Lfs

[Twinklecaz]

Hi, I'd just like to know what everyone thinks of this. My LFS, a couple of weeks ago looked to have a reasonably healthy stock of fish. Went in today and sadly I can't the same, there were a lot of quite sick looking fish (and there have been before aswell). What do we all think? Do I write them off and carry on looking for somewhere better or do I keep watching to see if it improves? They seem to be very hit and miss.

 

[PDSimon]

Did you ask what it was?

I'm sure even the best LFS can't stop things sometimes...but yes does sound very dodgey

 

[Davo86]

Were there any signs up saying the fish weren't for sale, were staff actively selling fish from those tanks? Not every store has the space or money to set up Quarantine tanks out back so new fish sometimes have to go straight into shop floor systems regardless of whether they are healthy or not; Generally though good stores will keep old and new stock in separate systems so that any disease is no passed onto established stock,

Therefore I wouldn't right off a store just because of a few sick fish, it would be better to first ask a member of staff about them and then if they can't come up with a suitable answer then you may be wise to start thinking of looking elsewhere

 

[kiriyama]

My LFS has a large tank and the sign say "each £1.00", it has a mixture of Kribs, Guppies, Tetras etc, all very pale and ill looking, have seen a couple in there with either no eyes or what looks like a film on there eyes.

 

[scotty]

My LFS has a large tank and the sign say "each £1.00", it has a mixture of Kribs, Guppies, Tetras etc, all very pale and ill looking, have seen a couple in there with either no eyes or what looks like a film on there eyes.

what lfs was it?

 

[Twinklecaz]

They do have quarantine tanks but these fish wern't in them. There was a tank full of Platys that was very mixed, some looked healthy and others had their fins clamped to their bodies looking very pale and sad. One was hiding near the back but I decided to give that the benefit of the doubt coz I suspect it may have been a heavily pregnant female. Then in another tank there was a silver dollar floating vertically on it's side being constantly nipped by a fish I'm not sure what it was to be honest. Some sort of catfish though. Then there was a tank with Pandas in (about 10?) and they just didn't seem to be moving about atall. Just sat on the bottom. But I don't know if that's normal?

They did seem bothered about the SD though when I told them in fairness.

I think I may go back again in a few weeks and see what's happening then.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi twinklecaz,

I'll give you my take on this. I've gotten so I return and observe over long periods of time, regardless. Part of it is that there are only so many places that can be within my driving sphere, so its not all that crazy to visit them from time to time given my interest in the hobby. I frequently visit places without buying anything and when I do I usually wander slowly through every isle observing all the tanks and all the supplies. Its funny what you can discover sometimes!

Over time there's always the possibility that things will change and it can happen rather suddenly. One thing I learned from this is that different shipments of fish can make huge differences. In fact, in one of the shops I frequent, the owner mentioned that the devastating cold snap in Florida this past winter was still creating huge disruptions in the available fish and the patterns of deliveries that retailers were used to.

~~waterdrop~~