Petco

[Sharkbait19]

Ive definitely noticed major improvements recently.
I used to be able to count on finding every disease under the sun there, but the fish have since appeared actually very healthy. I’m sure there is still stuff hiding but not in your face. Hopefully this trend continues and petco can become a truly reliable source of fish/inverts.

 

[TnFishwater98]

I went in to Manhattan to work at the office today, and since there’s a Petco a block away I went there on my lunch break. Went more to buy my cat a couple toys, but checked out the fish stuff while I was there — tbh it looked well-maintained and I was pleasantly surprised, including a small tank of corals. Didn’t check prices b/c I didn’t want to be tempted, but going by how nice everything looked, and how tiny these baby fish like blue tangs are in there, I can easily see how newcomers could get carried away and walk out w/a few baby angels and tangs for like a 20 gallon tank.

There was a beautiful little Midas blenny in there that was about the size of my tailspot and it intently watched me watching it w/this sweet little face. Made me feel like the puppies in pet stores that guilt you into taking them home.

All my Petco aquariums look horrible…I’ve almost tried to save a few things (if they just received) but can never get myself to pull the trigger. Not sure why they can’t keep cleanish tanks.

 

[bruno3047]

Sorry. Wrong thread.

 

[TnFishwater98]

I’ve got 4-5 petco’s around me, Only 3 do saltwater. When I go and look at the saltwater tanks they almost seem to jump and act like they are doing maintenance. They are embarrassed how they look but never fix it. It is useful to go look at crazy algae’s and such that I’ve never had. Allows me to get a first hand glimpse without it being in my tank. Lol

 

[TnFishwater98]

Does any Petsmart stores sell saltwater livestock?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Does any Petsmart stores sell saltwater livestock?

None that I know of…let’s keep it that way.
Though some may have brackish.

 

[Sean Clark]

At least they seem to feel somewhat guilty about it. Maybe that is the first step in a better direction.

 

[melonheadorion]

there are two near me. one of them is closed because they are building a new location, but that one was super clean. fish always looked healthy, with no dead fish, ever in the tank. the other one is, or at least was, iffy. previously, they always had fish sucking air, looking tattered with fin rot, visible red spots, bad algae in the tank, etc. the type that you look at, and feel bad for the fish, but dont dare take them home because its going to infect yours as well. over the last couple months, they got 2 new fish people that know what they are doing, and genuinely care for the fish. so much so that one of them will take them home to QT them if they need medicating, and even buys her own medication for things that petco just doesnt stock.
i still wouldnt buy their live rock, but their duncans are inexpensive, they will sometimes have zoas, which arent the most saught after, but are good size frag for 25$.
it really just comes down to the person that is handling their fish section. im still cautious as to what i get from them

 

[TnFishwater98]

At least they seem to feel somewhat guilty about it. Maybe that is the first step in a batter direction.

I feel it’s kinda the higher ups responsible. Either the store is lacking the necessary equipment or proper tools to do it right.

 

[TnFishwater98]

there are two near me. one of them is closed because they are building a new location, but that one was super clean. fish always looked healthy, with no dead fish, ever in the tank. the other one is, or at least was, iffy. previously, they always had fish sucking air, looking tattered with fin rot, visible red spots, bad algae in the tank, etc. the type that you look at, and feel bad for the fish, but dont dare take them home because its going to infect yours as well. over the last couple months, they got 2 new fish people that know what they are doing, and genuinely care for the fish. so much so that one of them will take them home to QT them if they need medicating, and even buys her own medication for things that petco just doesnt stock.
i still wouldnt buy their live rock, but their duncans are inexpensive, they will sometimes have zoas, which arent the most saught after, but are good size frag for 25$.
it really just comes down to the person that is handling their fish section. im still cautious as to what i get from them

My stores only carry anemones. (Bleached)

 

[ninjamyst]

Ich and skinny fish is all I see at Petco here (orlando)

 

[TnFishwater98]

Ich and skinny fish is all I see at Petco here (orlando)

Figured they would be better in Florida but with all the crazy competition around it’s hard for them to keep up…?

 

[Sharkbait19]

To be honest, I have also noticed recently that all my local petcos have gotten better in quality for their reptiles and birds, and the staff is generally better. I wonder if there was some kind of change in policy…

 

[TnFishwater98]

I’ve noticed recently that all my local petcos have gotten better in quality. I wonder if there was some kind of change in policy…

Makes me want to take a drive and check it out!

 

[melonheadorion]

also, i have seen a couple fish at petco that you probably wouldnt find at your average fish store. one of them had a sand colored flouder of some type. the type that lay flat on teh gravel. and then the one in the picture. the one hiding in the back

 

[TnFishwater98]

also, i have seen a couple fish at petco that you probably wouldnt find at your average fish store. one of them had a sand colored flouder of some type. the type that lay flat on teh gravel. and then the one in the picture

Wisconsin, ehh?

 

[Tray21]

The Petco that is closest to me has a good aquarium manager and staff that care and are actually knowledgeable. The tanks always look great. Every so often when im in there Ill see maybe one or two dead fish in the freshwater tanks but never seen any that are dead in the saltwater tanks. They even have a fairly decent frag rack that has recently had some really good looking hammers for around 60 bucks.
The other Petco locations around me have consistently dirty tanks and a fair amount of fish that die soon after they get them in stock.

 

[TnFishwater98]

The Petco that is closest to me has a good aquarium manager and staff that care and are actually knowledgeable. The tanks always look great. Every so often when im in there Ill see maybe one or two dead fish in the freshwater tanks but never seen any that are dead in the saltwater tanks. They even have a fairly decent frag rack that has recently had some really good looking hammers for around 60 bucks.
The other Petco locations around me have consistently dirty tanks and a fair amount of fish that die soon after they get them in stock.

Do they sell frag racks and such or the same stuff they sell everywhere

 

[TnFishwater98]

I might go snag some pics

 

[Tray21]

Do they sell frag racks and such or the same stuff they sell everywhere

Pretty much the same stuff but they have had a good selection by petco standards of coral frags. I talked to the manager the other day and he was saying that if there was something i was looking for in particular they would special order it.