What do you want from a local fish store?

[GrahamR]

Hi all! I just wanted to start this topic. I am curious about what everyone looks at when deeming a local fish store a great place for shopping. What do you look for? What makes you return?

For me I am looking for a nice combination of well thought out systems (both fish and coral frags). I prefer places that do not house fish with their corals/invertebrates. The reason for this is the risk of contamination my tank with parasites of fish that may be encysted on the live rock/plug that the coral is attached to. Without the fish I am free to quarantine the coral for a shorter amount of time.

Another thing that I hate encountering is the dreaded stores that do not have prices clearly indicated or those stores that do not post prices at all! Why?! WHY does this happen? It instantly turns me off the entire store.

In my mind the better stores are those that have staff that are willing to help their customers and places that make knowing the prices of their stock known! I've been to places before where I've been completely ignored by the staff and the worst thing is when a group of presumed workers are sitting around chatting and when I ask one I am told that they don't work here! Anyway, I am getting off topic...

What are you looking for in a local fish store?

 

[Squishie89]

Right now all I want from a specific LFS is nametags on the people and some lower prices =P
What I want from LFS: acceptance and encouragement. I think this is huge. It is hard jumping into SW, but if you have people to help you along the way, especially in person, it can be a huge help. Suitable tanks and decorations/substrate. I am someone who looks at the things a lot of people don't. I will judge a store based on putting X fish in X size tank. Putting a medium-full grown eel in the regular 10-20g just doesn't bode well with me. They know, or should, know better, and if they don't, what else are they missing or neglecting? Knowledge. When I was researching prices for things, I asked an employee if their live rock was cured or uncured, and she had no idea what I was talking about, not just in the sense of what the difference between cured and uncured, but closer to just knowing it was rock and rock can't come any other way. I asked another employee because I started thinking I had read something wrong, but he knew the difference. Unique Items. If all I wanted was to come see regular orange and white clown fish, I could go to petco or petsmart. Seeing adorable Anglers or a curious bird wrasse or a tiny horde of tiny puffers makes my day. Plus this can open my mind to species I had not considered or heard about. Not jumping for a sale. This is extremely important to me as someone who truly cares about animals/pets. Selling someone a whole set up and fish (God forbid a SW set up and fish) makes me quite unhappy. I know there is instant nitrifying bacteria and all that other start up stuff, but that doesn't replace getting to know the ins and outs of taking care of a fish tank. If I had gone home with my entire set up and critters, I would have been screwed! Now it had been well over a decade since I had properly owned a fish, so I was rusty to say the least despite all my research. But actually having a tank full of water and sand and equipment is still something that needs to be learned, especially maintaining it. And I feel it is best to learn with the least amount of casualties as possible.
This turned out a lot longer than I had originally planned, but, this is stuff that means a lot to me.

 

[*SENSI*]

i agree a LFS that isnt out there to sell me product just to sell it to me, to inform me with a yea or nay that wont work with ur tank or u shoud hold off b4 getting sumthing like this or that.. i jus took over a tank in oct. 2012 an i will say one thing i have been having nothing but fun with this process an learnin an when they are closed comming up here to get sum late night feed back, but i hear ppl bad mouth this store an that store, i go an check it out myself i make my own decision jus because they had a bad experience or jus didnt bother asking the right questions, i mean if i still lived on the east coast id have a ton of places 2 go, but im in Glendale, Az., an ive found my store for the time being,but all-in-all i am looking for courteous, knowledgeable, treats me like a person not a number to fatten their pockets.

 

[tomterreefic]

+1 for selling me only what I need and/or is compatible with my system.

I prefer prices that are either marked or at list a price sheet.

I prefer locally owned to chain LFS. I prefer the owner be a hobbyist who happens to be in business as opposed to one selling dog food who stumbled across a local reef club and decided to tap into that source of revenue.

I prefer an LFS that keeps the store clean and keeps the tanks clean. If you don't care enough to dust your dry goods, what are neglecting in your systems?

I prefer an LFS that actually QTs their fish prior to sale. In the world of fast turnover, too many LFS just dump the livestock into their systems without even drip acclimation (let alone actual QT).

I prefer an LFS that supports & promotes the local club(s) as a means to promote the hobby and preserve the environment.


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[Pappy]

A qt section for their coral and another for their fish. Shows they're not just a chop shop. Also tanks with fish that are medicated regularly.

 

[chort55]

Another thing that I hate encountering is the dreaded stores that do not have prices clearly indicated or those stores that do not post prices at all! Why?! WHY does this happen? It instantly turns me off the entire store.

I always find it somewhat laughable when I see this.... Fish ok sure it isn't normally to bad to be able to do this, but at my LFS (coral wise) with 1. the turnover alone it would be difficult. and 2. the sheer volume you would not see what was in the tank if alllllll the prices were scribled on the large coral tanks! I'd rather see the pieces then the price anyway lol


Personally I don't care about much other then having hot stuff and lots of it. It doesn't have to be clean and perfect, it doesn't have to make my responsibility of QT any easier, it doesn't need to tell me what I need to get..... My tank isn't clean and perfect, and it is my responsibility to do my homework on what will and will not work, or what I am or am not capable of keeping alive. I just want sweet fish and coral, along with the occasional dry good when I need it (and I have no problem waiting to get it brought in even, I'd have to wait if I ordered it online and this way I support the LFS not an online not going to be there if you really need it online only place). Knowledge is nice tho because it makes it more fun to talk to someone who is educated about something I love then a brick wall, but honestly I could buy what I buy from a well trained monkey if it came down to it as long as the pieces were hott!