Vendor/Breeder Vs Petsmart Vs Lfs

[BillyBlanco]

I bought some Festae on Sunday from a local breeder. 1-1.5 inch fry and I'm liking them a lot.

Has me thinking though... about all the fish i have or had in the past all from which have came from mostly Lfs and some from Petsmart. I know some fish can only be obtained through either ordering from reputable vendors or buying off of trusted MFK member; but what about the fish that could be bought either way... more common cichlids?

My question is, What do you choose to do when you say you want a managuense, green terror, etc. Would you spend a little extra cash and go for a f1 or wild caught or 100% pure breed. or would you stop by a Lfs and pick up whatever your local fish store thinks is 100%(can often times be questionable at best)

What are the differences and experiences you have?i know a WC could be a bit more shy or totally HATE you based on the species. a lfs fish is so domesticated it will probably not be shy at all (based on species). would that be worth it? just wondering how people weight in on this? do you get better colors out of more legitimate fish? aggression? personality traits?

I'm reconsidering the way i use to buy and seeing how special a QUALITY fish can be. With so much spent on every tank set-up I doubt ill ever buy another dime a dozen petco special.

 

[Maccoy]

I never buy at Petco or pet-smart Nothing against them but I just don't like the stores. Personally I have a Lfs that i trust and has always had amazing quality stock. All my fish from them grow up great and healthy. to be honest Ive never ordered from a vendor until yesterday and have yet to get the fish so I really cant talk much. But I Love my Lfs and that's all I can say

 

[cacichlids]

I've seen pretty impressive petsmart Midas and Jags. I think it all ultimately comes down to the care you give em, and how good you are at picking up the fish with the best traits - you can buy a $100 wild caught festae from the best source, but if you don't know what you're doing / keep em in poor conditions and diet, it will look like **** no matter what. Yet I've seen people turn a $2 fish into a stunning monster.

Of course genes do play a part on how a fish will develop and look so by getting your stock from reputable sources you increase your chances of success.

 

[BillyBlanco]

I would never buy anything at petco based on a personal customer experience and almost complete lack of knowledge about fish on there part. also my gf took a picture a few months back that was HILARIOUS there was a sign in tank saying "we use aquarium salt to keep our fish healthy, under that there was 3 dieing fish gasping for air and 3 or 4 more dead floating at the top.

petsmart in my opinion trys to inform its associates about fish in general but fails doing so. the people at the petsmarts around here seem at least nice tho. unlike the walmart like service i get at petco.

anyways not a topic about that. a vast majority of my fish have been bought at lfs. only a few purchased at petsmart. when i was into mbuna i got some at petsmart. i got a mislabeled synodontis which there is a thread about on mfk from petsmart... no one knows what kind of syno it is... very few petsmarts carry them and what petsmart labels them as is not it but close...lol and lastly ive bought a "Midevil" from there only because the lfs selection of rd's in my area were very poor and petsmart had some good looking muts.

 

[cacichlids]

also my gf took a picture a few months back that was HILARIOUS there was a sign in tank saying "we use aquarium salt to keep our fish healthy, under that there was 3 dieing fish gasping for air and 3 or 4 more dead floating at the top.

LMAO

 

[BillyBlanco]

cacichlids i like your answer and agree 100%.

The Midas/RD in my avatar is an example of what petsmart potentially has to offer. Althought, I might just be a little biased because he's mine... well my gf's...lol

im liking how the babys i picked up from an MFK'r (<lmao at that that looks like) Ive seen there parents and am raising them from very small. more of "they are my baby's" vs I got a new fish. I guess the smae could be said about fry bought anywhere minus the mother and father thing.

 

[cacichlids]

I think if you're gonna go to petsmart/petco you have to know what you're looking for, and if you don't, make sure to ask here or read a few articles about the fish you plan on buying. If you have a little experience, you can go and look for yourself and decide whether or not you want the fish or walk away, without asking them for advice.

I once bought a loach in petsmart and the guy told me "you can't buy that... you have cichlids? it's gonna KILL your cichlids!!!!!!!!" lol... I was just like "oooh okay, so can you get me the loach". Just don't pay mind to them.

 

[cacichlids]

cacichlids i like your answer and agree 100%.

The Midas/RD in my avatar is an example of what petsmart potentially has to offer. Althought, I might just be a little biased because he's mine... well my gf's...lol

im liking how the babys i picked up from an MFK'r (<lmao at that that looks like) Ive seen there parents and am raising them from very small. more of "they are my baby's" vs I got a new fish. I guess the smae could be said about fry bought anywhere minus the mother and father thing.

it looks very nice you guys did a great job

 

[BillyBlanco]

I see your point but I'm not concerned about knowing the common species sold there... I would think most people on here pretty much have the knowledge on jd's and oscars nailed down.

I'm more concerned about the quality of things they sell?! like most commercial businesses i cant help but picture in my head mutated jack dempseys in factories being beat with whips and forced to spawn. hahaha

with a petsmart vs lfs vs an mfk'r vs known vendor, what is the typical quality of the breeding environments? if petsmart thinks a pleco belongs in a 20g how could they possibly be good at picking out good parents, feeding well, having good living conditions? are wholesellers that sell to lfs breeding any better or cleaner? or knowing what they are doing?

 

[blksubykid]

I agree with cacihlids and that if you choose the fish with best genetics, it doesnt matter where they are from, you can have yourself one hell of a fish.

Heres my $3 glass banger, she HATES the camera. I picked her up from a local Petsmart and despite having itch, she displayed the best coloration and personality

and I dont take advice from Petsmart/Petco most of the people dont know what they are taking about (not all). If I personally have no idea on how to care for a specific fish, Ill research on my phone while Im at the shop or wait to get home and hop on my laptop.