Look at what petco does to coral:(

[caver]

Some petco's have issues but I am also seen threads on here that there is good petco's out there. I just think that overall it is a huge company and as with everything there is good an bad. I think it is a great option to support stores weather it is a petco or an LFS that does a good job and no support/ report stores that are not taking care of animals. My guess as many have mentioned some employee's don't care or don't have the knowledge to take care of the animals they are tasked with. I have a local Petco that has some great stock and a good aquatics person but if you go in there when that one person is not working others haven't a clue and would probably sell me a saltwater snail and tell me to put into freshwater tank.

 

[Bnutz]

Petco is really hit and miss near me. I think it depends on who works that department that week. If the actually know the names of the animals it is a good sign.

 

[Sarcazian]

I was surprised that my local Petco had corals (softies mostly) in stock the last time I was there. I have been stopping by weekly for dog/fish stuff and was itching to pick up a fish to cycle. I've been down that boat 10-15 years ago and I had to talk myself out of that and waiting for TSM Aquatics.

Their tank was soo dirty and everything looked so sick. Even visible ich on some of the fish, but that is not totally a shocker given the water conditions.

Part of me is hoping that someone new came in though and is cleaning up. When I picked up my Evo 13.5 ($80 on sale + coupon) the one guy was super interested and talking about starting a tank (mid December).

Now, go back to this weekend, the tanks were all dark, a sign with fish are under observation, and a grey brute was sitting in front of the display with salt water mix in it. So, I guess they are trying. It seems strange that they added corals just as the tank was crashing though.

 

[X-37B]

I would not buy cat food from Petco, lol.
I see dead fish and coral at all the lfs I visit too.
Like anything some are worse than others.
The local petco's coral and fish actually look ok.
I would not buy any though.
Lfs jokes when I point out dead fish or corals and say they are half price.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I’ve been to Petcos almost as good as LFS stores and others that are atrocious. I bought my first couple of corals from a Petco, and they turned out fine. I suppose you could say I “rescued” them. The main concern I have with petcos is the general lack of knowledge and the ich/velvet. Although the corals I bought there did fine, my fish got velvet and died.

 

[62518161]

Wow... another petco thread.

 

[Jriv86]

I ended up going back and picking one of them up a week ago. It was the one that was middle row very far back. It's doing great now.

 

[fade2black]

The Petco by me closed a couple of years ago. I would buy tanks there maybe if they were on sale. Never bought a living thing from them though. Kind of glad they closed it.

 

[Alan_J_MN]

My only local option is Petco (2 of them, actually). A year ago, both of them were pretty good. . Clean tanks, healthy looking fish and nems. I bought several fish from them, including my yellow and hippo tangs and never had diseases issues.
They must have had employee turnover because the tanks in both are now pretty sad and neglected.
On a side note, they occasionally have something unusual, maybe from a local reefer. I doubt this came in from a supplier...

 

[Jriv86]

My only local option is Petco (2 of them, actually). A year ago, both of them were pretty good. . Clean tanks, healthy looking fish and nems. I bought several fish from them, including my yellow and hippo tangs and never had diseases issues.
They must have had employee turnover because the tanks in both are now pretty sad and neglected.
On a side note, they occasionally have something unusual, maybe from a local reefer. I doubt this came in from a supplier...

God dang that's big especially for 45$

 

[fcmatt]

Flatworms would be an obvious pest that will come with them.