One of the biggest problems in owning fish is finding the right fish store. Many chains and locally owned fish stores give out false information, and their tanks are not in the best shape. This article details how to tell the good stores from the bad stores. Once you find a store that fits all the criteria, you're good to go!
Step 1
Learn about keeping fish. Do research on setting up a tank, cycling, and the fish you plan on keeping.
Step 2
Look for pet stores in your area in the yellow pages or online. You may have to visit several before you find a good one.
Step 3
Go to one of the stores and look around. Is it organized well? Does it look clean? Are the staff friendly?
Step 4
Look at the tanks. Are they relatively clean? Some algae buildup is expected- all tanks have some amount of algae. But if they don't look like they've been vacuumed in a while, this may not be the best place to buy your fish.
Step 5
Look at the fish in the tanks. Are there any dead fish? If so, tell the staff. If they take care of it right away and seem concerned, that's a good sign.
Step 6
The fish should be healthy. If you see ich, torn fins, parasites, faded color, and other signs of disease, don't buy fish from that store. Chances are you will bring the disease home with you.
Step 7
There should not be any painted fish for sale. Learn about painted fish here.
Step 8
Look for information on each fish. Is it accurate? Does it tell you what you need to know?
Step 9
See what supplies they sell. Is everything easy to find? Do they have all the things you will need to set up a tank?
Step 10
Talk to the staff. This is where step number 1 comes in handy. Ask them a few questions you already know the answer to, and see if their replies match up. A few sample questions could be: How do I cycle my tank? What algae eater would be good for a 30 gallon tank? What size tank do goldfish need? The answers you get will tell you a lot about how much the staff knows.
Tips
- You can ask friends with fish for recommendations of good stores.
- If you can't find any good stores in your area, you can order fish and supplies online.
- Quarantine any new additions to help prevent the spread of disease.
Warnings
- Always do your own research. Pet stores often give out false information and bad advice, so trust them at your own risk.
