Looking for a LFS

tttnjfttt · Jul 28, 2005

I haven't found any decent LPS/LFS within an hour of my house, so now I'm broadening my search. I really don't want to drive an hour an a half, so I thought I would ask here. I'm willing to drive to Reno, NV or to Sacramento, CA (or anywhere inbetween). I live at Lake Tahoe.

The store is Ofishal Aquarium, in Reno, NV. Their web page looks decent, and it appears atleast the owner knows some stuff. I am specifically looking for african Cichlids, so if you know about that, it would be great.

If any one knows of any other stores that you would recomend, I'd really appreciate it.

Isis_Nebthet · Jul 29, 2005

If Tempe, AZ isn't too far away I'd try pets inc. They've got so many tanks I got lost

danski · Jul 29, 2005

did you say sac? i went to capital aquarium in sac from stockton and they are pretty Big.

tttnjfttt · Jul 29, 2005

Alright, I'll keep Capital Aquarium in mind. I live at Lake Tahoe, and the only LPS is iffy at best. I haven't been too thrilled with what I have found down in carson city. So its time to expand the search.

When you were there, how knowledgable were the staff? Were the tanks clean and did the fish appear to be healthy? (I'm trying to avoid driving two hours if the shop isn't great).

Thanks for the reply!

mattbeau · Jul 29, 2005

There is a Pet smart off of Sunrise ave and lead hill road (off of 80) in roseville california that has a knowlagable staff and african chichilads, they have a new setup there so the stock is pretty healthy. I've stopped there a few times after work on my way home in auburn.

Pet smart off of pleasent grove off of 65 in roseville is very cleen has a very knowladgable staff and great stock but unsure of chichilids. new store built last year so its pretty clean

Stay away from pet smart on sunrise in citrus heights as thier tanks are completely infested with snails and multitudes of dead fish, a poor plant stock and I didnt see anyone in the fish section

in auburn there are two pet stores, pet xing off of bowman (on 80) and amazing pets

pet xing is cheeper, but limited stock and had bad luck with cherry barbs from them, but have had great luck with the neons and gauramis. Well maintained, no dead fish and depending whos in, knowlagable staff. I can stop by there to see about the chichilids,

amazing pets is more expensive and i have little knowladge of thier stock, but i did buy 2 corries that went through the first cycling of my community tank perfectly and are still thriving today. havent really talked with the staff though.

if you need thier phone numbers let me know thier in our yellow pages

whats in your area for pet stores as i go to nevada quite often and i have family that just moved to fallon

tttnjfttt · Jul 31, 2005

In South Lake Tahoe there is a pets supermarket - always a few dead fish, but largely a VERY VERY VERY unknowledgable staff. Add to that their only african cichlids are in a mixed tank, and I run and hide.

In Carson City, There is three stores - Jan's Tropics - Jan is good (the owner), but very rushed, and won't take the time to explain anything. The other staff there have given me some sketchy advice. Petco is iffy at best. Their staff isn't too knowledgable, and just not overall impressed. PetsMart is decent. I've goten some good advice there, and found mostly knowlegable staff. The catch is, I don't know how much I really trust them for identifying cichlids.

mattbeau · Jul 31, 2005

The nice thing about the Pet smarts around here are they put pictures next to thier prices,

yesterday i went to two.
I asked the same question.
what do you reccomend for ammonia to do a fishless cycle.

Petsmart roseville on pleasent grove, (the smart guy wasnt there.)

thier reply "whats a fishless cycle?" "we have stuff to remove ammonia" "sorry i cant help you"

Pet smart in roseville off sunrise on lead hill rd

thier reply "I dont know but let me get some one who can", someone else comes out, "ahh a fishless cycle", "its a good way to do it, we dont carry anything like that here and i wouldn't reccomend using ammonia labled as a cleaning agent, let me call a different LFS and see what they can suggest",

she leaves and calls different LFS, she returns and asks if its for fresh or saltwater,

"fresh" i reply,
"they have something for saltwater, he also said that you could Pee in the tank", we both laugh, I dont plan on peeing in the tank BTW, but it might actually work. interesting. she gave me the address phone number and directions to get there.

her way of cycling a tank is using cycle, throwing a whole crap load of food in the tank and doing frequnt water changes. though i dont know her whole setup,

They just got a new batch of dwarf puffers in and i ask her if they have any females in the batch, She says she didnt know there was a wy to identify them, I point out the wrinkles behind the eyes and tell her to look for a line on the belly, all the puffers are nice and fat, she had been feeding them bloodworms with great success, though one's colors arent too vibrant she says hes eating very well though.

Knowladgable, pretty much, willing to take advice and learn, yes, afraid to admit ignorance, no, in my mind a good LFS even if it is a Pet Smart .

danski · Jul 31, 2005

i was there about two weeks ago. i picked an aqualight for my plants. they seemed to be pretty well informed. the tanks seemed okay. ive never been to an lfs with so many tanks around here. if you like discus they had a pretty large selection.

Dorkhedeos · Jul 31, 2005

wow, tahoe? i was just about to suggest shops in san francisco :lol:

well, if you do happen to come down to san francisco for a visit, there are 3 good shops that i know of off the top of my head. there is one in chinatown, broadway st, one near ccsf, on ocean ave, and one in sunset, on taraval. why dont you order fish online? the 20 dollar shipping doesnt seem like much when you think of the time and money you are using to drive around.

tttnjfttt · Jul 31, 2005

I was looking into buying fish online, but shipping was always more 40-60, and some places were even higher. Do you know a place that has the $20 shipping?