth their weight would recommend something and instead of pressuring you to buy now, would love you to come back. What's the difference in dropping $200 today or in a week.

Take whatever info they give you and bounce if off the boards. You're going to get 150 million different answers, but many are going to be the same...look for these common threads for your answers.

I tell you I definitely have made about 5-10 near instinct buys and waited, came home researched and realized my money was better spent elsewhere. :up:

That's my 2 pennies worth....