Store Frustrations
 

What frustrates you about our local fish stores?

I have 2 gripes first thing on a Monday morning

Fish - being sold a fish that isn't what you are told it is. Checking pricing and because its not the same fish, being overcharged. Ya ya on the research - when buying wrasses, there is great variety. But if the store says its one fish, check pricing and sell it and you don't get what you paid for its a bit frustrating.

Corals - Was at Big Al's over the weekend and they are selling red mushrooms at $89.00 - WTH???? I sell them out of my tank for $5.00.

I know these store forums pop up every now and again and this is a repeat subject......Just needed to vent.

/Rant

Im with you, its nice to vent sometimes, Big Als and Pisces both seem to have crazy prices on coral, and low survival rates. I usually buy from wais, still pricey but at least it lives, and your dealing with the guy who owns the place so you can always try to bargain. :)

Big als sells to the beginner so anythingvbig and bright sells for a lot things that move also appeal to the beginner so Xenia sells and so does gsp

I love J&L, probably wouldn't shop (physically) anywhere else, but the store, and the website could use a renovation.

$150 for a Ushio 250W MH bulb at Big Al's cheeses me off. No guarantees on marine fish makes me angry. $12/lb for live rock makes me red in the face.

Then there's the whole Calgary retail thing of avoiding customers and never having an item in stock "we can order it for you". Thanks if I wanted to wait for an order I could order it myself...

So true lol

Our local store currently has 2 moorish idols in their tanks. There are ZERO people here that have the ability to keep these fish successfully long term. Theres also a panther grouper in the tank that I'm sure will be in and out of the store repeatedly over the next few months/years as it grows (if it lives that long). Not sure why the owner likes ordering these fish in.

I typically do not buy livestock from the big box stores. We were in the area so stopped in. There's another one who receives gorgeous fish, but they always look so sick and unhealthy. I'm not sure who would spend $100+ on a fish that needs a lot of work to get healthy, if it even survives the trip home. I know people QT their fish, but it seems like such a risk. I bought 2 fish from there once, wiped out my tank. Never, ever again.

We do have great stores here, some that go above and beyond so we are lucky that way.

The only place I will buy fish from is Gold's , or another reefer. I still go to the other shops but usually do not buy so I get treated crappy , this also helps keep me from buying. To me a LFS should be aware that some people that have been doing this a long time might not have room for new addition's. Im at the point where Im just looking for really specific piece's, so there will be times I go to look and not going to buy if they do not have what Im looking for. The employees/owners should still be friendly with you.....

There's no one in Nanaimo that could keep a Moorish Idol? Seems strange, I would think that there would be quite a few people that are serious marine aquarists.