This is a pretty straight forward issue for me, though perhaps for you it is not. Let me shed some light on my reasoning as to which stores I shop at. As for many of us, I rank convenience high on my Pros n Cons list. With caveats of course. It depends on what I am shopping for. The only reason I shop at a big box store these days is for $1 per gallon sales and every once in a while just to see what they carry and check the sales. A while back I was looking for variatus platies and I just happened to find them at a Petco, after I had looked all over town for them at LFS’s.
Of the big box pet stores, Petco has had what I am looking for more often than any of the others. Petsmart is ok too, but frankly why shop there when their prices are no better than the LFS and the quality is much less? I know the stores vary by location so if you have the option to shop around, it often pays off. The other thing I am aware of is that many smaller towns just don’t have a LFS. I get it, do what you must. My second choice after the LFS would be to shop online from Aquarium Coop or Amazon, at least this way it is delivered. Though, I simply will not buy aquariums through the mail, there is too much risk and it takes too long. Again it depends on the availability of quality LFS in your area. I am blessed with many choices! For which I am grateful.
This will be a short blog, because I just wanted to clear the air around this most common of questions when it comes to shopping for aquarium supplies, fish, or plants. If I am shopping for fish or plants I go to my LFS first without a doubt. The quality at your LFS is better in every way, advice, health, selection and service. I do recommend shopping around so you get to know the LFS and other options in your area. Different stores will shine in different ways and this is where this blog comes in. I cannot say I have been to every LFS in Colorado, but I have at least talked to them on the phone. The list I created can be found on the Colorado Aquarium Society website of every LFS in CO. I will be reviewing most of them here on this new blog. I will focus on the stores I like best first and then proceed as opportunity presents itself. Be sure to do your research first before you go to the store looking for fish or plants, so you can have an idea of what you are looking for, this includes equipment too, of course. I like to have my new aquarium setup all planned out in my head before I go to the store, but then I am a planner as I have found it works best for me, so this is just a suggestion. Notice that I am not going into detail about specific experiences at various box stores because I am not the type of person that dishes anyone. My purpose here is to make your life easier and help you find quality in the Aquarium world so you will enjoy it more! I will end this blog on a simple statement, Box stores are my last choice for anything in the Aquarium world other than perhaps tanks and now days even my tanks are from my Local Fish Store.
Sequoia Elisabeth
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