LFS vs Petco

whchever store has a larger selection and better looking specimens im buying from there. which is almost always going to be the lfs compared to petco. price will probably reflect the quality of livestock. sure at petco you can get a yellow tang for 30 dollars. but it will probably get ich once introduced and die. whereas an lfs will sell one for around 50 dollars but it will be healthy as can be.

 

Lol, just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it is any different at live aquaria! I haven't ordered from them, but am impressed by their website and have heard great things about them.
I admit cringing at some of the LFS displays, but they are helpful and I throw my business their way when possible. We don't have a petco around to my knowledge, but the local petsmart doesn't impress me with their freshwater displays.

When it comes to coral, other hobbyists coral is about all that I can afford, though, and seems to be nicer, too.8)

 

I had an ich infested Tang from the best LFS around that i paid extra for that says otherwise! With fish susceptible of Ich like Tangs I think you run a risk either way, unless your LFS treats their tanks and fish properly, which i doubt many do! Ya have to remember, depending on size, hundreds of fish get swapped in and out of the same tanks weekly! i'd say just monitor whatver your gonna buy as best ya can and read this buy vinnyboombatz;

http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/simple-rules-avoid-ich-126326.html

 

Personally, i'm going all liveaquaria for fish from now on! They aren't as pressured to sell ya something and have resources your local LFS just don't have! Plus they are actually cheaper if ya hold off for a special or bigger order! i was skepical too, but after 3 shipments and only 1 dead pepermint shrimp out of $500, I'm sold! Plus they have a 14 day guarantee, no questions asked, money just straight back on the card you used! Plus the selection can't be beat! IMO!

 

Ahhh too nervous for online in still a newbie!!

 

I have bought fish from LFS and Petco. The Petco that I go to is run by people in my local reef club. This Petco takes care of their fish since they are in the reef club and are a sponsor as well. The problem that they are having is to convince corporate for the other stores to follow their lead. That's why I only go to this one Petco.

 

Petco as with any store is as good as the employee's. I have seen some Petco/PetSmart/Walmart's have great envornments and others really crappy. My local petco I will not buy anything from, always 3/4 dead fish in the tanks(keeps the crabs and shrimp happy!!) Algee in the tanks as well. I have mentioned it to them and nothing. The petco about 20 miles away has great looking tanks and a great staff.
So, it's not always the name on the store that matters.
I do like what I see at liveaquaria, and will probably order from them when I am ready. My lfs just doesn't seem all that into SW. to small display tanks, but they do have good LR.

 

I feel many of you have mentioned owners as being important to the overall experience and I agree. That being said, who owns petco and how involved are they? Another piece that needs to be mentioned is how mug the shop spends. Just like in your tank, quality equipment makes a difference. In my town, you can't purchase quality equipment at petco and neither do they use it. The fish look terrible and the 15 year olds working there don't know what they are doing. The lfs can be bad, which still makes it considerably better then petco

 

Interesting posts from all. Just went to a fish store about an hour away, all their SW helpers have to be certified, which requires a test that needs to be passed that determines species, diseases, and everything that goes into a sw aqaurium. Impressive. Think I found my spot

 

Sounds like a winner!