Maidenhead Aquatics: Eastleigh

[Tasty Wheat]

On the whole ive been impressed with the health standards at maidenhead aq. My local one is havant which is a nice store, but ive also been to eastleigh and chichester. Out of the three i'd say eastleigh is the weakest for fish because they always seem to have a lot of empty tanks; but on the other hand they have a good selection of equipment and other accessories plus a really nice tank package display room.

Havants store has a good overall selection plus an impressive marine section with a huge 7 x 3 x 2 display tank near the checkout - no good for me because i dont keep marine, but good for gawping at while waiting to pay.

Chichester seems to specify in African Cichilids and oddballs of which they have a great selection, but they dont have any marine setups.

My only complaint about maidenhead is that they regularly put large fish in small tanks for no apparent reason. They had a large fire eel in a 2 x 1 tank the other day even tho they have plenty of large display tanks available. Iv also seen them do this with large discus, large clown loaches and knife fish...odd

 

[ghent_3rd]

I am going to Maidenhead at Stapleton tomorrow, I have been once when I first set-up but that was nearly 2 years ago, now I am experienced and know what I am looking for I can do some real damage to the bank balance!!

 

[dwarfgourami]

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.

This place is one of the 20 best-in-Britain in the survey in Practical Fishkeeping Magazine.

But can I get there without a car? Public transport? Shanks mare from Salisbury station?

 

[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.

This place is one of the 20 best-in-Britain in the survey in Practical Fishkeeping Magazine.

But can I get there without a car? Public transport? Shanks mare from Salisbury station?

Shanks mare is definately a no starter. There are buses that run to Porton from Salisbury but, as with anywhere in the Salisbury area, the centre is out in the sticks but I do recall a bus stop a few yards down from the centre. You would be best calling one of the bus companies in Salisbury and asking them direct how to get there. If money is not a problem then a taxi from the station would be ideal but that might be expensive as the centre is several miles outside of Salisbury itself.

If you are still stuck the centre number is 08707 701011. Give them a call and see what they can suggest. Sorry not to offer more - it's a few years since I was last there.

 

[haich]

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.

hi loach so what did you think of maidenhead? is that rivendell a big place how cheap is it? oh yes i saw that tank was taking measurements for it then gf skull dragged me out of there damn it is a nice one so where do you normally go for your fishy needs ?do you know a good place ? im yet to find one been all over but its to dear to far or just rubbish

 

[linda1503]

Hi Spitfire, I think bold heath is quite good. occasionally they have some dead fish but i've not had one die on me yet that i've bought off them. Rivendell is also quite good not as big as bold heath but haven't lost one of their fish either, yet! Pets at home in warrington , no, stay away from them every fish i've bought of them has died, so i don't go there any more. Sorry haven't tried anywhere else, my tank is now stocked up so i can't buy any more fish. Must get another tank!!

 

[haich]

Hi Spitfire, I think bold heath is quite good. occasionally they have some dead fish but i've not had one die on me yet that i've bought off them. Rivendell is also quite good not as big as bold heath but haven't lost one of their fish either, yet! Pets at home in warrington , no, stay away from them every fish i've bought of them has died, so i don't go there any more. Sorry haven't tried anywhere else, my tank is now stocked up so i can't buy any more fish. Must get another tank!!

no i wont be buying my fish from pets at home either but they are quite cheap for other stuff though compared to some of the other places ive been to definetly go back to maiden head though and will check out the other one you said hopefully tomorrow

 

[barbiedoll]

Thanks for the location Andy334 - will definitely make an expedition out there. If I can drive the parrot an hour and a half round trip to pay huge fees to the vet, then why not?

Is this mystery top 20 stores pinned on here anywhere? dwarfgourami?