Hello From Southampton, Uk!

[jwar090]

Hello Everyone! 
 
I'm new to the site - started fishkeeping a year ago and now I'm hooked! 
 
Got one 250 litre tank. It's a planted community tank, with mostly small fish. (Photo below)
 
Current inhabitants:
several guppies, 3 white balloon mollies, 3 pseudomugil rainbowfish, 3 harlequin rasboras, 2 red comet platies, 3 swordtails, 4 dwarf chain loaches, 2 corydora catfish and 1 albino bristlenose pleco. 
 
I would love a 2nd tank but currently the other half won't let me! (I'm working on him though!) 
 
Really looking forward to learning more about the world of tropical fish! 
 
 

 
 

 

[Gazzaeng]

Hello and welcome this is a great site I've been on here a while and just got back to tropical myself. I'm also in Southampton. Keep working on him for that second tank I just won my fight and got my second tank.lol took a while.

 

[jwar090]

Thanks!
yeah i've looked at a few of the online forum sites and this one seems to be one of the best!
 
Oh I will! I'm tempted to just save and get one without him knowing then he can't say no 

 
By the way - seeing as you're in Southampton too, just wondered what shops you go to get new fish/supplies etc? (if you don't mind me asking!) 

 

[Stimo]

welcome jwar
it stays in the blood i was away for 8 years and now i'm back

 

[AquaPit]

hello my UK people!

Jo.. Your tank looks great! Love the plants at the back! and Welcome!

 

[Ninjouzata]

to TFF! Hope you enjoy it here.
 
Your tank looks very lovely!

 

[Gazzaeng]

I use a few the main ones are aquajardin on allington lane I find them best for plants always in good condition and plenty of stock and a good selection of fish. Maidenhead aquatics in fair oak are good for fish but there plant selection isn't great. Also tropical paradise in Eastleigh behind b&q are good for fish but don't have much equipment like pumps and chemicals. Romsey world of water is good for equipment and fish but was in there yesterday and there plant selection was dismal. I got all my stone from there was very cheap.

I don't tend to get advice from any of them as they all say conflicting things best get advice from here as you can get more opinions and make your decision from that.

Definatly just get the tank lol be the won't mind. I'm surprised how much the boss has got into it she won't admit it but she does like it.

 

[jwar090]

Thank you Stimo, AquaPit and Ninjouzata

Gazzaeng - haven't tried Tropical Paradise in Eastleigh or the one in Romsey, so will definitely be venturing to those at some point.
I do like aquajardin as whenever I have been the shop has been immaculate and maidenhead aquatics always seem to have a big selection.
I agree with you on advice though... when I was setting my tank up last year I got so many conflicting bits of advice from the different shops I went in. It became so confusing that I don't even bother asking when I go in now.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Hi welcome aboard!

 

[jwar090]

Thanks Neil

 

[the_lock_man]

I use a few the main ones are aquajardin on allington lane I find them best for plants always in good condition and plenty of stock and a good selection of fish. Maidenhead aquatics in fair oak are good for fish but there plant selection isn't great. Also tropical paradise in Eastleigh behind b&q are good for fish but don't have much equipment like pumps and chemicals. Romsey world of water is good for equipment and fish but was in there yesterday and there plant selection was dismal. I got all my stone from there was very cheap.

 

 
If you Southampton people don't mind someone from Pompey contributing, I mostly agree with what Gazza is saying. I have used Aquajardin for plants and fish - they often seem to have fish aimed at more experienced fishkeepers, at the expense of having hordes of different colourations of guppy and platy and molly, which I quite like. Plantwise, they are the best I've ever seen (and I've been in quite a few LFSs, one way and another!), particularly their Tropica Plants selection. I just wish they'd label the bunched plants properly.
 
World of Water in Romsey, again, I've bought from them, because they had a particular species of Apistogramma that I was after - given the size of the place, they ought to devote more space to fish, they could have a fish room the size of a SeaLife Centre if they wanted, so I was quite disappointed really. Equipment-wise, though, they are the place.
 
Tropical Paradise, if that's the one in Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, I really like, it's the only retailer I've ever seen that stocks Prime. Decent selection of fish, I bought my last Peacock Goby from there, cracking little shop, owner seemed reasonably knowledgeable too.
 
Jwar, if you're willing to travel a little, I would thoroughly recommend the Maidenheads at Fareham (Titchfield, so on your side of Fareham) over Fair Oak. Fareham are just in the process of expanding their showroom, when it's complete, it's going to be really really good. They again have some more specialist fish in stock, as well as the hordes of guppies and platyies and mollies.

 

[glasgowgirl_786]

Welcome from Glasgow It's a really good forum & everyone is really helpful I only joined a few days ago & posted a couple of times & got a good few responses 

 Your tank looks great by the way & good luck getting that second tank lol x

 

[jwar090]

 
 
 
 
If you Southampton people don't mind someone from Pompey contributing, I mostly agree with what Gazza is saying. I have used Aquajardin for plants and fish - they often seem to have fish aimed at more experienced fishkeepers, at the expense of having hordes of different colourations of guppy and platy and molly, which I quite like. Plantwise, they are the best I've ever seen (and I've been in quite a few LFSs, one way and another!), particularly their Tropica Plants selection. I just wish they'd label the bunched plants properly.
 
World of Water in Romsey, again, I've bought from them, because they had a particular species of Apistogramma that I was after - given the size of the place, they ought to devote more space to fish, they could have a fish room the size of a SeaLife Centre if they wanted, so I was quite disappointed really. Equipment-wise, though, they are the place.
 
Tropical Paradise, if that's the one in Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, I really like, it's the only retailer I've ever seen that stocks Prime. Decent selection of fish, I bought my last Peacock Goby from there, cracking little shop, owner seemed reasonably knowledgeable too.
 
Jwar, if you're willing to travel a little, I would thoroughly recommend the Maidenheads at Fareham (Titchfield, so on your side of Fareham) over Fair Oak. Fareham are just in the process of expanding their showroom, when it's complete, it's going to be really really good. They again have some more specialist fish in stock, as well as the hordes of guppies and platyies and mollies.
 

 
Yeah I do get what you are saying about aquajardin, when I last went in they had one small tank of guppies and a small tank of platies but I don't remember seeing any mollies.(and the guppies and platies that they did have weren't particularly colourful.)
However I did get some pseudomugil rainbowfish from them and they have proven to be a lovely and unique addition to the tank.
 
I have actually been to the Maidenhead shop in Titchfield a few times as my dad lives up the road from there. It is one of my fav shops and I try and go if I have time when I'm over that way. I didn't know they were expanding their showroom so I will definitely be paying a visit when that is complete!
I got a lovely piece of bogwood from there which is the centrepiece of my tank and some cobra guppies. (to add to the ever expanding guppy population in the tank.) 
 
I have also been to a small place in Botley, think It was called Grange Aquatics (its next to Hillier Garden Centre) but I doubt I will go back again. They don't have a very large selection of fish and I don't remember seeing any plants whatsoever. I got my first ever fish from there (some guppies, mollies and tetras) and their advice was completely useless! They told me it would be ok to have just 2 serpae tetras in the tank. Being new to fishkeeping I was unaware at the time that they should be kept in groups of 6 or more because they are a schooling fish and that they are also fin nippers so shouldn't be kept with fish such as guppies.
Of course after a few days it was clear that they were distressed and were starting to nip the guppies fins so unfortunately we had to give them away. (Not the best start to fishkeeping!)
 
I would be interested to hear if you know of any other good fish stores over Fareham/Portsmouth way? (I do like to go to different shops when I can.)

Welcome from Glasgow

It's a really good forum & everyone is really helpful I only joined a few days ago & posted a couple of times & got a good few responses 

 Your tank looks great by the way & good luck getting that second tank lol x

 
Thank You! 
By the way - saw your post about your Cory that got stuck - so glad you managed to get him out ok!  

 

[the_lock_man]

I think I've been in Grange once. Nuff said. Likewise Meon Valley Aquatics.
 
Arundel Aviaries and Fisheries, in Arundel Street, Portsmouth, is quite good, but I wouldn't recommend Emsworth Aquatics & Reptiles, in Drayton, Portsmouth - I once saw 6 different tanks with dead fish in, they are far more interested in the reptiles, and you'd agree if you saw their Facebook page. This is a huge shame, as I live about 5 minutes from there.
 
MA in Havant are good, though Titchfield is better, IMO.