Patiece I Killing Me, Should I Risk Anything?

[Shovelman]

Ok im really fed up right now with my LFS. I put a word and an order in for them to reorder in some African knife fish which they usually always have in stock, its been 2 and 1/2 weeks of suspension, and when i called they said their importer/fish provider put them off until later. Long story short im being quite impatient but yet my lfs is taking a while to get things in when they usually can get anything i order in 2x faster....apparently not with AFK. Anyways while they are having troubles getting them in i drove over to our local pet smart, who Ive seen increase a bit with the care of their fish, and also they had a few African knifefish available for about 5-10$ cheaper than my mom and pop lfs.

Heres my problem: Wait for guaranteed good quality fish, or take a chance with a still healthy looking fish just from not as much of a trustworthy place. The only reason why i would ever think of buying from petsmart again is because in my noob days i got a few neon tetras, all of which died (all were from petsmart) but that was due to inexperience, but one is still living...and now its schooling/swimming with the white clouds...lol.

Should i try getting my knifefish from petsmart?

 

[Memoi]

Im afraid its going to have to be your call but...If you are really that impatient and the fish in petsmart look good and healthy, then why not.

I had Neon Tetra too when i started and mine too all died. It was awfull. but they died cos i didn't get the right advice at the first place, and being a newby you would believe almost anything and end up doing all what you shouldn't do.

I did go back to the same shop when i started to be more experienced (but i didn't let them talk that time) and everything went fine. (and the fish i bought from there are still alive).

so the real question is: How impatient are you??

Have a happy Christmas

 

[Shovelman]

Im afraid its going to have to be your call but...If you are really that impatient and the fish in petsmart look good and healthy, then why not.

I had Neon Tetra too when i started and mine too all died. It was awfull. but they died cos i didn't get the right advice at the first place, and being a newby you would believe almost anything and end up doing all what you shouldn't do.

I did go back to the same shop when i started to be more experienced (but i didn't let them talk that time) and everything went fine. (and the fish i bought from there are still alive).

so the real question is: How impatient are you??

Have a happy Christmas

Thanks man! And i dont mean to sound impatient but ive been waiting for them to get the fish in for such a long time...i think ill give petsmart another chance, as they got a new manager who actual knows about fish..

 

[MBOU]

Ummm stupid question but you arent putting an AFK in with White Clouds are you!?

Personally... i would wait for a better quality shop to get the fish in, its an awful time of year to be trying to source specific fish, with everyone in a rush, the wholesalers and breeders and fishermen all celebrating christmas too...

Makes it a manic time of year to get the fish. If you want to support a decent store that have done you good in the past... then wait... if you are happy to give your money to a shop thats caused you problems.

 

[Memoi]

I'm a woman...But you're welcome

If the manager changed and know about fish then you should be allright

let us know how it goes.

 

[Baccus]

Guilty of simalar impatience in the past, perosnally I would wait it out till after the christmas and new years rush and get the quality fish you know you will get. Its hard I know but long term much better for all concerned. I have one pet shop in town I refuse to ever set foot in again, I know me not buying stuff off her isn't hurting her business any, but I feel better knowing I am supporting a different pet shop that has always done right by me.

 

[soybean]

What's the rush? Wait for good quality fish, the others might be $5 cheaper but if they all come down with illness, disease or die, not so much of a bargain then. It's a difficult time of year to transport and source fish, be patient.

 

[Memoi]

I kind of agree with everybody's comment when they say it's a busy period and problem about shipping and all. So I would go for the one who are already there and alive. Plus everybody deserve a second chance...but I'm a softy so... Your call.

 

[Shovelman]

I'm a woman...But you're welcome

If the manager changed and know about fish then you should be allright

let us know how it goes.

....sorry about calling you a man....i usually use Unisex terms i guess you could say, but i was in a rush to type...

Anyways, i took a little trip over to the petsmart (Nearly missed getting into a car accident, some idiot ran a red when we were turning left) I had a look around to check out the fish and thir tanks. I was shocked to see how clean they were! Seemed just as clean as the mom/pop lfs i was waiting on! Also there were no sick fish what so ever as well. So i get to the tank with 2 Akf and ones older at about 5-6 inches and dark brown to almost black, and the other a small guy at only about 2-3 inches. Both were crystal clear of any wounds or diseases/fungus or parasites so i thought id give the bigger of the two guys a go. Let me tell you, THESE FISH ARE AWESOME! The way they swim is intriguing enough but their oddball appearance adds even more awesomeness!After i turned off my tank lights and came back into my room as its night time right now he was swimming around doing barrel roles and loops and just exploring! truly a nocturnal species, although im going to try and find some moon lights and hopefully he will come out with those on. Or would a red light be better, because they cant see the red light wavelength right?

 

[Baccus]

You can also give them clear hideholes that they think is hiding them due to their poor eyesight.

 

[Shovelman]

You can also give them clear hideholes that they think is hiding them due to their poor eyesight.

poor eyesight doesn't have much to do with sensing if its light. day or night does it?

 

[Baccus]

No but they rely alot on their weak electrical field to navigate and find their way around, so when the field tells them they are surrounded by a solid object they tend to believe it and use it has a hidey hole even if the sides are clear.

 

[Shovelman]

No but they rely alot on their weak electrical field to navigate and find their way around, so when the field tells them they are surrounded by a solid object they tend to believe it and use it has a hidey hole even if the sides are clear.

Makes more sense, thanks!

 

[thereverendturtle]

I've been buying a lot of my fish from petsmart. They are taking much better care of their fish than they used to. Obviously not going to get rare fish there but for tetras and other community fish, they're not doing bad.

 

[Shovelman]

I've been buying a lot of my fish from petsmart. They are taking much better care of their fish than they used to. Obviously not going to get rare fish there but for tetras and other community fish, they're not doing bad.

See that's exactly what ive been seeing as well! Kind of a relief to see compared to what it used to be like...