Petsmart Fish

tgbaby1 · 12/01/2007, 01:16 PM

does anyone buy marine fish from petsmart, i saw a couple fish the other day that didnt look bad but was wondering if they would last or die on the way home.

davocean · 12/01/2007, 01:22 PM

Can depend on petsmart and who works fish dept, but usually not the healthiest fish.
I'd QT for sure.

walkerbrody · 12/01/2007, 02:00 PM

I wen't to petsmart yesterday here in Gadsden, Al. They had a longfin bannerfish, two spot goby, a coral beauty, and several tangs all covered in ick. Also had a carpet Anemone almost dead under low lighting. Im supprised something isn't done about this. I complained but it was obvious they didnt care/understand. I purchased my supplies elsewhere.

Nicholas89 · 12/01/2007, 02:04 PM

I didn't know petsmart carried saltwater fish. Mine sure doesn't.

ariel47 · 12/01/2007, 02:07 PM

mine doesn't either.

syrinx · 12/01/2007, 02:07 PM

the question is not so much the quality of the people at the store- in as much as where they get their stock to begin with. There can be no blanket statments made about any chain or even low quality LFS`s, as occasionally a good specimin can be obtained. Purchasing any fish without having your own quaranteen tank set up is asking for problems.

ariel47 · 12/01/2007, 02:09 PM

the freshwaterfish at mine looks healthy.

dantonac · 12/01/2007, 03:06 PM

The problem I have with stores like these is the people working there simply do not know how to care for salt water fish. Some stores may have folks who know what they are doing, but I don't think it is a job requirement.

Yesterday I was at one picking up supplies and I noticed they had only fresh water fish. When I checked out the checker asked me about my salt tank. She then explained that they used to carry salt water fish, but had to stop because they couldn't keep them alive.

I asked why they couldn't keep them alive and she said because the water in the area is so bad. I thought to myself "Self, there are numerous fish stores with the same water supply doing good business with salt water livestock".

I told her that tap water shouldn't be used without filtration with salt water and she said she knew that and they did filter it, but couldn't say with what. She said even after filtering it the water was really bad. Clearly they weren't using RO/DI.

She then said they were going to get back into salt water, but first had to find a local supplier of good water to make daily deliveries.

I tell ya.

reefergeorge · 12/01/2007, 03:51 PM

I bought a clown for $6 dollars three years ago, as my first sw fish. It has been living happily till this morning when my ******* porcupine puffer took him out. RIP. He was my favorite fish.

With that said. I think mine has one guy that knows what he is talking about, but they sure don't let him get the equipment he needs to keep everything healthy. I have seen some pretty bad looking fish/corals in there.

Dave E · 12/01/2007, 04:12 PM

Are you talking PetsMart or PetCo.PetsMart Westcoast does not stock/keep SW Livestock.Now PetCo does and at times has some nice stuff.Like most Large Warehouse Stores Not all fish department employees are trained and like ours when The Salt Water guy went to work for one of the local reefstores they moved a person from the reptile area to fish! Just make sure you ask questions.

tgbaby1 · 12/01/2007, 04:24 PM

my bad, i meant petco. our petsmart doesnt carry anyting but freshwater either.

RBTA · 12/01/2007, 04:41 PM

Yeah, I'm pretty sure petsmart does not carry saltwater fish period, at least thats what I was told. However the Petcos around here do, occasionally they have some healthy stuff, generally not the healthiest though. But I have bought fish from them before that are still living. And a lot of prices are decent.

usmc121581 · 12/01/2007, 04:45 PM

I have yet to come across a Petco that had at least descent stuff. They should just be banned from selling SW period.

Zestay · 12/01/2007, 05:15 PM

ask for an application. when they ask what job you want say saltwater division manager supervisor.

12/01/2007, 01:16 PM	#1
tgbaby1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: KC Posts: 155	Petsmart Fish does anyone buy marine fish from petsmart, i saw a couple fish the other day that didnt look bad but was wondering if they would last or die on the way home.

12/01/2007, 01:22 PM	#2
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Can depend on petsmart and who works fish dept, but usually not the healthiest fish. I'd QT for sure. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

12/01/2007, 02:00 PM	#3
walkerbrody lost ball in high weeds Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gadsden, Al Posts: 504	I wen't to petsmart yesterday here in Gadsden, Al. They had a longfin bannerfish, two spot goby, a coral beauty, and several tangs all covered in ick. Also had a carpet Anemone almost dead under low lighting. Im supprised something isn't done about this. I complained but it was obvious they didnt care/understand. I purchased my supplies elsewhere. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." — Henry Ford Current Tank Info: 265 mixed reef, 110 fowlr, 40g fuge, 75g sump.

12/01/2007, 02:07 PM	#6
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	the question is not so much the quality of the people at the store- in as much as where they get their stock to begin with. There can be no blanket statments made about any chain or even low quality LFS`s, as occasionally a good specimin can be obtained. Purchasing any fish without having your own quaranteen tank set up is asking for problems. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

12/01/2007, 03:51 PM	#9
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	I bought a clown for $6 dollars three years ago, as my first sw fish. It has been living happily till this morning when my ******* porcupine puffer took him out. RIP. He was my favorite fish. With that said. I think mine has one guy that knows what he is talking about, but they sure don't let him get the equipment he needs to keep everything healthy. I have seen some pretty bad looking fish/corals in there. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

12/01/2007, 02:04 PM	#4
Nicholas89 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 218	I didn't know petsmart carried saltwater fish. Mine sure doesn't.

12/01/2007, 02:07 PM	#5
ariel47 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ms Posts: 638	mine doesn't either.

12/01/2007, 02:09 PM	#7
ariel47 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ms Posts: 638	the freshwaterfish at mine looks healthy.

12/01/2007, 03:06 PM	#8
dantonac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 29	The problem I have with stores like these is the people working there simply do not know how to care for salt water fish. Some stores may have folks who know what they are doing, but I don't think it is a job requirement. Yesterday I was at one picking up supplies and I noticed they had only fresh water fish. When I checked out the checker asked me about my salt tank. She then explained that they used to carry salt water fish, but had to stop because they couldn't keep them alive. I asked why they couldn't keep them alive and she said because the water in the area is so bad. I thought to myself "Self, there are numerous fish stores with the same water supply doing good business with salt water livestock". I told her that tap water shouldn't be used without filtration with salt water and she said she knew that and they did filter it, but couldn't say with what. She said even after filtering it the water was really bad. Clearly they weren't using RO/DI. She then said they were going to get back into salt water, but first had to find a local supplier of good water to make daily deliveries. I tell ya.

12/01/2007, 04:12 PM	#10
Dave E Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Elk Grove, CA 95758 Posts: 150	Are you talking PetsMart or PetCo.PetsMart Westcoast does not stock/keep SW Livestock.Now PetCo does and at times has some nice stuff.Like most Large Warehouse Stores Not all fish department employees are trained and like ours when The Salt Water guy went to work for one of the local reefstores they moved a person from the reptile area to fish! Just make sure you ask questions.

12/01/2007, 04:24 PM	#11
tgbaby1 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: KC Posts: 155	my bad, i meant petco. our petsmart doesnt carry anyting but freshwater either.

12/01/2007, 04:41 PM	#12
RBTA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DE Posts: 573	Yeah, I'm pretty sure petsmart does not carry saltwater fish period, at least thats what I was told. However the Petcos around here do, occasionally they have some healthy stuff, generally not the healthiest though. But I have bought fish from them before that are still living. And a lot of prices are decent. Last edited by RBTA; 12/01/2007 at 05:05 PM.

12/01/2007, 04:45 PM	#13
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I have yet to come across a Petco that had at least descent stuff. They should just be banned from selling SW period. __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

12/01/2007, 05:15 PM	#14
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	ask for an application. when they ask what job you want say saltwater division manager supervisor.