Your LFS is on trial

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sc8kv123

sc8kv123

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What questions do you ask your local fish/coral provider before you actually making a purchase? What have you been told that have turned you away from a purchase?

I'm still learning and want to know what I need to investigate before I make a purchase. I'm sure this will also help future newbie reefers to feel more confident in their purchases and their LFS. Thanks!
 
I'm really lucky - the woman who runs the shop where I buy really cares about her fish. Her tanks don't look so hot - and she has some fish that will never sell - but she cares for them anyway. You know she has fish that some customer gave her with HLLE that shes still looking for a home for a year later...

I always ask when the fish came in...is it eating...and she always shows me...If the fish is new - or if its not eating yet...she holds it until its ready...and usually won't let me take any fish thats not ready in her opinion. Shes always got something new and unusual - and good advice on compatability and if she doesn't have it she will find it for me.

She gives me little baggies with different medicines to add to the acclimation water with very specific instruction of how many drops to add, when and for how long...its a little weird.

She never nets a fish. She always scoops it out with a clear plastic container - how she can catch them is amazing.

Her english is not perfect and communication is a little difficult sometimes...but shes a gem and I won't buy fish anywhere else.

So just to sum it up...its not so much the questions you need to ask - but the shop you need to evaluate. Look at their stock - if you see a sick fish - ask how they are treating it - or better yet ask to buy it and see if they're willing to sell it to you. If they are - run.

See if they care for their animals or only for a sale.
 
@robert

That must be amazing. Knowing that your stock is coming from a true fellow hobbyist/aquatic lover. Her love and dedication is inspiring, she obviously takes a lot of consideration into her work. Having a friend like that is a blessing.
 
There is ONE LFS in this area that isn't a big box store. It's saltwater only and according to a few people it's a great place. I'm sure it is, IF you can wedge your way into their little "club". They're simply not beginner friendly. Every answer to a question is preceded by an eye roll while looking down their nose. Every time I've gone in there the only customers have been male and the owners are always open & friendly with them. They exit and they're left with me and the atmosphere shifts to disdain. I'm treated like I'm just a lookie-lu that is going to buy a few fish, let them die and be done with it. I'm not worth their time to share their passion and help me do things right. It sucks, because anything else is an hour or more away. I just keep chipping away at their shell. I haven't bought a single fish from them, but I have bought supplies and asked questions over the last year, I've done my best to show them I'm sincere, interested and willing to listen. THAT is why I have spent so much time reading everything I can get my hands on.

I will be looking for a SW fish store in Seattle or Tacoma eventually, but for now, this is the place I go. I *DO* trust them to not steer me wrong and to not sell me a fish that isn't ready or shouldn't be sold. They DO take wonderful care of their fish and tanks. They just haven't warmed up to me yet, maybe.
 
questions I tend to ask may not apply to all LFS.

  1. I ask what their procedures are when they get new fish.
  2. I ask what their water parameters are, and if I can test them.
  3. I ask if they dip their corals and if so in what.
  4. I ask where they get their stock from, most will tell me, some wont.
  5. I ask how long the fish/coral has been there that im looking at.
  6. I tend to ask questions regarding certain corals to test their knowledge. being more educated on the topic can save you money. many people who work in a LFS don't know much about coral as their training tends to be "read this" and that's it.
none of the above questions will guarantee I purchase something and none of them will make me walk out. but the better they answer the questions the more confident I feel about their livestock.
 
#1 I always ask the water perimeters to find out how much acclimation stress il be putting on the animal

#2 are the fish tanks medicated? Medicated fish = less potential health problems. Quarantine is still recommendable.

#3 animal origin. Is it captive raise or pulled out of the ocean. Captive raise animals are use to tank life and don't mind. But ocean animals some times react negatively to there new home(a box)
It's raver hard to decide when to get ocean or captive. I prefer to get all the experience and delicate stuff captive.

Hope this helps Jakub
 
basically, if the coral looks healthy, if the fish look healthy, and theyre not over priced you should feel safe buying from there. you can dip your own coral and quarantine your own fish. but the better they look when you buy them the better the chances are they'll survive. but it is always good to find an LFS where the common workers know what theyre doing. I do my best not to talk to owners or managers even though sometimes their lack of knowledge surprises me.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
Valkyrie said:
There is ONE LFS in this area that isn't a big box store. It's saltwater only and according to a few people it's a great place. I'm sure it is, IF you can wedge your way into their little "club". They're simply not beginner friendly. Every answer to a question is preceded by an eye roll while looking down their nose. Every time I've gone in there the only customers have been male and the owners are always open & friendly with them. They exit and they're left with me and the atmosphere shifts to disdain. I'm treated like I'm just a lookie-lu that is going to buy a few fish, let them die and be done with it. I'm not worth their time to share their passion and help me do things right. It sucks, because anything else is an hour or more away. I just keep chipping away at their shell. I haven't bought a single fish from them, but I have bought supplies and asked questions over the last year, I've done my best to show them I'm sincere, interested and willing to listen. THAT is why I have spent so much time reading everything I can get my hands on.

I will be looking for a SW fish store in Seattle or Tacoma eventually, but for now, this is the place I go. I *DO* trust them to not steer me wrong and to not sell me a fish that isn't ready or shouldn't be sold. They DO take wonderful care of their fish and tanks. They just haven't warmed up to me yet, maybe.
Click to expand...
I use Barrier Reef Aquariums in Renton and Oceans by Design in Tukwila :) So far the experience has been great, and the Barrier Reef crew includes a couple of female enthusiasts :)
 
I don't care about any of these things. I ask them a question that I already know the answer to, then I see how they respond. If they are truthful, then I give them a chance. Otherwise, they will never get my business. I don't have many choices, so that's my decision algorithm.
 
Well, I think I know who @robert is describing but I'll have to ask him. I've also had good luck here despite first impressions.

I think 95% of the information about an LFS is gained by observing the fish and their tank: are they eating? Do they seem happy? Are there dead coral/inverts/fish in the tank? You usually know most of the story at face value.

You get the next 5% from asking: How long have you had this fish? How was it quarantined? For most stores the answer is: I don't know.

If a store can tell you that a fish has been there for a week or two and talk about quarantine and things look good, you hit the 1% LFS jackpot.
 
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Top Shelf Aquatics
Yes - it is Tropical Fish International on Saratoga. Irene is the owner. Don't be put off by the looks of the place. The lady knows how to take care of her fish - if she doesn't have it she will find it - ask her and she'll hold it for you and will make sure its healthy and eating before you take it home.
 
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I mainly observe the animals for a little while. Fish I make sure they are active without any spots. I run a quick forum search and do some reading and pull up a few youtube videos. I ask if they have been eating whether they can feed them for me. I wouldnt purchase any fish that hasnt been eating in front of me.
With corals I look at polyp extension and look very closely for signs of any pests or tissue recession.

I don't really ask any questions other. The majority of people that work at lfs are mainly kids that dont know too much or old timers with out dated info. You have a device in your pocket that can access all the information known to man, use it!
 
Whenever I ask anyone a question on any product that I'm looking to purchase, understand there is a very good chance I already know the answer. And in today's digital world everyone has this ability.
 
Deltec
I found that building a good relationship with the lfs is also really important. I have a store I've been using for 5 years and they have denied me live stock at the beginning cuz I was a nub and it would die and times cuz my water was bad. Later denied cuz fish was new to the store. I trust all the employees there. Imo. It's not just questions it's the hole environment
 
Valkyrie said:
There is ONE LFS in this area that isn't a big box store. It's saltwater only and according to a few people it's a great place. I'm sure it is, IF you can wedge your way into their little "club". They're simply not beginner friendly. Every answer to a question is preceded by an eye roll while looking down their nose. Every time I've gone in there the only customers have been male and the owners are always open & friendly with them. They exit and they're left with me and the atmosphere shifts to disdain. I'm treated like I'm just a lookie-lu that is going to buy a few fish, let them die and be done with it. I'm not worth their time to share their passion and help me do things right. It sucks, because anything else is an hour or more away. I just keep chipping away at their shell. I haven't bought a single fish from them, but I have bought supplies and asked questions over the last year, I've done my best to show them I'm sincere, interested and willing to listen. THAT is why I have spent so much time reading everything I can get my hands on.

I will be looking for a SW fish store in Seattle or Tacoma eventually, but for now, this is the place I go. I *DO* trust them to not steer me wrong and to not sell me a fish that isn't ready or shouldn't be sold. They DO take wonderful care of their fish and tanks. They just haven't warmed up to me yet, maybe.
Click to expand...
Don't even get me started on this. Being a female that started in this hobby when I was just a kid I have been looked down at many a lfs. Just keep showing them. I ended up working for one of these places that thought I couldn't possibly know what I was talking about.

As for the original question. Ask what the fish are eating and to see them eat. How long they have been there and where they came from. What methods the store uses for disease control.
 
Your local fish store is so important. I would be lost without them and would have quit a long time ago. I think if you just spend some time getting to know them you will be a customer for life. If you do not get a good vibe keep looking.
Nitro
 
Locally we have many lfs & fortunately for most of us, majority of lfs' are located within central Toronto vicinity. I only visit ones that I really trust the most & who I have good rapport with in terms of friendship and honesty. I do realise that there's haters of certain lfs and I for one do not want this negative aspect to influence my point of view. It's more like natural instinct and you can feel the good vibe when you communicate with individual lfs owners.

I have been friends with a few lfs owners ever since I started this saltwater hobby & over time we know each others family members ... you come to know their pains and sufferings (personal lives) and try to be there for them.

Certain lfs owner are not so willing to share their "hard to find" collections (via fragging or propagate) and what's really sad is when the collections ended up dead and can't be located nor collected anymore ... that's foolish & selfish IMO
 
BRS

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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