Decided to start this post cus I finally got to go to this petstore that I had heard so much about called House of Tropicals. Inventory was great but the store was a big let down. I thought I'd share my experiences with different LFS i've been to so people can add and read before they drive long distances just to be disappointed.
House of Tropicals (Maryland)- Huge store, huge inventory, huge staff, limited service and knowledge. There were a million employees in the store and no one bothered to ask if we needed help. Finally had to ask and guy acted like I was incoveniencing him. I don't consider myself and expert, but like most die hard hobbyist, you ask above average questions. The guy didn't seem to be able to answer anything, I got so fustrated I had to fire him and ask someone else for help. The next guy i asked wasn't any better. Didn't know that Central and South American Cichlids were different categories. Thought Gymnogeophagus and Geophagus all get over 10 inches, and wouldn't bother to look up prices of fish that didn't have tags. The prices are iffy too. Some things were cheap, some weren't. Quality of fish was good tho and they have rare and hard to find fish. Don't think I'd go back tho.
Tropical Fish World (Gaithersburg, MD)- Nice selection and friendly knowlegeble staff tho some employees will talk rather that ask you for assistance. I've only been there a few time but they've been extra clean and healthy fish, to dirty and dying fish on different times I've been there. They have nice selection of cichlids and I guess thats why I like them, plus they have a 800 gallon monster central american display. Will go back.
Animal Jungle (Va Beach)- Best fish store I've ever been to. The place used to be like an old Kmart or something. Huge selection of fish and they have a wild cat and monkey they keep in display room. They always have large variety of fish, sales, and plants. Have a indoor pond thats 1000s of gallons and a huge FW stingray. Huge selection of rainbowfish which I like. Downside is you have to take a number to be helped but its worth it. I also heard the manager rents a uhaul or something and drives down to florida to personally pick out his inventory. I was like a kid in a candy shop when i go. If ever you're area, you must check them out.
Noah's Pets (Fredericksburg, VA)- Not a large selection of fish but ok. Everytime I go there they seem to get worse as far as quality and selection. They just built a new Petsmart nearby which has stolen their business I guess. May go back by chance I guess.
Azelea Petstore (Richmond, VA)- For Richmond he's got the hookup on exotic fish. If you don't already know, the owner is a sarcastic jerk. But the more you get to know him, he's not that bad and he will help you out. I've learned alot about fish keeping from him. His prices and sometimes be on the high side but sometimes you can get great deals. He sold me some clown killifish fry for $1.92 just other day. His specialty would be discus tho and he's also started to get a good supply of stingrays tho they are terribly overpriced. When I first started going there, told myself I'd never go back, now I go at least once a week.
Petclub (Richmond, VA)- Ok, guy who works there is like the son of the manager and sells me rocks and driftwood dirt cheap. He has this I don't Give a F#$% mentality. I like it. Fish are ok tho, nothing special, tho every now and then they'll get something nice in.
Lakeside Petstore (Richmond, VA)- Nice petstore but their fish suuuuuuuck. Tanks are always full of ich and algae. Took my girl there over weekend and this tank was all green, it was actually a fish in there. Had a look on his face like "save me". In all fairness tho, they are a good petstore and can order you good fish and plants, they just specialize in other things cus Richmond isnt a big market for exotic fish.
Perfect Pets (Richmond, VA)- Ok, but nothing special. I always get fish cheaper than what they are by playing dumb on what type of fish it is. Got some panda cories for $2.49 cuz i told this inexperienced staff that they were probably regular cories. Saved tons of money using this trick.
Anywayz, this is my experience. Feel free to share your cuz it may help someone out.
House of Tropicals (Maryland)- Huge store, huge inventory, huge staff, limited service and knowledge. There were a million employees in the store and no one bothered to ask if we needed help. Finally had to ask and guy acted like I was incoveniencing him. I don't consider myself and expert, but like most die hard hobbyist, you ask above average questions. The guy didn't seem to be able to answer anything, I got so fustrated I had to fire him and ask someone else for help. The next guy i asked wasn't any better. Didn't know that Central and South American Cichlids were different categories. Thought Gymnogeophagus and Geophagus all get over 10 inches, and wouldn't bother to look up prices of fish that didn't have tags. The prices are iffy too. Some things were cheap, some weren't. Quality of fish was good tho and they have rare and hard to find fish. Don't think I'd go back tho.
Tropical Fish World (Gaithersburg, MD)- Nice selection and friendly knowlegeble staff tho some employees will talk rather that ask you for assistance. I've only been there a few time but they've been extra clean and healthy fish, to dirty and dying fish on different times I've been there. They have nice selection of cichlids and I guess thats why I like them, plus they have a 800 gallon monster central american display. Will go back.
Animal Jungle (Va Beach)- Best fish store I've ever been to. The place used to be like an old Kmart or something. Huge selection of fish and they have a wild cat and monkey they keep in display room. They always have large variety of fish, sales, and plants. Have a indoor pond thats 1000s of gallons and a huge FW stingray. Huge selection of rainbowfish which I like. Downside is you have to take a number to be helped but its worth it. I also heard the manager rents a uhaul or something and drives down to florida to personally pick out his inventory. I was like a kid in a candy shop when i go. If ever you're area, you must check them out.
Noah's Pets (Fredericksburg, VA)- Not a large selection of fish but ok. Everytime I go there they seem to get worse as far as quality and selection. They just built a new Petsmart nearby which has stolen their business I guess. May go back by chance I guess.
Azelea Petstore (Richmond, VA)- For Richmond he's got the hookup on exotic fish. If you don't already know, the owner is a sarcastic jerk. But the more you get to know him, he's not that bad and he will help you out. I've learned alot about fish keeping from him. His prices and sometimes be on the high side but sometimes you can get great deals. He sold me some clown killifish fry for $1.92 just other day. His specialty would be discus tho and he's also started to get a good supply of stingrays tho they are terribly overpriced. When I first started going there, told myself I'd never go back, now I go at least once a week.
Petclub (Richmond, VA)- Ok, guy who works there is like the son of the manager and sells me rocks and driftwood dirt cheap. He has this I don't Give a F#$% mentality. I like it. Fish are ok tho, nothing special, tho every now and then they'll get something nice in.
Lakeside Petstore (Richmond, VA)- Nice petstore but their fish suuuuuuuck. Tanks are always full of ich and algae. Took my girl there over weekend and this tank was all green, it was actually a fish in there. Had a look on his face like "save me". In all fairness tho, they are a good petstore and can order you good fish and plants, they just specialize in other things cus Richmond isnt a big market for exotic fish.
Perfect Pets (Richmond, VA)- Ok, but nothing special. I always get fish cheaper than what they are by playing dumb on what type of fish it is. Got some panda cories for $2.49 cuz i told this inexperienced staff that they were probably regular cories. Saved tons of money using this trick.
Anywayz, this is my experience. Feel free to share your cuz it may help someone out.
