address: 7420 derry st., harrisburg pa 17111
website: www.zootopiapetz.com
phone: (717) 558-7387
hours: m-f: 1200-1930, sat: 1000-1700, sun: 1200-1700.
selection, 6/10:
this is more of a reptile store, which i'm fine with. their cichlid and predatory selection is decent, with a fair bit of uncommon things. however their website said "tankbusters" and their adult fish selection consisted of two ~8" pacus and a ~10" oscar. must been flimsy tanks. they had some north american gamefish, and it was there and then that i decided to start up a coldwater tank for them.
health, 5/10:
i bought 3 shiner minnows, a black crappie and a crayfish for my snappy new coldwater tank (keep in mind that it was cycled water). one of the shiners was dead before i got home, about 2 hours later. the other 2 were dead about 3 hours after going in the tank. so i have no shiners now. in all fairness, i think that the shiners were designed to be feeders. but the crappie and crayfish are good, though i suppose it's too soon to tell for sure.
staff, 4/10:
i was accosted at the door before the rain had even seeped into my hat. then when i actually needed help, the guy (who i gathered was the owner) whom i asked seemed upset that i was detracting from the conversation he was having with someone else. after a few minutes when i decided what i wanted i asked the original guy who jumped me at the door, as he was playing with his cell phone. he was helpful to an extent then. i asked if he could please double-bag the crayfish, as they have sharp claws and i had a long ride. he said he would, but about halfway home i realized i had a single-bagged leaking crayfish.
prices, 5/10:
some reasonable, but some ludicrous. like really ludicrous. $50 for a 2" black piranha. $15 for 1.5" red bellies. $35 for 1.5" electric dempseys. they had a redtail catfish i really wanted, but not for $40. my crappie was only $5, and some of their common stuff seemed reasonable.
overall, 20/40:
i did enjoy seeing some of their selection, but their prices are a little prohbitive. wasn't worth the trip on its own, but i'd likely stop in again next time i'm in the area.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
beyond the reef, bloomsburg.
address: 204a montour blvd., bloomsburg pa 17815
website: www.beyondthereefinc.com
phone: (570)784-7333
hours: f-s: 1000-1800, sun: 1000-1600.
selection, 7/10:
they focus on saltwater, but as i recall they did have a decent cichlid selection. when i was there they were under construction, i think (or hope so anyway), so the selection may have been pared back a little temporarily.
health, n/a:
never bought anything there.
staff, 7/10:
i don't recall anyone bothering me, so that's good.
prices, 5/10:
pretty high from what i can recount.
overall, 19/30:
this place kinda annoyed me through no fault of their own, really. well a little bit maybe. their hours suck. and i actually took a day off work (yes, like them i only work weekends) to go there. so i was a little disappointed to find a construction zone instead of the aquatic utopia some online reviews had promised me. to be fair, i do intend to give the place another chance some time.
website: www.beyondthereefinc.com
phone: (570)784-7333
hours: f-s: 1000-1800, sun: 1000-1600.
selection, 7/10:
they focus on saltwater, but as i recall they did have a decent cichlid selection. when i was there they were under construction, i think (or hope so anyway), so the selection may have been pared back a little temporarily.
health, n/a:
never bought anything there.
staff, 7/10:
i don't recall anyone bothering me, so that's good.
prices, 5/10:
pretty high from what i can recount.
overall, 19/30:
this place kinda annoyed me through no fault of their own, really. well a little bit maybe. their hours suck. and i actually took a day off work (yes, like them i only work weekends) to go there. so i was a little disappointed to find a construction zone instead of the aquatic utopia some online reviews had promised me. to be fair, i do intend to give the place another chance some time.
living things, schnecksville.
address: 5350 rte. 873 #2, schnecksville pa 18078.
website: n/a
phone: (610)224-4656
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
"assorted african," angels, rams and oscars. they used to carry channel cats and pretty much the only reason i stop in ever is to see if they have any.
health, 7/10:
i bought a channel cat and an angel there once and both did well for a while.
staff, 7/10:
you don't bother them, they won't bother you. just how i like it.
prices, 5/10:
their channel cats were $4 when they had them. however their africans and oscars are high.
overall, 24/40:
not a bad place, but not the greatest selection either. they seem to be more focused to the community fish buyer. as mentioned, i stop back in periodically looking for a cheap channel cat.
website: n/a
phone: (610)224-4656
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
"assorted african," angels, rams and oscars. they used to carry channel cats and pretty much the only reason i stop in ever is to see if they have any.
health, 7/10:
i bought a channel cat and an angel there once and both did well for a while.
staff, 7/10:
you don't bother them, they won't bother you. just how i like it.
prices, 5/10:
their channel cats were $4 when they had them. however their africans and oscars are high.
overall, 24/40:
not a bad place, but not the greatest selection either. they seem to be more focused to the community fish buyer. as mentioned, i stop back in periodically looking for a cheap channel cat.
american aquarium, orefield.
address: 3752 rte. 309 ste. a, orefield pa 18069.
website: www.americanaquariumandpetsupply.com
phone: (610)395-6085
hours: m-t: 1100-1900, f-s: 1100-2000.
selection, 8/10:
while they specialize in saltwater, the majority of their freshwater selection is cichlids and piranhas. this includes some nice adult fish.
health, 8/10:
i've only ever bought one thing there, a green severum, and he's doing very well.
staff, 8/10:
friendly, knowledgable and non-oppressive.
prices, 7/10:
a little high on some smaller fish, but their prices on adults when they have them is more than reasonable. i could have gotten an adult green severum for not much more than i paid for the 4" one i got, but i didn't have room for the big one.
overall, 31/40:
i can't really explain why i haven't bought more here, and have only been inside a handful of times. i think maybe i take it for granted, as i've driven past is several times a week for the last 3 years. i really should make it a point to stop in and browse again sometime soon. one little complaint that is too esoteric and trivial to warrant attention, they often have some texas barbecue trailer thing cooking in the parking lot and being a vegetarian the overwhelming smell of smoking meat kinda nauseates me a little bit.
website: www.americanaquariumandpetsupply.com
phone: (610)395-6085
hours: m-t: 1100-1900, f-s: 1100-2000.
selection, 8/10:
while they specialize in saltwater, the majority of their freshwater selection is cichlids and piranhas. this includes some nice adult fish.
health, 8/10:
i've only ever bought one thing there, a green severum, and he's doing very well.
staff, 8/10:
friendly, knowledgable and non-oppressive.
prices, 7/10:
a little high on some smaller fish, but their prices on adults when they have them is more than reasonable. i could have gotten an adult green severum for not much more than i paid for the 4" one i got, but i didn't have room for the big one.
overall, 31/40:
i can't really explain why i haven't bought more here, and have only been inside a handful of times. i think maybe i take it for granted, as i've driven past is several times a week for the last 3 years. i really should make it a point to stop in and browse again sometime soon. one little complaint that is too esoteric and trivial to warrant attention, they often have some texas barbecue trailer thing cooking in the parking lot and being a vegetarian the overwhelming smell of smoking meat kinda nauseates me a little bit.
pet supplies plus, wilkes-barre.
address: 555 scott st., wilkes-barre pa 18702.
website: www.petsuppliesplus.com
phone: (570)829-3446
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
one word: buttekoferi.
health, 6/10:
three words: buttekoferi don't mix. i bought a few fish there when they were running a buy one-get one special. i got two little buttekoferi to hang out with t-bone. he didn't appreciate the sentiment, but he did appreciate the meal. not the store's fault at all, but the other fish i bought there that did not go with t-bone pretty much were failures as well.
staff, 7/10:
their fish wall is right next to the counter, so the staff is onhand if you need them but they don't annoy you otherwise. not really sure if they're too very knowledgable because i've never had cause to ask them a question.
prices, 7/10:
for some reason their prices are lower than the whitehall location. and whitehall has to compete with petsmart and petco within a mile on the same road. the other corporations are present but not as nearby to the wilkes-barre pet supplies plus. but nevertheless, their buttekoferi are $7 as opposed to $10 in whitehall.
overall, 26/40:
not a bad little place overall. like whitehall they have the 10/$1 feeders, and their prices on fish are lower while service is better. this place also has a display for pet caskets, urns and memorials. it's probably worth stopping in just to see if they have any specials running, but if you're in the area you're within 10 miles of finsanity and pet zone.
website: www.petsuppliesplus.com
phone: (570)829-3446
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
one word: buttekoferi.
health, 6/10:
three words: buttekoferi don't mix. i bought a few fish there when they were running a buy one-get one special. i got two little buttekoferi to hang out with t-bone. he didn't appreciate the sentiment, but he did appreciate the meal. not the store's fault at all, but the other fish i bought there that did not go with t-bone pretty much were failures as well.
staff, 7/10:
their fish wall is right next to the counter, so the staff is onhand if you need them but they don't annoy you otherwise. not really sure if they're too very knowledgable because i've never had cause to ask them a question.
prices, 7/10:
for some reason their prices are lower than the whitehall location. and whitehall has to compete with petsmart and petco within a mile on the same road. the other corporations are present but not as nearby to the wilkes-barre pet supplies plus. but nevertheless, their buttekoferi are $7 as opposed to $10 in whitehall.
overall, 26/40:
not a bad little place overall. like whitehall they have the 10/$1 feeders, and their prices on fish are lower while service is better. this place also has a display for pet caskets, urns and memorials. it's probably worth stopping in just to see if they have any specials running, but if you're in the area you're within 10 miles of finsanity and pet zone.
pet supplies plus, whitehall.
address: 2433 macarthur rd., whitehall pa 18052.
website: www.petsuppliesplus.com
phone: (610)432-2199
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
not so great, really. but they consistently stock tilapia buttekoferi. another highlight is blue acaras. apart from that, the standard angels, oscars, firemouths, dempseys.
health, 7/10:
my great buttekoferi, t-bone, came from there. can't recall that i've ever bought anything else there though.
staff, 4/10:
my last visit went as follows: i stopped in to buy live feeders (on that they have the best price around). i stood in the fishroom for a little while, then went up to the cashiers to ask for assistance. in the meantime two other gentlemen had come into the fishroom. the cashier paged a guy to the fishroom. a moment later he arrived, walked right past me (as i was back in the fishroom at this point) over to the two gentlemen who had arrived at least 5 minutes after i did. they had little command of the english language, and so it took a little while for them to get what they wanted. so i had to waith about 15-20 minutes before getting assistance, even though i was there first. in retrospect i should have said something. i really would have if the gentlemen "ahead" of me were getting feeders, as the feeder tank was pretty sparse. i'm no customer service expert, but i'd say that the proper thing for the guy to do would have been to ask who was there first.
prices, 4/10:
this is a strange instance where different locations of the same chain have radically different prices; the wilkes-barre location is $3 cheaper on buttekoferis, and i would hope a whole lot cheaper on jewels. this place wanted $20 for a jewel. really. not even big or nice jewels. since i was in the market for one, i went to the petsmart less than a mile up the road and got a nice one for $2.50.
overall, 21/40:
the only redeeming factors of this place are that they carry buttekoferi (though i really don't know why more places don't; not a starter fish, but one of my personal favorites), and 10/$1 feeders. and they do actually count them, not just estimate.
website: www.petsuppliesplus.com
phone: (610)432-2199
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
not so great, really. but they consistently stock tilapia buttekoferi. another highlight is blue acaras. apart from that, the standard angels, oscars, firemouths, dempseys.
health, 7/10:
my great buttekoferi, t-bone, came from there. can't recall that i've ever bought anything else there though.
staff, 4/10:
my last visit went as follows: i stopped in to buy live feeders (on that they have the best price around). i stood in the fishroom for a little while, then went up to the cashiers to ask for assistance. in the meantime two other gentlemen had come into the fishroom. the cashier paged a guy to the fishroom. a moment later he arrived, walked right past me (as i was back in the fishroom at this point) over to the two gentlemen who had arrived at least 5 minutes after i did. they had little command of the english language, and so it took a little while for them to get what they wanted. so i had to waith about 15-20 minutes before getting assistance, even though i was there first. in retrospect i should have said something. i really would have if the gentlemen "ahead" of me were getting feeders, as the feeder tank was pretty sparse. i'm no customer service expert, but i'd say that the proper thing for the guy to do would have been to ask who was there first.
prices, 4/10:
this is a strange instance where different locations of the same chain have radically different prices; the wilkes-barre location is $3 cheaper on buttekoferis, and i would hope a whole lot cheaper on jewels. this place wanted $20 for a jewel. really. not even big or nice jewels. since i was in the market for one, i went to the petsmart less than a mile up the road and got a nice one for $2.50.
overall, 21/40:
the only redeeming factors of this place are that they carry buttekoferi (though i really don't know why more places don't; not a starter fish, but one of my personal favorites), and 10/$1 feeders. and they do actually count them, not just estimate.
superpetz, bethlehem.
address: 2920 easton ave., bethlehem pa 18017
website: www.superpetz.com
phone: (610)861-8040
hours: will update
selection, 4/10:
the one time i was there their cichlid selection consisted of angels, oscars and convicts.
health, 7/10:
got a convict (in exchange for an albino oscar purchased at the selinsgrove location) who did well for a while.
staff, 4/10:
as i recall the guy who assisted me was a little surly about exchanging a fish from another store even though i called ahead to see if i could.
prices, 5/10:
their prices are about average.
overall, 20/40:
if i had to go to a superpetz i would choose the selinsgrove location.
website: www.superpetz.com
phone: (610)861-8040
hours: will update
selection, 4/10:
the one time i was there their cichlid selection consisted of angels, oscars and convicts.
health, 7/10:
got a convict (in exchange for an albino oscar purchased at the selinsgrove location) who did well for a while.
staff, 4/10:
as i recall the guy who assisted me was a little surly about exchanging a fish from another store even though i called ahead to see if i could.
prices, 5/10:
their prices are about average.
overall, 20/40:
if i had to go to a superpetz i would choose the selinsgrove location.
superpetz, selinsgrove.
address: 1597 susquehanna trail, selinsgrove pa 17870
website: www.superpetz.com
phone: (570)743-3044.
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
nothing much to speak of. superpetz is a cookie-cutter chain in the mold of petco and petsmart. they have the standard "starter cichlids" in stock.
health, 6/10:
we bought a parrot and an albino oscar there. the parrot had a good run. the oscar didn't. most likely that was more due to my fish's affinity for eating albinos.
staff, 7/10:
very similar customer service policies to petsmart, in that they'll let you look for a little while before asking if you need help. that's a good thing.
prices, 7/10:
their prices are generall about average, but my parrot fish from there was on clearance for $6.72.
overall, 25/40:
not a bad store overall, though it saddens me to an extent that there is yet another big chain pet store in the making.
website: www.superpetz.com
phone: (570)743-3044.
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
nothing much to speak of. superpetz is a cookie-cutter chain in the mold of petco and petsmart. they have the standard "starter cichlids" in stock.
health, 6/10:
we bought a parrot and an albino oscar there. the parrot had a good run. the oscar didn't. most likely that was more due to my fish's affinity for eating albinos.
staff, 7/10:
very similar customer service policies to petsmart, in that they'll let you look for a little while before asking if you need help. that's a good thing.
prices, 7/10:
their prices are generall about average, but my parrot fish from there was on clearance for $6.72.
overall, 25/40:
not a bad store overall, though it saddens me to an extent that there is yet another big chain pet store in the making.
petsmart, selinsgrove.
address: 270 marketplace blvd., selinsgrove pa 17870.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (570)743-1490.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
same as any other petsmart.
health, 7/10:
i can't quite recall what i've ever bought here, but i don't recall any issues.
staff, 7/10:
standard petsmart.
price, 6/10:
as with any other petsmart, get a membership card. cuts prices in half at times.
overall, 26/40:
if you've seen one petsmart you've seen them all. once difference is that this is the only one i've seen where the fish are to right of the entrance rather than to the left.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (570)743-1490.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
same as any other petsmart.
health, 7/10:
i can't quite recall what i've ever bought here, but i don't recall any issues.
staff, 7/10:
standard petsmart.
price, 6/10:
as with any other petsmart, get a membership card. cuts prices in half at times.
overall, 26/40:
if you've seen one petsmart you've seen them all. once difference is that this is the only one i've seen where the fish are to right of the entrance rather than to the left.
petsmart, wyomissing.
address: 1183 berkshire blvd., wyomissing pa 19610.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (610)396-3660.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
same as any other petsmart.
health, 7/10:
bought an oscar and a suriname eartheater here a couple months back, both doing well.
staff, 7/10:
no different than other petsmarts, which is to say better than petco.
prices, 6/10:
as with other petsmarts it's a good idea to sign up for their membership.
overall, 26/40:
pretty much your typical petsmart.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (610)396-3660.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
same as any other petsmart.
health, 7/10:
bought an oscar and a suriname eartheater here a couple months back, both doing well.
staff, 7/10:
no different than other petsmarts, which is to say better than petco.
prices, 6/10:
as with other petsmarts it's a good idea to sign up for their membership.
overall, 26/40:
pretty much your typical petsmart.
petsmart, wilkes-barre.
address: 427 arena hub plaza, wilkes-barre pa 18702
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (570)825-8425
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
standard petsmart selection; better than petco, but don't expect any atypical finds.
health, 7/10:
their red bellied pacus are virtually indestructible.
staff, 7/10:
petco should take a lesson on how petsmart staff approaches customer service; wait for the customer to look around before asking if they need help.
prices, 6/10:
their specials for those with a member card make for some good prices. regular prices are about average.
overall, 26/40:
not as good as the whitehall petsmart, but realistically they're pretty much all the same.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (570)825-8425
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
standard petsmart selection; better than petco, but don't expect any atypical finds.
health, 7/10:
their red bellied pacus are virtually indestructible.
staff, 7/10:
petco should take a lesson on how petsmart staff approaches customer service; wait for the customer to look around before asking if they need help.
prices, 6/10:
their specials for those with a member card make for some good prices. regular prices are about average.
overall, 26/40:
not as good as the whitehall petsmart, but realistically they're pretty much all the same.
petsmart, whitehall.
address: 2180 macarthur rd., whitehall pa 18052.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (610)437-7197
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
generally speaking petsmart has a better selection than their rivals, petco. but it is still cookie-cutter across all locations pretty much. in addition to the "starter cichlids" like firemouths, convicts, jack dempseys, oscars, parrots, etc. petsmart actually has their africans seperated. they also typically carry knifefish, red devils and pacus. sometimes even jags. as of this writing my most recent fish purchase was here, a jewel, a brown african knife and two giant danios (which, surprisingly are living in harmony with my pair of adult convicts).
health, 7/10:
i've made a handful of purchases here over the years and haven't had any notable problems.
staff, 7/10:
petsmart staff is less aggressive and generally more knowledgable than petco. they'll ask if you need help after you've been looking for a little while which is exactly how customer service should be. if you're buying a questionable combination of fish they will advise you of this but will not pursue it once you've justified your rationale (i.e.; they're not going in the same tank).
prices, 6/10:
get a member card, which is free. their special prices for members are good. their normal prices, not so much.
overall, 26/40:
there's no changing the fact that i hate corporate stores, but there's no avoiding them in some instances. well, there is...nobody forces me to buy corporate fish. but nevertheless, they're part of the hobby now. given similar selection and prices i'd choose a private store over a corporation, but given the choice between corporations i'd choose petsmart over petco, and whitehall is one of the finer petsmarts i've been to.
website: www.petsmart.com
phone: (610)437-7197
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 6/10:
generally speaking petsmart has a better selection than their rivals, petco. but it is still cookie-cutter across all locations pretty much. in addition to the "starter cichlids" like firemouths, convicts, jack dempseys, oscars, parrots, etc. petsmart actually has their africans seperated. they also typically carry knifefish, red devils and pacus. sometimes even jags. as of this writing my most recent fish purchase was here, a jewel, a brown african knife and two giant danios (which, surprisingly are living in harmony with my pair of adult convicts).
health, 7/10:
i've made a handful of purchases here over the years and haven't had any notable problems.
staff, 7/10:
petsmart staff is less aggressive and generally more knowledgable than petco. they'll ask if you need help after you've been looking for a little while which is exactly how customer service should be. if you're buying a questionable combination of fish they will advise you of this but will not pursue it once you've justified your rationale (i.e.; they're not going in the same tank).
prices, 6/10:
get a member card, which is free. their special prices for members are good. their normal prices, not so much.
overall, 26/40:
there's no changing the fact that i hate corporate stores, but there's no avoiding them in some instances. well, there is...nobody forces me to buy corporate fish. but nevertheless, they're part of the hobby now. given similar selection and prices i'd choose a private store over a corporation, but given the choice between corporations i'd choose petsmart over petco, and whitehall is one of the finer petsmarts i've been to.
petco, reading.
address: 2765 papermill rd. unit g-1, reading pa 19610.
website: www.petco.com
phone: (610)376-3203
hours: m-s: 0800-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 4/10:
the standard for the chain: convicts, oscars, parrots, etc.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 5/10:
not as overbearing as some other locations (like whitehall), but i haven't encountered anyone there in my few visits who seemed especially knowledgable.
prices, 6/10:
standard prices.
overall, 15/30:
just your average petco. nothing special, nothing to complain about really. it's just kinda there.
website: www.petco.com
phone: (610)376-3203
hours: m-s: 0800-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 4/10:
the standard for the chain: convicts, oscars, parrots, etc.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 5/10:
not as overbearing as some other locations (like whitehall), but i haven't encountered anyone there in my few visits who seemed especially knowledgable.
prices, 6/10:
standard prices.
overall, 15/30:
just your average petco. nothing special, nothing to complain about really. it's just kinda there.
petco, wilkes-barre.
address: 3480 wilkes-barre twp. commons, wilkes-barre pa 18702.
website: www.petco.com
phone: (570)820-5973
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 6/10:
they rank higher on the selection scale than any other petco because i have seen crenicichlas and frontosas there. really. i bought their crenicichla, but the frontasa was absurdly priced.
health, 7/10:
i've bought a few things there over the years and have never really had any significant issues with them.
staff, 6/10:
the typical corporate pounce-on-customer approach, but not as bad as other petcos. and they actually have (or maybe had; it's been a while) a guy there who really knew what he was talking about.
prices, 5/10:
the standard prices for the chain, but their frontosa fry was an absurd $60.
overall, 24/40:
easily the best petco i have been to. while i don't normally shop at corporate establishments, if i had to go to a petco this would be the one.
website: www.petco.com
phone: (570)820-5973
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 6/10:
they rank higher on the selection scale than any other petco because i have seen crenicichlas and frontosas there. really. i bought their crenicichla, but the frontasa was absurdly priced.
health, 7/10:
i've bought a few things there over the years and have never really had any significant issues with them.
staff, 6/10:
the typical corporate pounce-on-customer approach, but not as bad as other petcos. and they actually have (or maybe had; it's been a while) a guy there who really knew what he was talking about.
prices, 5/10:
the standard prices for the chain, but their frontosa fry was an absurd $60.
overall, 24/40:
easily the best petco i have been to. while i don't normally shop at corporate establishments, if i had to go to a petco this would be the one.
petco, whitehall.
address: 2621 macarthur rd., whitehall pa 18052
website: www.petco.com
phone: (610)266-4212
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 4/10:
generally these corporations are all identical from one location to the next and this is no exception. you're essentially guaranteed to find "assorted african," jack dempseys, firemouths, convicts and parrots at this, and any other petco.
health, 3/10:
admittedly, i never bought anything here. however i stop in frequently as i often have some time to kill in the area. one time i went in and 90% of their tanks were empty. seems to me like some epidemic must have wiped them all out.
staff, 4/10:
unless they're harrassing another customer, the staff will insist on helping you before you know if you need help. and worse, when you tell them you don't need help they'll stand by your side in hopes that you'll change your mind maybe. a fun trick with this, and most other chain stores, is to respond to them by telling them you're looking for a whole bunch of fish that you know they'd never have, preferably by their scientific name..."yes, i'm looking for nandopsis beani, caquetaia umbrifera and cichlasoma ornatum. do you have any in stock?"
prices, 6/10:
one of the small advantages of the corporate pet store, their prices are often lower than smaller operations because they buy in such volume.
overall, 17/40:
maybe there's a bias in my ratings here because i don't like the chain stores in general. and given that, i do prefer petsmart to petco. but one is the same as another as another. that is at least in terms of prices and selection normally. staff and health can vary.
website: www.petco.com
phone: (610)266-4212
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1900.
selection, 4/10:
generally these corporations are all identical from one location to the next and this is no exception. you're essentially guaranteed to find "assorted african," jack dempseys, firemouths, convicts and parrots at this, and any other petco.
health, 3/10:
admittedly, i never bought anything here. however i stop in frequently as i often have some time to kill in the area. one time i went in and 90% of their tanks were empty. seems to me like some epidemic must have wiped them all out.
staff, 4/10:
unless they're harrassing another customer, the staff will insist on helping you before you know if you need help. and worse, when you tell them you don't need help they'll stand by your side in hopes that you'll change your mind maybe. a fun trick with this, and most other chain stores, is to respond to them by telling them you're looking for a whole bunch of fish that you know they'd never have, preferably by their scientific name..."yes, i'm looking for nandopsis beani, caquetaia umbrifera and cichlasoma ornatum. do you have any in stock?"
prices, 6/10:
one of the small advantages of the corporate pet store, their prices are often lower than smaller operations because they buy in such volume.
overall, 17/40:
maybe there's a bias in my ratings here because i don't like the chain stores in general. and given that, i do prefer petsmart to petco. but one is the same as another as another. that is at least in terms of prices and selection normally. staff and health can vary.
pet zone, pittston.
address: 20 w. oak st., pittston pa 18640.
website: www.zonepets.com
phone: (570)655-3260
hours: m-t: 1000-1900, f-s: 1000-1800, sun: 1000-1300.
selection, 6/10:
the store in general is more focused on reptiles (which i commend completely), but their fish area is more about saltwater. that said, their cichlid selection is pedestrian at best. really this should have been more like a 4/10, but although it is off-topic, i'm a reptile guy myself and couldn't bring myself to rate it that low.
health, 7/10:
the only thing i ever bought here was a discus and at the time i was naive and did everything wrong with it. amazingly it lasted a few weeks. that is a testament to a healthy fish, and whe i get around to making a proper discus setup i will try another pet zone discus if they have any.
staff, 7/10:
they seem knowledgable and non-intrusive.
prices, 6/10:
while their cichlid selection is weak their prices are competetive and so if i were looking for something common pet zone would be on my radar to find it. and the discus i got there was only $15.
overall, 26/40:
really a decent place overall, particularly if you like reptiles. as for fish, not worth the trip on its own, but worth checking out if you're in the area.
website: www.zonepets.com
phone: (570)655-3260
hours: m-t: 1000-1900, f-s: 1000-1800, sun: 1000-1300.
selection, 6/10:
the store in general is more focused on reptiles (which i commend completely), but their fish area is more about saltwater. that said, their cichlid selection is pedestrian at best. really this should have been more like a 4/10, but although it is off-topic, i'm a reptile guy myself and couldn't bring myself to rate it that low.
health, 7/10:
the only thing i ever bought here was a discus and at the time i was naive and did everything wrong with it. amazingly it lasted a few weeks. that is a testament to a healthy fish, and whe i get around to making a proper discus setup i will try another pet zone discus if they have any.
staff, 7/10:
they seem knowledgable and non-intrusive.
prices, 6/10:
while their cichlid selection is weak their prices are competetive and so if i were looking for something common pet zone would be on my radar to find it. and the discus i got there was only $15.
overall, 26/40:
really a decent place overall, particularly if you like reptiles. as for fish, not worth the trip on its own, but worth checking out if you're in the area.
we luv pets, cressona.
address: cressona mall, cressona pa 17929.
website: n/a
phone: (570)385-8292.
hours: m-s: 1000-2100, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
not much of a fish selection at all, but the rating is what it is only because they once had a florida gar in stock. otherwise, parrots, oscars and angels. they also had channel cats on my last visit.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 5/10:
sometimes will accost you at the door. but it's almost understandable in that it's rare to see a real live person in the cressona mall.
prices, 5/10:
i forget exactly how much the gar was when they had it, but it must have been high because i didn't buy it. their channel cats are $7 at about 2-3".
overall, 16/30:
like the mall that houses it, there isn't much going on here. it's a place, like puppy luv in pottsville, that is an okay way to kill some time in southern schuylkill county.
website: n/a
phone: (570)385-8292.
hours: m-s: 1000-2100, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
not much of a fish selection at all, but the rating is what it is only because they once had a florida gar in stock. otherwise, parrots, oscars and angels. they also had channel cats on my last visit.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 5/10:
sometimes will accost you at the door. but it's almost understandable in that it's rare to see a real live person in the cressona mall.
prices, 5/10:
i forget exactly how much the gar was when they had it, but it must have been high because i didn't buy it. their channel cats are $7 at about 2-3".
overall, 16/30:
like the mall that houses it, there isn't much going on here. it's a place, like puppy luv in pottsville, that is an okay way to kill some time in southern schuylkill county.
puppy luv, pottsville.
address: fairlane village mall, pottsville pa 17901.
website: n/a
phone: (570)429-2421
hours: m-s: 1000-2100, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
they generally have "assorted africans," red bellied piranhas and jack dempseys. this would be rated lower except for that they'll sporadically have some adult fish. overall they're more saltwater-focused.
health, n/a:
although i stop in here regularly, as the mall is nearby and i often have some time to kill in the area, i've never actually bought anything.
staff, 7/10:
don't really bother you if you're browsing but seem as though they'd be available if you needed help.
prices, 3/10:
they're way out of line on most things, like $15 for the smallest red bellied piranhas i've ever seen.
overall, 16/30:
it's a rarity, at least in my area, that mall pet stores carry fish at all anymore. but that said, puppy luv has never had the right combination of selection and price to get me to give them a go. also of note, they are owned by the same people as is we luv pets in cressona. ironically, puppy luv does not sell puppies (which is a plus. i dislike dogs.), whereas we luv pets does.
website: n/a
phone: (570)429-2421
hours: m-s: 1000-2100, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
they generally have "assorted africans," red bellied piranhas and jack dempseys. this would be rated lower except for that they'll sporadically have some adult fish. overall they're more saltwater-focused.
health, n/a:
although i stop in here regularly, as the mall is nearby and i often have some time to kill in the area, i've never actually bought anything.
staff, 7/10:
don't really bother you if you're browsing but seem as though they'd be available if you needed help.
prices, 3/10:
they're way out of line on most things, like $15 for the smallest red bellied piranhas i've ever seen.
overall, 16/30:
it's a rarity, at least in my area, that mall pet stores carry fish at all anymore. but that said, puppy luv has never had the right combination of selection and price to get me to give them a go. also of note, they are owned by the same people as is we luv pets in cressona. ironically, puppy luv does not sell puppies (which is a plus. i dislike dogs.), whereas we luv pets does.
diane's pet center, reading.
address: 3001 perkiomen ave., reading pa 19606
website: n/a
phone: (610)779-8889
hours: will update
selection, 7/10:
while they didn't have much by way of cichlids they did have some unusual things such as electric catfish. when i was there they had keyhole cichlids and discus. i think they intentionally shy away from more aggressive species.
health, n/a:
didn't buy anything.
staff, 5/10:
the one thing i wanted to buy was a single kissing gourami. however they were only willing to sell them as a pair. it's also another one of them places that insists on "helping" you before you know if you'll need help.
prices, 7/10:
they were reasonable. i forget how much the kissing gourami was but it wasn't bad. electric catfish, i believe were $10. discuses were as reasonably priced as a discus can be also.
overall, 19/30:
nothing to write home about and not really worth too far of a trip. but it is not far from az, so if you're going there you might as well stop off at diane's too.
website: n/a
phone: (610)779-8889
hours: will update
selection, 7/10:
while they didn't have much by way of cichlids they did have some unusual things such as electric catfish. when i was there they had keyhole cichlids and discus. i think they intentionally shy away from more aggressive species.
health, n/a:
didn't buy anything.
staff, 5/10:
the one thing i wanted to buy was a single kissing gourami. however they were only willing to sell them as a pair. it's also another one of them places that insists on "helping" you before you know if you'll need help.
prices, 7/10:
they were reasonable. i forget how much the kissing gourami was but it wasn't bad. electric catfish, i believe were $10. discuses were as reasonably priced as a discus can be also.
overall, 19/30:
nothing to write home about and not really worth too far of a trip. but it is not far from az, so if you're going there you might as well stop off at diane's too.
jsk's fish and more, cresson.
address: 604 2nd st., cresson pa 16630.
website: n/a
phone: (814)886-9522.
hours: will update
selection, 3/10:
the place should be called "jsk's community fish and not a whole lot more." their cichlid selection consists of "assorted african," parrots, oscars and convicts. and not a whole lot of any of those.
health, n/a:
didn't buy anything here.
staff, 3/10:
the sort where they ask if they can help you before you're in the door.
prices, 6/10:
the "assorted africans," and oscars were decently priced, but the convicts were way out of line.
overall, 12/30:
i might have been a little more lenient in the 'selection' category if this wasn't a place that billed themselves as a fish store. if it were just a general pet store and that's all they had, fine. but a "fish and more" store needs to do better than that. the place is also in a house and the convicts were literally in some sort of a laundry room or enclosed back porch.
website: n/a
phone: (814)886-9522.
hours: will update
selection, 3/10:
the place should be called "jsk's community fish and not a whole lot more." their cichlid selection consists of "assorted african," parrots, oscars and convicts. and not a whole lot of any of those.
health, n/a:
didn't buy anything here.
staff, 3/10:
the sort where they ask if they can help you before you're in the door.
prices, 6/10:
the "assorted africans," and oscars were decently priced, but the convicts were way out of line.
overall, 12/30:
i might have been a little more lenient in the 'selection' category if this wasn't a place that billed themselves as a fish store. if it were just a general pet store and that's all they had, fine. but a "fish and more" store needs to do better than that. the place is also in a house and the convicts were literally in some sort of a laundry room or enclosed back porch.
washington pet, pen argyl.
address: 1310 blue valley dr., pen argyl pa 18072.
website: www.washingtonpet.net
phone: (610)863-0465
hours: will update
selection, 6/10:
nothing special, except a couple of unusual piranha species and an adult red devil. otherwise, rams, angels, "assorted african," firemouths, etc.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 6/10:
again, as i never bought anything it's hard to judge. but they do tend to let you look without being up your ass while at the same time it seems they're readily available if needed.
prices, 7/10:
the piranhas are a little pricey, but that big red devil is only $25. their smaller cichlids are fairly priced also.
overall, 19/30:
it has not been their prices or even selection that has resulted in my never having made a purchase there, but rather just the fact that whenever i find time to stop in there, that i always have to be somewhere else right after. it seems like a decent establishment though some tanks could use a cleaning, or better yet to be moved away from the window.
website: www.washingtonpet.net
phone: (610)863-0465
hours: will update
selection, 6/10:
nothing special, except a couple of unusual piranha species and an adult red devil. otherwise, rams, angels, "assorted african," firemouths, etc.
health, n/a:
never bought anything here.
staff, 6/10:
again, as i never bought anything it's hard to judge. but they do tend to let you look without being up your ass while at the same time it seems they're readily available if needed.
prices, 7/10:
the piranhas are a little pricey, but that big red devil is only $25. their smaller cichlids are fairly priced also.
overall, 19/30:
it has not been their prices or even selection that has resulted in my never having made a purchase there, but rather just the fact that whenever i find time to stop in there, that i always have to be somewhere else right after. it seems like a decent establishment though some tanks could use a cleaning, or better yet to be moved away from the window.
pet world, sunbury.
address: 101 green st., sunbury pa 17801.
website: n/a
phone: (570)286-7170
hours: will update
selection, 4/10:
for as many tanks as they have it is disappointing that the only things of interest that they generally stock are (overpriced) piranhas, oscars and angels. it seems the focus here is more to saltwater and freshwater community fish.
health, 3/10:
maybe an unfair rating, but this is all based on my own experience. i bought a wolf fish there and headed straight home with it (about an hour away). by the time i got home it was dead, still in the original bag that they had packaged it in. i tried calling immediately and it took about a half hour to get through. they didn't offer a refund, but rather store credit for a store that i had no interest in purchasing anything further from. eventually i cashed in my store credit for a heater and some krill.
staff, 5/10:
the girl who sold me the fish, was there to take the return and also when i showed up to cash in the credit was nice and helpful. the man whom we had to deal with on the phone, not so much. i gather that he's the owner or manager or something. but he more'r'less insinuated that we had done something to kill the fish which we didn't even have time to float much less get out of the bag. also, he just said "bring it back," not mentioning that it would be store credit only.
prices, 4/10:
my wolf fish was fairly priced at $25 and some of their stuff is reasonable, though again they don't have much of interest. the low rating is based on their piranha prices and the fact that they go out of their way to advertise that they'll match competitor's prices. i mentioned that pet kings piranhas are $7, as opposed to pet world's $20 and the policy quickly changed to applying to supplies only.
overall, 16/40:
not a place i care to deal with again. i had been there several times prior, just passing through and seeing what they had. finally when i saw the wolf fish i decided that i'd buy something and now regret it. admittedly, their supply prices are pretty low, so i did okay with my $25 store credit, but i didn't even bother looking at their fish when i went to redeem that.
website: n/a
phone: (570)286-7170
hours: will update
selection, 4/10:
for as many tanks as they have it is disappointing that the only things of interest that they generally stock are (overpriced) piranhas, oscars and angels. it seems the focus here is more to saltwater and freshwater community fish.
health, 3/10:
maybe an unfair rating, but this is all based on my own experience. i bought a wolf fish there and headed straight home with it (about an hour away). by the time i got home it was dead, still in the original bag that they had packaged it in. i tried calling immediately and it took about a half hour to get through. they didn't offer a refund, but rather store credit for a store that i had no interest in purchasing anything further from. eventually i cashed in my store credit for a heater and some krill.
staff, 5/10:
the girl who sold me the fish, was there to take the return and also when i showed up to cash in the credit was nice and helpful. the man whom we had to deal with on the phone, not so much. i gather that he's the owner or manager or something. but he more'r'less insinuated that we had done something to kill the fish which we didn't even have time to float much less get out of the bag. also, he just said "bring it back," not mentioning that it would be store credit only.
prices, 4/10:
my wolf fish was fairly priced at $25 and some of their stuff is reasonable, though again they don't have much of interest. the low rating is based on their piranha prices and the fact that they go out of their way to advertise that they'll match competitor's prices. i mentioned that pet kings piranhas are $7, as opposed to pet world's $20 and the policy quickly changed to applying to supplies only.
overall, 16/40:
not a place i care to deal with again. i had been there several times prior, just passing through and seeing what they had. finally when i saw the wolf fish i decided that i'd buy something and now regret it. admittedly, their supply prices are pretty low, so i did okay with my $25 store credit, but i didn't even bother looking at their fish when i went to redeem that.
pet king, shamokin.
address: rte. 61, shamokin pa 17872.
website: n/a
phone: (570)648-5866.
hours: will update
selection, 8/10:
for the size of the place, and their relative focus on things other than fish they do have the occasional uncommon fish. they always seem to have red bellied piranhas in stock, and i got my black belt cichlid there. additionally, they get bonus points from me for not having "assorted african cichlids."
health, 7/10:
there's the occasional dud, but overall i've had pretty good luck with their fish.
staff, 6/10:
the staff is adequately knowledgable about the fish, but not so much regarding when they might be getting in more of a species that is sold out. for months they had tanks labelled for peacock bass and pike cichlids, but i don't know that they've ever actually had the fish. not necessarily the staff's fault, but they should know if they'll ever be getting them in again or not. that said, the staff is always helpful and courteous.
prices, 7/10:
"about average" would be the best way to describe their prices. they're not going to wow you into a purchase, but they won't scare you off either.
overall, 28/40:
the thing i like least about this store is that most of their focus is on puppies, and i simply dislike dogs. their selection isn't such that it would compel me to drive there, but if i'm in the area i always make it a point to stop if possible. it's one of them places that it pays to check in with occasionally because they might be stocking something unusual.
website: n/a
phone: (570)648-5866.
hours: will update
selection, 8/10:
for the size of the place, and their relative focus on things other than fish they do have the occasional uncommon fish. they always seem to have red bellied piranhas in stock, and i got my black belt cichlid there. additionally, they get bonus points from me for not having "assorted african cichlids."
health, 7/10:
there's the occasional dud, but overall i've had pretty good luck with their fish.
staff, 6/10:
the staff is adequately knowledgable about the fish, but not so much regarding when they might be getting in more of a species that is sold out. for months they had tanks labelled for peacock bass and pike cichlids, but i don't know that they've ever actually had the fish. not necessarily the staff's fault, but they should know if they'll ever be getting them in again or not. that said, the staff is always helpful and courteous.
prices, 7/10:
"about average" would be the best way to describe their prices. they're not going to wow you into a purchase, but they won't scare you off either.
overall, 28/40:
the thing i like least about this store is that most of their focus is on puppies, and i simply dislike dogs. their selection isn't such that it would compel me to drive there, but if i'm in the area i always make it a point to stop if possible. it's one of them places that it pays to check in with occasionally because they might be stocking something unusual.
broad mountain, frackville.
address: 151 e. laurel st., frackville pa 17931
website: www.broadmountainpet.com
phone: (570)874-3425
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
generally not the greatest. the only fish of interest normally stocked are parrots, angels, festivums, channel cats and of course "assorted african cichlids." occasionally there will be severums, dempseys or salvinis. they even had baby red bellied pacus once. they're more focused on the community fish however.
health, 4/10:
it's always considered a minor miracle in my house when a broad mountain fish survives. generally i seem to have very good luck with their gouramis, but not much else. i think a big problem is that they buy in such bulk and overstock tanks so much that the health of the fish suffers. they offer positively no guarantees.
staff, 6/10:
the older couple and their son that own the place are great. nice, knowledgable, etc. the rest of the staff not so much. ask for a specific fish, you'll normally just get whichever they catch first. some of their policies are strange, such as that if fish are (for example) 2/$4 the two must be in the same bag, which makes acclimating them at home difficult if they're going in seperate tanks. and if you buy live feeders there, count them yourself because they will short you.
prices, 6/10:
because they buy in bulk prices are normally low. but you get what you pay for. they have a weekend special of buy one-get one on fish under $3, but cichlids normally are more than $3. also, their channel cats are $13, which is much higher than other places i've been, though they sell them more for the pond clientele.
overall, 21/40:
the health of the fish and the uncooperativeness of the staff are the big undoings here. it really feels like you've been ripped off pretty well when you pay $5 for 40 feeders and come home to fnd that you've actually gotten 28.
website: www.broadmountainpet.com
phone: (570)874-3425
hours: will update
selection, 5/10:
generally not the greatest. the only fish of interest normally stocked are parrots, angels, festivums, channel cats and of course "assorted african cichlids." occasionally there will be severums, dempseys or salvinis. they even had baby red bellied pacus once. they're more focused on the community fish however.
health, 4/10:
it's always considered a minor miracle in my house when a broad mountain fish survives. generally i seem to have very good luck with their gouramis, but not much else. i think a big problem is that they buy in such bulk and overstock tanks so much that the health of the fish suffers. they offer positively no guarantees.
staff, 6/10:
the older couple and their son that own the place are great. nice, knowledgable, etc. the rest of the staff not so much. ask for a specific fish, you'll normally just get whichever they catch first. some of their policies are strange, such as that if fish are (for example) 2/$4 the two must be in the same bag, which makes acclimating them at home difficult if they're going in seperate tanks. and if you buy live feeders there, count them yourself because they will short you.
prices, 6/10:
because they buy in bulk prices are normally low. but you get what you pay for. they have a weekend special of buy one-get one on fish under $3, but cichlids normally are more than $3. also, their channel cats are $13, which is much higher than other places i've been, though they sell them more for the pond clientele.
overall, 21/40:
the health of the fish and the uncooperativeness of the staff are the big undoings here. it really feels like you've been ripped off pretty well when you pay $5 for 40 feeders and come home to fnd that you've actually gotten 28.
valley pets, sybertsville.
address: rte. 93, sybertsville pa 18251.
website: www.valleypetsinc.com
phone: (570)788-9889
hours: mon: 1000-1900, w-f: 1000-1900, sat: 1000-1700, sun: 1000-1400.
selection, 4/10:
this is more of a general pet store with a decent overall fish selection that focuses more on community fish. as i recall the only cichlids in stock were angels, rams and parrots.
health, 8/10:
poor selection aside, i did buy there the biggest silver dollar i have ever seen. a few months out from that now he's doing great.
staff, 7/10:
helpful and courteous. we asked about a large pacu in a display tank and the woman working didn't know much about it, but said that the other woman (who i believe was not present) would know more about it.
prices, 7/10:
my big silver dollar was only $15 at about 8", which is about the price some places charge for the same species at 4" (and call them extra large, too). their angels were a little high, though i forget precisely how much.
overall, 26/40:
not a bad little place, but more attuned to the needs of the community fish buyer than the cichlid enthusiast.
website: www.valleypetsinc.com
phone: (570)788-9889
hours: mon: 1000-1900, w-f: 1000-1900, sat: 1000-1700, sun: 1000-1400.
selection, 4/10:
this is more of a general pet store with a decent overall fish selection that focuses more on community fish. as i recall the only cichlids in stock were angels, rams and parrots.
health, 8/10:
poor selection aside, i did buy there the biggest silver dollar i have ever seen. a few months out from that now he's doing great.
staff, 7/10:
helpful and courteous. we asked about a large pacu in a display tank and the woman working didn't know much about it, but said that the other woman (who i believe was not present) would know more about it.
prices, 7/10:
my big silver dollar was only $15 at about 8", which is about the price some places charge for the same species at 4" (and call them extra large, too). their angels were a little high, though i forget precisely how much.
overall, 26/40:
not a bad little place, but more attuned to the needs of the community fish buyer than the cichlid enthusiast.
cage-n-tank, hazleton.
address: 1071 n. church st., hazleton pa 18202.
website: www.cagentank.com
phone: (570)455-8010
hours: mon: 1200-1900, t-f: 1000-1900, sat: 1000-1800, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
nothing to write home about, but better than the chain stores. they sometimes have adult cichlids for sale, but their selection of smaller south and central americans is a little weak.
health, n/a:
i've never actually bought any fish here, so i cannot attest to that.
staff, 5/10:
having never bought anything i don't know how well they serve a customer per se, but they are one of those places where they ask you if they can help you find something before you're even in the door right.
prices, 6/10:
coupled with the mediocre selection, the reason i've never bought anything here. their prices on africans are decent, but their neotropical fish can be purchased most anywhere else for less. their prices on adults, when available, are fair.
overall, 17/30:
not a bad place, i've just never seen anything there that wow'ed me. normally i'll grab some common stuff if the price is right, or pay more for something unusual. but neither of those have been options on my visits.
website: www.cagentank.com
phone: (570)455-8010
hours: mon: 1200-1900, t-f: 1000-1900, sat: 1000-1800, sun: 1100-1700.
selection, 6/10:
nothing to write home about, but better than the chain stores. they sometimes have adult cichlids for sale, but their selection of smaller south and central americans is a little weak.
health, n/a:
i've never actually bought any fish here, so i cannot attest to that.
staff, 5/10:
having never bought anything i don't know how well they serve a customer per se, but they are one of those places where they ask you if they can help you find something before you're even in the door right.
prices, 6/10:
coupled with the mediocre selection, the reason i've never bought anything here. their prices on africans are decent, but their neotropical fish can be purchased most anywhere else for less. their prices on adults, when available, are fair.
overall, 17/30:
not a bad place, i've just never seen anything there that wow'ed me. normally i'll grab some common stuff if the price is right, or pay more for something unusual. but neither of those have been options on my visits.
elmer's aquarium, monroeville.
address: 4005 william penn hwy., monroeville pa 15146.
website: www.elmersaquarium.com
phone: (412)372-6535
hours: m-s: 1000-2130, sun: 1200-1700.
selection, 7/10:
it might be rated higher if i didn't have to drive 5+ hours to get there (i was actually in the area for other reasons anyway), but their selection is good. they have a nice dedicated cichlid selection, and some rarities in stock. it's the only place i'd ever seen peacock bass for sale (though i got mine special-order from finsanity), and one of only two places i've ever seen snooks (that pet place being the other). it's the only place i've ever seen paratilapia bleekeri also.
health, 9/10:
i've only been there once, but had a 90% survival rate with the fish, the only fatality being a livingstoni that was ill-equipped to survive my little dempseys. and that was with a long car ride home. in fact, i likely would have bought more if i'd known they'd have all done so well.
staff, 7/10:
this might be unfair, actually. i didn't ask any questions, so i'm not sure quite how knowledgable they are. the girl who assisted me did know the difference between a male and female convict, so that's something. they were also cognizent enough to package the fish each individually, knowing i had a long ride home, and also courteous enough to help
me load three large boxes into the car.
prices, 7/10:
their prices on grown fish were generally good, but the prices on smaller fish were a bit high. there were a few fish that i would have liked to have brought home but was turned off by the price. the aforementioned snooks, about 4" were $35 and similar sized peacock bass were $40. little red terrors were $15. but i got an adult female convict for $7 and a 20" florida gar for $25.
overall, 30/40:
for months we've been debating the merits of driving all that way to visit a store that would not give a listing of their stock over the phone. ultimately, a job interview in nearby mckeesport got me out to western pennsylvania and i decided to check out elmer's while i was there. it is a great store if you're in the area, but would not have been worth the trip if it were the sole reason for the trip. that said, i'm pleased with my purchases.
website: www.elmersaquarium.com
phone: (412)372-6535
hours: m-s: 1000-2130, sun: 1200-1700.
selection, 7/10:
it might be rated higher if i didn't have to drive 5+ hours to get there (i was actually in the area for other reasons anyway), but their selection is good. they have a nice dedicated cichlid selection, and some rarities in stock. it's the only place i'd ever seen peacock bass for sale (though i got mine special-order from finsanity), and one of only two places i've ever seen snooks (that pet place being the other). it's the only place i've ever seen paratilapia bleekeri also.
health, 9/10:
i've only been there once, but had a 90% survival rate with the fish, the only fatality being a livingstoni that was ill-equipped to survive my little dempseys. and that was with a long car ride home. in fact, i likely would have bought more if i'd known they'd have all done so well.
staff, 7/10:
this might be unfair, actually. i didn't ask any questions, so i'm not sure quite how knowledgable they are. the girl who assisted me did know the difference between a male and female convict, so that's something. they were also cognizent enough to package the fish each individually, knowing i had a long ride home, and also courteous enough to help
me load three large boxes into the car.
prices, 7/10:
their prices on grown fish were generally good, but the prices on smaller fish were a bit high. there were a few fish that i would have liked to have brought home but was turned off by the price. the aforementioned snooks, about 4" were $35 and similar sized peacock bass were $40. little red terrors were $15. but i got an adult female convict for $7 and a 20" florida gar for $25.
overall, 30/40:
for months we've been debating the merits of driving all that way to visit a store that would not give a listing of their stock over the phone. ultimately, a job interview in nearby mckeesport got me out to western pennsylvania and i decided to check out elmer's while i was there. it is a great store if you're in the area, but would not have been worth the trip if it were the sole reason for the trip. that said, i'm pleased with my purchases.
finsanity, luzerne.
address: 335 union st., luzerne pa 18709.
website: www.fin-sanity.com
phone: (570)287-4097
hours: t-f: 1600-2000, sat: 1400-2000.
selection, 8/10:
while they are more of a saltwater specialty store and do not have much space to work with, they have a surprisingly good cichlid selection with a good bit of uncommon species. and if you're looking for something in particular they will get it. i mean really get it (or try, at least). i've gotten a few special-order fish from there now.
health, 9/10:
never had any problems with their fish that were not based on my own stupidity. occasionally you'll see a beat-up fish, but they're honest about what it is and don't try to hide anything.
staff, 9/10:
this is essentially a one-man operation, and he's very good. friendly, helpful and knowledgable. if he doesn't know something he won't try to make it up to save face. and as mentioned, he actually follows through
with special order requests. one minor complaint is the strange hours...not strange, so much, but they're all evening hours.
prices, 8/10:
he's not giving stuff away, but the prices are more than fair. especially given the rarity of some of the selection. his prices on special order items are actually lower than many web-based stores.
overall, 34/40:
this place has usurped az for the title of my favorite fish store. i've been going there about once every other week to pick up special-order fish and normally come away with more as well. it might be advisable to call or email before making a trip, because the store's space is limited. the selection isn't impressive in terms of sheer numbers like that pet place, but i could not imagine a better selection per square foot.
website: www.fin-sanity.com
phone: (570)287-4097
hours: t-f: 1600-2000, sat: 1400-2000.
selection, 8/10:
while they are more of a saltwater specialty store and do not have much space to work with, they have a surprisingly good cichlid selection with a good bit of uncommon species. and if you're looking for something in particular they will get it. i mean really get it (or try, at least). i've gotten a few special-order fish from there now.
health, 9/10:
never had any problems with their fish that were not based on my own stupidity. occasionally you'll see a beat-up fish, but they're honest about what it is and don't try to hide anything.
staff, 9/10:
this is essentially a one-man operation, and he's very good. friendly, helpful and knowledgable. if he doesn't know something he won't try to make it up to save face. and as mentioned, he actually follows through
with special order requests. one minor complaint is the strange hours...not strange, so much, but they're all evening hours.
prices, 8/10:
he's not giving stuff away, but the prices are more than fair. especially given the rarity of some of the selection. his prices on special order items are actually lower than many web-based stores.
overall, 34/40:
this place has usurped az for the title of my favorite fish store. i've been going there about once every other week to pick up special-order fish and normally come away with more as well. it might be advisable to call or email before making a trip, because the store's space is limited. the selection isn't impressive in terms of sheer numbers like that pet place, but i could not imagine a better selection per square foot.
that pet place, lancaster.
address: 237 centerville rd., lancaster pa 17603
website: www.thatpetplace.com
phone: (888)842-8738.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 9/10:
this place doesn't bill itself as the world's largest pet store for
nothing. their selection is truly magnificent. the reason i don't rate it a 10/10 is because their website is often either outdated or simply fabricated. every time i've gone there i went with a plan in mind based on what their site says is in stock, and then found that certain things were out of stock.
health, 6/10:
it's really hit-or-miss. for the most part the fish do well, but i've had some duds. they generally offer a 7-day guarantee, but several species such as discus and piranhas are not included. also the reality of driving 80 miles to cash in a guarantee on a dead $4 fish is a little senseless.
staff, 2/10:
knowledgable, yes. helpful, kinda. courteous, no. maybe it's just the one guy (i won't name names), but the gentleman i've dealt with in the fish room on both trips was, for lack of a better word, a prick. basically, my mindset is that i'm a paying customer, sell me what i want and don't worry about what i'm doing with it. this gentleman actually refused to sell
me a giant african cichlid because i was buying other fish as well. he said my tank would be over-crowded. he didn't bother to find out that i have many tanks, and just walked away, refusing to sell it. i had to get a manager involved, and the manager was actually nice and helpful, the only reason i rate this a 2/10. ultimately i'd rather pay twice as much for a fish and drive twice as far for it than go back there for that sole reason. if they'd post this guy's work schedule online, maybe i'd go back on a day he's off.
prices, 7/10:
good prices on more common stuff, but you'll pay more for the less common stuff. some prices are ridiculously low, but some are way out of line also.
overall, 24/40:
i can't imagine that their entire fish room staff is as arrogant, condescending and ignorant as the one who i had the displeasure of dealing with, but i don't know that for sure. maybe they're trained that way. also, do not base your trip on what their website says is in stock. if you want a specific fish call and make sure it is really in stock. it might be a good idea to ask if they'll actually sell it to you without having to resort to asking for a manager. if i ever go back there it will be for supplies (on which their prices and selection cannot be beat), but will most likely get some fish if a certain douchebag isn't working.
website: www.thatpetplace.com
phone: (888)842-8738.
hours: m-s: 0900-2100, sun: 1000-1800.
selection, 9/10:
this place doesn't bill itself as the world's largest pet store for
nothing. their selection is truly magnificent. the reason i don't rate it a 10/10 is because their website is often either outdated or simply fabricated. every time i've gone there i went with a plan in mind based on what their site says is in stock, and then found that certain things were out of stock.
health, 6/10:
it's really hit-or-miss. for the most part the fish do well, but i've had some duds. they generally offer a 7-day guarantee, but several species such as discus and piranhas are not included. also the reality of driving 80 miles to cash in a guarantee on a dead $4 fish is a little senseless.
staff, 2/10:
knowledgable, yes. helpful, kinda. courteous, no. maybe it's just the one guy (i won't name names), but the gentleman i've dealt with in the fish room on both trips was, for lack of a better word, a prick. basically, my mindset is that i'm a paying customer, sell me what i want and don't worry about what i'm doing with it. this gentleman actually refused to sell
me a giant african cichlid because i was buying other fish as well. he said my tank would be over-crowded. he didn't bother to find out that i have many tanks, and just walked away, refusing to sell it. i had to get a manager involved, and the manager was actually nice and helpful, the only reason i rate this a 2/10. ultimately i'd rather pay twice as much for a fish and drive twice as far for it than go back there for that sole reason. if they'd post this guy's work schedule online, maybe i'd go back on a day he's off.
prices, 7/10:
good prices on more common stuff, but you'll pay more for the less common stuff. some prices are ridiculously low, but some are way out of line also.
overall, 24/40:
i can't imagine that their entire fish room staff is as arrogant, condescending and ignorant as the one who i had the displeasure of dealing with, but i don't know that for sure. maybe they're trained that way. also, do not base your trip on what their website says is in stock. if you want a specific fish call and make sure it is really in stock. it might be a good idea to ask if they'll actually sell it to you without having to resort to asking for a manager. if i ever go back there it will be for supplies (on which their prices and selection cannot be beat), but will most likely get some fish if a certain douchebag isn't working.
az pet & pondz, reading.
address: 4274 perkiomen ave., reading pa 19606.
website: www.azponds.com
phone: (800)722-8877.
hours: m-f: 1000-2100, sat: 1000-2000, sun: 1100-1800.
selection, 8/10:
surprisingly very good. about 1/4 of their freshwater selection is cichlids and other predatory fish. i have seen some uncommon fish such as cichlasoma festae, crenicichla spp., etc. there. there. it is the only place i've ever seen a gold jack dempsey. they claim to be able to special-order stuff, but have never followed through.
health, 5/10:
somewhat disappointing. given their nice selection, it is quite disheartening when the fish don't last a week. i seem to have about a 50% survival rate with their fish past a week. to sum this up, here's a synopsis of my last two trips: first, went and bought a dozen fish (~$91). after having to go back later in the day (credit card machine was down), i took my fish home. by morning there were only three survivors, by the next day only two (a jag and the gold dempsey). they all seemed to have some sort of an infection (not ick) focused around the eyes. thankfully it was not contagious, as none of my fish seemed affected at all, apart from targeting the sick new fish. we went back about a week later as we were in the area, and all of the tanks i had purchased out of were being treated. they offer no guarantees, so caveat emptor.
staff, 7/10:
helpful, but not terribly knowledgable. generally pretty courteous also. if i had a nickle for every time that the guy apologized for the credit card machine being down i would have had enough cash to pay for the order. they even called their technician in to try to fix it and tried calling the owner to see if they'd make an exception to their no-check policy (though he could not be reached). when all else failed, they put my fish aside and offered to hold them until i could get back down to get them. most questions asked of them are answered by them looking up stuff on a pc in the fish room, which is just fine.
prices, 6/10:
the prices were significantly lower when i started going there last year. they seem to increase a little each time a go, possibly an indication of rising shipping costs. as it stands now, they're generally higher on most common things. all-in-all, given the nice selection, health notwithstanding, the prices are fair and you can often pick up an uncommon fish for less than you might expect to.
overall, 26/40:
it used to be that we'd go to reading to go to az and anything else was just incidental. too many such trips have ended with dead fish and higher bills. that said, it is still the best place in reading and we make it a point to stop in whenever we're in the area and rarely come away empty-handed.
website: www.azponds.com
phone: (800)722-8877.
hours: m-f: 1000-2100, sat: 1000-2000, sun: 1100-1800.
selection, 8/10:
surprisingly very good. about 1/4 of their freshwater selection is cichlids and other predatory fish. i have seen some uncommon fish such as cichlasoma festae, crenicichla spp., etc. there. there. it is the only place i've ever seen a gold jack dempsey. they claim to be able to special-order stuff, but have never followed through.
health, 5/10:
somewhat disappointing. given their nice selection, it is quite disheartening when the fish don't last a week. i seem to have about a 50% survival rate with their fish past a week. to sum this up, here's a synopsis of my last two trips: first, went and bought a dozen fish (~$91). after having to go back later in the day (credit card machine was down), i took my fish home. by morning there were only three survivors, by the next day only two (a jag and the gold dempsey). they all seemed to have some sort of an infection (not ick) focused around the eyes. thankfully it was not contagious, as none of my fish seemed affected at all, apart from targeting the sick new fish. we went back about a week later as we were in the area, and all of the tanks i had purchased out of were being treated. they offer no guarantees, so caveat emptor.
staff, 7/10:
helpful, but not terribly knowledgable. generally pretty courteous also. if i had a nickle for every time that the guy apologized for the credit card machine being down i would have had enough cash to pay for the order. they even called their technician in to try to fix it and tried calling the owner to see if they'd make an exception to their no-check policy (though he could not be reached). when all else failed, they put my fish aside and offered to hold them until i could get back down to get them. most questions asked of them are answered by them looking up stuff on a pc in the fish room, which is just fine.
prices, 6/10:
the prices were significantly lower when i started going there last year. they seem to increase a little each time a go, possibly an indication of rising shipping costs. as it stands now, they're generally higher on most common things. all-in-all, given the nice selection, health notwithstanding, the prices are fair and you can often pick up an uncommon fish for less than you might expect to.
overall, 26/40:
it used to be that we'd go to reading to go to az and anything else was just incidental. too many such trips have ended with dead fish and higher bills. that said, it is still the best place in reading and we make it a point to stop in whenever we're in the area and rarely come away empty-handed.
my purpose and criteria.
i have not been in the fish hobby very long. i'm a reptile guy who was looking to try something different. unlike reptiles however, where there are monthly shows, numerous shipping options, and always people looking to unload stuff, fish purchasing is primarily done at stores. over the last year or so i have been just about all over pennsylvania stopping at just about every fish store along the way. the purpose of this blog is to rate where i've been and what i've seen.
my criteria is somewhat esoteric and self-serving, based on my experiences and on my interests. my interests, as you'll surely recognize, are cichlids and predatory fish. here is a breakdown of how my criteria work:
selection: this is a rating of the stores diversity of cichlids and predatory fish with no attention paid to any other sort of livestock or supplies. bonus points are given for having uncommon species and for having a dedicated "aggressive fish" section. deductions are made for stores that label themselves as "aquarium stores" and have a poor selection. something else that annoys me, though it seems omnipresent, is the concept of "assorted africn cichlids." i realize that there are many species, but they are each unique in their own way and deserve to be treated as such. could you imagine going into a pet store that had one price placed on a cage marked "assorted puppies"?
health: this category might as well be called "luck," as it is based solely on the survival rate of fish i purchase from a given place. it could be based on the health of the fish, or maybe even countless other factors. but if i buy 5 fish from 'store a' and 5 fish from 'store b,' place them under identical conditions and the 5 from 'store b' are floating the next morning, then logic dictates something was wrong there.
staff: this is based on the helpfulness, availability and knowledge of the staff. it's not often that i ask the staff a question, and if i do i'm fine if they don't know. but it irks me when they just try to make something up. it also bothers me when they make the assumption that i don't know what i'm doing. if i'm buying two fish that can't live together then they won't live together. i do have more than one tank. another thing that bothers me is when i, the customer, have to seek out someone to assist me. but the flip side of that is that i don't like being 'helped' before i even get a chance to look around.
price: the bottom line of things, really. this can be an expensive hobby, and having been all around i know about what things cost. also, my background in having owned a pet store gives me a little additional insight into what kind of markups are placed on the fish.
all facets are rated on a scale of 0-10, though there are instances where i did not purchase anything from a given store and thusly could not rate the health of the fish.
a bit about me....as should be obvious, i live in pennsylvania and make a great effort to not stray from its borders if i don't need to. i used to own a pet store that specialized in reptiles. i still keep a number of reptiles as well, though i have scaled that back significantly for right now. i make a living by being employed. i currently have 12 tanks running with everything from gouramis and danios to piranhas and cichlids. most of my fish knowledge has come from a combination of reading online and real books (yes, they still make them) and a whole lot of trial and error. something else that may bother some readers, i absolutely never use upper-case letters. you'll get used to it.
my criteria is somewhat esoteric and self-serving, based on my experiences and on my interests. my interests, as you'll surely recognize, are cichlids and predatory fish. here is a breakdown of how my criteria work:
selection: this is a rating of the stores diversity of cichlids and predatory fish with no attention paid to any other sort of livestock or supplies. bonus points are given for having uncommon species and for having a dedicated "aggressive fish" section. deductions are made for stores that label themselves as "aquarium stores" and have a poor selection. something else that annoys me, though it seems omnipresent, is the concept of "assorted africn cichlids." i realize that there are many species, but they are each unique in their own way and deserve to be treated as such. could you imagine going into a pet store that had one price placed on a cage marked "assorted puppies"?
health: this category might as well be called "luck," as it is based solely on the survival rate of fish i purchase from a given place. it could be based on the health of the fish, or maybe even countless other factors. but if i buy 5 fish from 'store a' and 5 fish from 'store b,' place them under identical conditions and the 5 from 'store b' are floating the next morning, then logic dictates something was wrong there.
staff: this is based on the helpfulness, availability and knowledge of the staff. it's not often that i ask the staff a question, and if i do i'm fine if they don't know. but it irks me when they just try to make something up. it also bothers me when they make the assumption that i don't know what i'm doing. if i'm buying two fish that can't live together then they won't live together. i do have more than one tank. another thing that bothers me is when i, the customer, have to seek out someone to assist me. but the flip side of that is that i don't like being 'helped' before i even get a chance to look around.
price: the bottom line of things, really. this can be an expensive hobby, and having been all around i know about what things cost. also, my background in having owned a pet store gives me a little additional insight into what kind of markups are placed on the fish.
all facets are rated on a scale of 0-10, though there are instances where i did not purchase anything from a given store and thusly could not rate the health of the fish.
a bit about me....as should be obvious, i live in pennsylvania and make a great effort to not stray from its borders if i don't need to. i used to own a pet store that specialized in reptiles. i still keep a number of reptiles as well, though i have scaled that back significantly for right now. i make a living by being employed. i currently have 12 tanks running with everything from gouramis and danios to piranhas and cichlids. most of my fish knowledge has come from a combination of reading online and real books (yes, they still make them) and a whole lot of trial and error. something else that may bother some readers, i absolutely never use upper-case letters. you'll get used to it.
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