Calling all Pet Shops

Because aquariums are one of the most popular hobbies in the world, even small towns often have several locations that sell fish and supplies. Whether new to aquaria, or a long time expert, we are all faced with the same dilemma.... what shop should we make our purchases from? Choosing a shop is one of the most important decisions a hobbyist makes. Here are things I consider when looking over the contenders for my business.

Store Conditions
Is there dust on the items stocked on the shelves? Are the floors clean and dry? Are the exteriors of the tanks and stands clean? A store that is generally not well kept makes me suspicious of it's quality even before I look at the fish!

Tank Conditions
Are the tanks free of algae and the water crystal clear? Is the water level in the tank filled close to the top, is water movement visible in the tank, and are the tanks well covered and lighted? If the tanks and water are not clean, or they poorly lit, and the water levels low, it sends off alarms in my head. I also look for nets haphazardly left laying around... a dirty net can easily spread diseases from one tank to another.

Fish Conditions
Are the fish perky and healthy looking? Ragged fins and listless behavior are a bad sign. Are there any dead are sick fish? All stores will have deaths and disease at some time (it's a fact of life), but good stores will remove dead and diseased fish quickly. You should never see the skeletal or decomposed remains of a fish! Run for the hills if you do.

Store Personnel
Do the staff ask you questions before selling you fish? Top notch stores will make sure you aren't making a blunder like overstocking your tank, or putting the wrong fish together (the two most common mistakes for beginners). Ask about the proper food and tank conditions for the fish you are going to purchase they should know those things (or find a coworker who does).

Livestock Guarantees
Good stores will have at least a 48 hour replacement policy for live purchases. They should ask you to return the deceased fish as well as a water sample for testing. If they don't you should be wondering why they replace fish carte blanche... is it because they often sell diseases or stressed fish, and expect to replace them??

Specialty or General Pet store
Although not all mega pet stores are bad, those that carry everything under the sun (ie: dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, reptiles, etc) often don't have the depth of expertise in aquariums that a specialty store does. I've also found that locally owned stores are more likely to be concerned about you than corporate chain stores are.

Submit your Recommendations!
I've told you what I look for in a shop, now share your personal critiques of shops that you have visited. To make the feedback uniform, please use the list of questions below to rank each store you'd like to submit. There is no limit to the number of stores you can critique. Feel free to critique stores that others have submitted critiques for (the more the merrier) Send your responses to Freshaquarium Guide. Responses will be compiled into a list that everyone can access. Thanks!

Shop Name:
Shop Address:
Shop Phone:
Rank each item below from 1-10 (10 the best, 1 the worst)
Livestock:
Staff:
Equipment:
Price:

* Art and photos are the property of Shirlie Sharpe. If you use them please write for permission.