The summertime doldrums

[GaryE21 136]

A question from curiosity. Here, aquarium stores don't stock well for the summer. They don't sell many fish or plants, and this is the hang on and survive season for locally owned stores under pressure from the big corporate monopolies. Is the mid-summer lull everywhere, or is it because we have a short summer we all go crazy in because we have a long winter to play with our tanks in? What happens in warmer year round climates?

 

[bgarthe21 39]

Here in moderately temperate Illinois, the season seems not to affect sales that much. I will add that we have so few good LFS around here that people ‘have’ to go there even for routine maintenance/upkeep. I would guess that new set up sales might be a bit slower due to vacations etc. I’d get more fish now, but…….my fishroom is on the full side atm.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford1 136]

I think it's a seasonal cycle, for the average hobbyist. I can recall fish club meetings were sparsely attended during the summer months. There's just too many other things to do. Yard work, kids out of school, family vacations.
I don't think summer is relevant to hard core hobbyists.
I have to add I laughed at "temperate Illinois" When I lived there it was like living in an ice age for 5 months a year.

 

[10 Tanks]

Well, let's see. Here in southern Colorado the temperature is very moderate year round. From my experience, it doesn't get much below freezing and we get a dusting of snow from time to time, but nothing that stays on the ground long. Yes, Summers are hot, but we have really nice temperatures well into October. I can use a python and run the water from my tank to my outside shrubs and evergreen trees year round. That's what I did last year. Then, I attach a garden hose from my outside faucet and into the tank. It fills in no time. If it was at all cold, I couldn't do that. We have a couple of small pet stores, but there are no big names. I really appreciate this!

10

 

[Back in the fold 9]

Doesn’t seem to affect things here . I found unusual fish at my local pet shop last summer . That’s when I got my Fundulopanchax gardneri and saw the Scarlet Badis which I’d never seen to that point . My favorite pet shop just sold . The owner wanted to retire after thirty some years running it . I hope the new owner is successful or we will be down to only one LFS . All I can do is patronize her and hope .