Buying fish from petco?

I asked my LFS to order a foxface, so I waited for them get their shipment of fish... And they didn't get the foxface. >.<

It'll probably be another week or two before they get another shipment in, and I've been having some trouble with my fish lately, so now I'm back down to three, so I'm dying for a new one... But my local petco always has a foxface or two. Would it be really stupid of me to get my fish there??

 

Why are your fish dying is the good question.

 

I had 3 chromises that completely disappeared within 24 hours. I really don't think it was my fault. The other fish I lost was a lawnmower blenny. Now that WAS my fault. He didn't have enough food. I didn't know when I got him they are so hard to feed...

 

I got my clown from Petco and another local reefer got his (very beautiful) clown there 5 years ago, I think he said.

 

About half of the fish in my tank that are 10 years old came from Petco. The quality of the livestock varies from store to store -- probably due to the expertise (or lack thereof) of the people working in their aquatics departments. Some of their employees are very knowledgeable and take good care of their animals. So if you go to your Petco, the fish look healthy, you don't see dead bodies at the bottom of the tanks, and the people there seem to know what they are talking about, I think it's fine to shop there. But not all Petcos are like that. It's up to you to find out of it's a good place to buy.

 

i got a few of my fish from petco over the years and like biff said it really depends on the store. if u have a lot around, check them all out and u will see the differences.

 

Only 2 or 3 of the Petcos around me crry salt water, but I have bought a number of freshwater fish from them and if they look good and don't jack you around I think they are a good place to shop

 

ask them if the foxface will get along with the goldfish!!
that will give you the answer

 

Thanks guys, I'll probably give petco a chance...


Everyone who wants to give me a hard time about my open tank and all the mantis shrimp in my reef please read this thread: https://www.livingreefs.com/my-chromises-frickin-disappeared-t39618.html

 

haha nice qoute !

 

Went to our closest Petco the other day.. SO not worth the 30 min drive. They had maybe 5 types of saltwater fish, chocolate chip starfish and like 3 corals. We're gonna stick with our LFS that's 15min away

The tanks weren't all that impressive at all.. don't think I'd buy from them.

 

The point is, I have already thought about all these things, and I'm ready to take on another fish which I will take care of to the best of my abilities. I can't help it if three fish all disappeared in one night for NO REASON WHATSOEVER. I realize what I did wrong with the blenny and will not make that mistake again. That's all...

 

Some dead or unhealthy is okay now and again, even they get rotten fish sometimes, but be caregul and use your discretion.

 

I've bought fish from petco with good results...you've been in the hobby long enough to know the diff between a healthy and unhealthy fish...so I'd say go for it.

 

+1 Smitty

 

I went to petco today and looked at their fish, every one of them had ich. Just sayin....

 

So yours is bad. Not all of them are. Just sayin'.