When shopping at a new to you LFS we easily to get caught up in the excitement and forget the basic premise of all commerce, caveat emptor, buyer beware. It’s always good advice to be aware! Another good idea is to have a vision or concept of what you are looking for before going to the LFS. Perhaps you’re there to get some more fish food and see a kewl looking new tetra or rasbora. Resist the temptation to impulse buy. Unless you have a tank at home ready to accept fish, meaning cycled, you’re not doing anyone a favor by getting a living animal you cannot care properly for. There are ways to swing it, bottled bacteria and daily water changes, so unless you are willing to do this, don’t make this mistake. It can be costly to both you and the fish.
One of the reasons I love to shop at a LFS is for the expert advice of the store owner or associate who serves you. Trust them… to a point. Do your own research and have some idea of what they tell you. Ask questions! Here is a sample of some things to ask. Where does this fish come from? Or, where to you source your fish? How long has this fish been in the store? Do you quarantine? Will this fish be compatible with the tank mates I intend on putting it in? How big will this fish get? How many do I get for the size tank I have? What is your Return Policy? All these are big questions when shopping for new fish or any pet really. I’m sure you will come up with other questions, so let your LFS help you with your next fish or aquatic pet purchase.
Online, I see many people asking for ideas in setting up their aquarium and I say you should have thought of that before getting the tank! With pinterest and other online websites finding ideas for aquarium aquascapes, and the inhabitants may be overwhelming, though this is better than not knowing your options. Pretty much any question can be answered online, so the question is who or what to trust? Always trust yourself or your gut. Ask, why do I want this aquarium, and how will it fulfill my needs. The whole point of having an aquarium is for the opportunity to know yourself better. Pets are a way of expressing identity. It is also a way of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Our fish, inverts, shrimp, plants, etc. connect us to the greater world.
Whatever your reason for being in the aquarium hobby, a LFS will help make your experience better, if you allow them to. Reading this blog will help make your aquarium hobby better, or at least this is my intention. The takeaway here is simply to be aware (beware) when shopping. Be it for aquarium stuff, livestock, or other stuff. Knowing who to trust can be tricky. I say trust yourself, by asking for help from those who have dedicated their lives to do so.
Sequoia Elisabeth
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