[Hollywood]

How do I know where to buy fish? My local 'petco' sells a nice amount of saltwater species and they always seem active in the tanks, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are healthy. Is it worth finding a LFS and paying a bit more because maybe they know more???

[Reefland]

If you can find a good LFS then support their activities. Otherwise, there are many reputable online sellers of fish. Liveaquaria, Marine Depot Live, The Marine Center all always have a good selection. Many of the other sellers often have a few nice fish for sale as well.

[leebca]

Something must have gone wrong with my reply post. Maybe I hit the wrong button. Anyway, here is about what I previously wrote:

You can good fish from PetCo and bad fish from the LFS. The buyer must be ware. Here is a good read on how to pick out a fish:
Is The Fish Healthy?

Just be cautious about taking advice from people selling products or fishes. Check out any advice by posting questions here on Reefland and by asking other aquarists their experience.

[matt_wahoo]

Dont buy fish from petco. I used to work there and many many fish come in with ich and other diseases. No meds can be used in the system so they do things like lower the salinity and raise the temp. They have some p and ps they will never help a fish. They would rather have the fish die than treat it correctly. Besides most of the people who work there dont really have a clue abouth the fish or how to care for them.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by matt_wahoo

Dont buy fish from petco. I used to work there and many many fish come in with ich and other diseases. No meds can be used in the system so they do things like lower the salinity and raise the temp. They have some p and ps they will never help a fish. They would rather have the fish die than treat it correctly. Besides most of the people who work there dont really have a clue abouth the fish or how to care for them.

Now that's just so sad... I do agree that buying anything from petco may lead to some really unpleasant experiences.
I also agree with Reefland on his online vendor suggestions. Marine Center in Dallas has probably the most rare and unusual fishes and probably some of the most healthy ones as well.

[emperorangel]

hi

I like to just add I get all my fish from Live Aquaria and there is no signs of parasites or diseases.

Unfortunely I went the cheap way and got one from another dealer and got internal parasite.

Stick with the good ones even if you have to paid a little for the fish. The hassle is really not worth it.

[reseter5]

check out nyaquatic.com.. this guy does it out if his house.. he got tired of buying fish from local stores to have them diseased and die... all his fish are quaratined.. medicated and feeding ... if not he wont sell them... and his prices are real good.. and cheap on shipping.....
also sealifeinc.net this guy is a marine bilogist in florida and has the same quality as ny aquatic and great shipping... i never had any problems with either of them... and if a fish died they replaced it with the next order....

[Hebert2580]

Dont Buy From Petco, There's one here in florida, There fish always get sick and die. and there live rock is man made, not true fiji live rock.

[tullsterx]

I think it depends on the fish and buyer. Research and know something about the species and what to look for in a healthy one. But, I've never bought from a chain pet store.

I've never tried the mail-order thing. I'm setting up a new tank and I might have to try that out.

[Samper]

Does anyone have a contact # for the marine center?

[zhenya]

Chuck,

I only have their web address The Marine Center: Your source for the rarest, net-collected fish and corals
Try emailing them and see if you can get their phone number. I know I had it somehwere but I haven't ordered from them in a while so I can;t find it anywhere in my records.

[Samper]

I've emailed them twice with no reply. Hmmm.

[rededteck]

I am an advocate of supporting the LFS. You can view the fish you want and ensure it is eating. No matter where you buy your fish there will always be a risk, however I have had greater success with my LFS than mail order.

[Samper]

Having nothing really local I go online for my stuff. In the past and recently I ordered from Live Aquaria. I have never had parasite problems and the fish always eat the day they arrive. I have also ordered from bluezooaquatics and they have been very pleasant to deal with. I found a parasititic worm on a blenny that came in from them. I plan to order from marinecenter the next time I need to do so but I don't like that there is a minimum amount to purchase and the fact that they never emailed me back.

[BinaryReefer]

I also have had great success with liveaquaria. My 6 line, lemonpeel, and royal gamma are from there.

[art_of_war]

I have yet to see a PetCo that hires anyone with any brains. It cost too much and no one really cares. I don't even know why they stock saltwater fish.