Visit To Whitby

[MikeO]

I've only been in absolute aquatics twice. The first time was a week after they opened when most of the tanks were still empty. The second time they had more stocked tanks, but only the same fish as everywhere else has. On that occasion there were no sick or dead fish. But only one visit after they were running properly isn't a good enough sample to make a judgement on.

With tropical house, I got fish from there when I first started keeping fish many years ago and didn't know what good shops looked like. All the fish I've had from them have lived for years. My last visit in january was the first time I'd been in about three years and it did seem to have gone downhill. They weren't that bad years ago, and I wasn't sure if january was just an odd bad time. From what you are saying, it is now typical. I do agree with what you say about inapproprate conditions - and they were selling pangasius. But I'd still rather get fish from there than peter barratts - had bad experiences with their fish despite how clean the tanks look.

When I went into AA there was a fish in one of the marine tanks which was badly decomposed. It must have been dead in the tank at least a week.

I went to tropical house based on a recommendation from someone who had been in there about 15 years ago saying it was good then...... maybe it used to be! Shame about it now.


You are right what you say about Peter Barratts. I have never heard anyone have a good thing to say about them. Everyone I hear who has had fish from there say they are diseased and / or die within days/

Maidenhead Aquatics in Stokesley is very nice, if a little expensive. The tanks are not individually filtered, but they do have huge industrial filters and UV sterilisers on the system and I havent heard of anyone having problems with fish from there. They all look healthy there too and very well kept tanks. They also have a really nice selection in the marine section. Its worth a run out on a Sunday even just to have a look there


I get my cichlids mainly from Teesside Koi & Aquatics in Stockton. They have really nice set up there and nice people. The range is OK too. The remainder of my stock came from Chilton Aquatics. The service there wasnt as great - The owner is OK and knowledgeable but I didnt have as good an overall experience there as at Teesside Koi, but Chilton were the only place I could find in the region with Mbamba which I desperately wanted, and at 5 for £30 it was hard to say no!

 

[juggernuts]

Maidenhead at stokesly i think is pretty darn good, been going in there a while now the staff all always are very helpfull to me and my g/f probably because we have been in twice a day at least 20 times now always very clean, healthy fish and nice setup. Obviously due to being a large business but still!

Chilton was a great little shop had a drive there on recomendations from MikeO was a smashing little shop, really tempted with the discus from there great specimens and price if ever ive seen any! Agaian Tesside Koi is superb i find also, lovely setup, good prices and overall service!!

Other than these Peter Barretts which i have to thank for my denisoni barbs which look magnificent now aswell as being super cheap!! are pretty darn awful really, when i seen what was their 'large' stock tanks full with at least 20 angels 20 silver sharks 20 clown loachs 15 xl corys aswell as many more i was very disgusted to say the least!

I love visiting them all really each for their own reasons and would give any the thumbs up to anyone considering!! except PB

 

[DD2510]

does anyone have the postcode for Teeside Koi? I wouldnt mind having a look there this week.. Ive always bought my fish from chilton, they have always been very healthy. They have just recently refurbished the tank room aswell.

 

[Essjay27 142]

TS19 0GA
It's in an industrial estate next to the post office sorting office.

 

[DD2510]

thank you...

 

[Ryefish]

I drove past Teesside Koi when i went to collect a parcel from the sorting off with a friend. Is it open like a shop or do you need to book to go there? It just looked like a massive warehouse and i wasn't sure how it worked. I looked at their website the other day and still had no idea. My friend despises them (long story, not relevant to how they look after their fish or anything) so i wasn't allowed to go in and look.
Do they stock smaller fish? Like siamese fighers, rasboras, tetras etc? or is it just the larger (what i class as more exotic LOL) tropicals?

 

[Essjay27 142]

You just walk in. Through the door then left - that's the part with the tanks, ornaments, filters etc, so through there and turn right for the fish.
They stock everything from neon tetras upwards. It's where I got my cardinals and espei's rasboras from last year.
Just one thing - I got 8 rasboras, but I only have four now. The others developed lumps all over one side - and the first one sort of erupted before I realised what would happen. It looked like some one had taken the point of a potato peeler to the poor fish. It may have been just those fish, but I would check carefully before buying.

 

[Ryefish]

I don't think i will plan on buying anything, but it is a nice to know that i can just go in and look

Thanks