Maidenhead Aquatics: Eastleigh

[barbiedoll]

just been in to Maidenhead aquatics at Wyevale in Eastleigh - Hampshire
never seen so many sick fish!

What is going on?? I love that place but today it looked like Pets@home! Ich in lots a tanks with not for sale signs on them.

and these places all run single water systems circulating thro all the tanks, don't they?
so if one's got ich........

Since I moved to Hampshire last August the only lfs I've never seen sick fish in is Aquajardin at Fairoak.
Where else do people recomend around here?

 

[dwarfgourami]

just been in to Maidenhead aquatics at Wyevale in Eastleigh - Hampshire
never seen so many sick fish!

What is going on?? I love that place but today it looked like Pets@home! Ich in lots a tanks with not for sale signs on them.

and these places all run single water systems circulating thro all the tanks, don't they?
so if one's got ich........

Since I moved to Hampshire last August the only lfs I've never seen sick fish in is Aquajardin at Fairoak.
Where else do people recomend around here?

Gosh- and I was devastated when Maidenhead Aquatics were shut last Saturday, when I'd finally managed to get the day off to get there. Since I have no car, but a disabled daughter, a simple trip from Woolston to Fairoak becomes a pretty major operation.

I did instead make it to Creature Comforts in Totton- which was just as you describe it. What are these balls of cotton wool floating around at the front of the tank- oops, they're ex-fish! A LOT of the tanks were quarantine-not for sale, but there was no evidence that the fish in those tanks got any care from the staff. As for the tanks which were not marked not for sale, a lot of them still had dead fish in them. But they do have a good selection of dry goods.

The best shop for alive fish I've been in (so far) is Mike & Dave's Aquarium in Portswood- but then the cigarette smoke in the entrance room makes ME ill for days after. Also, Tropiquaria in Shirley aren't bad; they sold me my fish and gave good advice.

Can you get to Aquajardin by public transport (I don't mind walking a few miles if they're as good as you say)? Wasn't thinking of buying so much as a little outing.

 

[barbiedoll]

Aquajardin seems to be in the middle of no-where - down Allington Lane, if that helps. Fraid I don't know about public transp - sorry!

 

[Wanda hornsey]

Its amazing isnt it...we found one of the best shops around is a Maidenhead aquatics and also one of the worst too. The shop near St Albans (watford) is great very helpful staff no dead fish all clean and tidy with a fab range...and the same day we made the mistake of going to Mauidenhead Aquctics at Cruise Hill We have never seen so many dead and dying fish in one place...it was so so sad. They didnt seem to have a clue and were selling tropical fish to people with cold freshwater set ups....and totally inappropriate mixes of fish

I had to go to wild woods and buy some fish just to cheer myself up I had to buy them honest

 

[dwarfgourami]

Its amazing isnt it...we found one of the best shops around is a Maidenhead aquatics and also one of the worst too. The shop near St Albans (watford) is great very helpful staff no dead fish all clean and tidy with a fab range...and the same day we made the mistake of going to Mauidenhead Aquctics at Cruise Hill We have never seen so many dead and dying fish in one place...it was so so sad. They didnt seem to have a clue and were selling tropical fish to people with cold freshwater set ups....and totally inappropriate mixes of fish

I had to go to wild woods and buy some fish just to cheer myself up I had to buy them honest

Oh, I fully understand that- I had to have two volumes of the Baensch aquarium guide to regain my equilibrium.

But it is strange about these different Maidenhead shops; after a year on fish forums I'd been brought up to believe they were a force for good, and now it seems nothing is sacred.
I can't understand the mental make-up of people who can walk past a big black moor floating dead upside down (this was Creature Comforts) without wishing to remove it- you would have thought it would at least offend their aesthetic sense.

 

[Wanda hornsey]

or a tank full of bodies floating around and being eaten by the last sick looking Gourami

 

[Spiceweasel69]

I went there last weekend and all was good then I didnt see a single infected tank. Ill have to try the other one in fair oak - aquajardin. I went to Pets at home in segensworth and was apalled. So many dead fish, and i mean not freshly passed on. I wrote in ther defence the other day on another thread that this store wsnt too bad compared th hte whole chain. I TAKE IT BACK. I was disgusted. They lost £30 custom from me easily

 

[barbiedoll]

every other time I've been to Maidenhead aquatics in Eastleigh it has been wonderful - such a treat. But just now! ugh!!
I had to tell them to take 2 huge kissing gouramis out from a tank with 3 mega and I mean pidgeon sized fantails as they were sucking on the sides of the goldies. Apparently these were customers v. special pets on a 3 week vacation at the store and they had put them all in together. At home they lived in different tanks. They moved them when my 17yr old daughter stood over the guys till it happened. NO one crosses her.....

 

[ClaireN]

I’m afraid that have seen Aquajardin's tanks in a bad way a few times before as well, sick and dead fish in their tanks, I don’t think any fish shop is immune to things like this if the get a bad batch of fish in then it will spread, at least with Maidenhead I have never seen them try to sell sick fish they always seem to have a not for sale sign on them where the others will sell it no mater what, i think it is up to us to asses the situation and decide if we are going to risk buying the fish from a store, i will have to say that Maidenhead have always sold me fish that have been well and have survived where other stores haven’t.

dwarfgourami: Where is the store in Portswood that your talking about? i have never seen it but would like to take a look?

Claire

 

[haich]

i went to maidenhead in bold heath yesterday and thought it was realy good all clean tanks there was a chap going round and checking them all and then hand feeding a puffer i think in the main show tank really liked it there will be going back

 

[linda1503]

Hi Spitfire. I'm from Warrington too!! I quite often go to Bold Heath, and to Rivendell down the bottom of that road also. Have you checked out the huge tank for sale at Maidenhead Aquatics, £1000!! Wow!! I love that but haven't got the space.

 

[dwarfgourami]

dwarfgourami: Where is the store in Portswood that your talking about? i have never seen it but would like to take a look?

Claire

On Portswood High Street (possibly called something else), about halfway between Portswood and Swaythling; on the right hand side as you go out from Portswood. Mind you, I can't guarantee that they're always good, just that the fish have looked well on the few occasions I've been in. Never bought anything from there though.

 

[ClaireN]

dwarfgourami: Where is the store in Portswood that your talking about? i have never seen it but would like to take a look?

Claire

On Portswood High Street (possibly called something else), about halfway between Portswood and Swaythling; on the right hand side as you go out from Portswood. Mind you, I can't guarantee that they're always good, just that the fish have looked well on the few occasions I've been in. Never bought anything from there though.

Cheers my dear, will go and have a look.

 

[andy334]

In response to the original post.

There is a home and garden/aquatic centre near Porton Down in Salisbury (Porton Aquatics - I think) which is probably about 40 miles from your location in Eastleigh. I spent a few years at Netheravon about 2 years back and I will swear by this store (I actually miss it like hell). They know what they are talking about - not some spotty oik who needs a part-time job - staff who actually keep and show fish themselves.

The fish are always in excellent health. Excellent choice, prices and excellent advice. You may have a job transporting fish from there unless you have a good transport case but, the fish are that well maintained, that it may not prove to much of a problem. It was often worth going down just to have a look around. As well as a large selection of tropical they also have about 40 garden tanks/ponds with the full range of fish.

Even if you dont buy from them it is worth a visit. If you need more directions or information please let me know.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Maidenhead Aquatics in East Bridgeford is excellent, clean tanks, no dead fish, and competitive prices. I am going there for my work experiance in June/July, and I can't wait!