LFS in Florida

apayne

New member
Hi All,
I hope this is appropriate for this form. I think it is since I am asking about anemones.
I am headed to Florida over February break and was wondering where there are a couple of good LFS that regularly have a good selection of anemones? I will start my trip in the Pensacola area, where my friend is getting married, and drive down to the keys. If any one has a favorite store, let me know and I will try and check it out, and hopefully find a new nem for my tank.

Thanks,
Aaron
 
Heres one in central florida. Bit expensive store, but i think its worth it. I dont have any reef tanks, but they have nice salt water section. and they have a reef lovers room with anemones in it. www.afishwish.com

It has a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. Including the scary puffer dog i saw they had in stock the other day. Also, their website is never updated as much, but the owner is so nice she will go drive to a fish farm to get you your fish.
 
We have a GREAT! store here in Naples - SouthWest Florida!


Saltwater Solutions Aquarium
1035 Collier Center Way, Naples, FL
(239) 596-8019

GOOGLE LINK - w/ Directions


has the LARGEST amount of Coral & fish - not very much on dry goods ... this store used to be a whole saler - holding facility ...


pics:

IMG_3496.JPG


IMG_3497.JPG


IMG_3498.JPG


IMG_3499.JPG


IMG_3506.JPG


IMG_3507.JPG
 
How are coming through Florida? There's 3 basic ways to come down, I-75 which is on the west coast, the Florida Turnpike which runs down the middle (Orlando to Southeast FL), and I-95 on the east coast. Since you're starting in Penascola and headed to the Keys, I'm betting on I-10 to I-75 to Turnpike to I-95 to USA-1. Right? Are you planning on making the entire drive distance or planning on stopping somewhere?

If your stopping in Orlando all the ones named are great. I go to each quite a bit. There's also Fishy Business which is a little bit north of Orlando, but probably have the most on stock in the Greater Orlando area.


If you're stopping in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area, there's 2 stores that are definitely worth stopping just to see. First is Big Al's first USA superstore. It is absolutely insane and worth it just to see, it's HUGE, it used to be a Liz Taylor retail store. Take a look at the store tour, esp. the "Entering the Deep" and their 5000gal shark tank.
http://www.bigalsusa.com/

Second is Jawz.net. Their store is very nicely sized and they have a ton of rarer stuff.
 
If you know what you want? I'd contact SITC seainthecity.com ahead of time, ask for Marcye and see if she could get something in for you. A lot of the other stores mentioned (if you come by Orlando) have really cool stuff time from time but when she orders something? its like the best of the best

Also check out our local forums Orlando Reef Caretakers ***. I am not yet a member but hope to be - theres aguy near me who has like a 1.5' anemone he doesn't know what to do with- never know if you might find something like that around the corner!
 
Wow, I will have quite a large list of places to go!!!
Now that I have an itinerary, I am going to be in Pensacola for a couple of days and then fly over to Daytona Beach. From there we will take a couple of days to drive down to the Keys, staying for 4-5 days in Key largo and doing day trips from there. It looks like we will take rt. 95 down the coast. I'm not sure if we will Be going to Orlando, but I will try since there seam to be a lot for stores there.

Thanks for the input and keep it coming,
Aaron;)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9061903#post9061903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by apayne
Wow, I will have quite a large list of places to go!!!
Now that I have an itinerary, I am going to be in Pensacola for a couple of days and then fly over to Daytona Beach. From there we will take a couple of days to drive down to the Keys, staying for 4-5 days in Key largo and doing day trips from there. It looks like we will take rt. 95 down the coast. I'm not sure if we will Be going to Orlando, but I will try since there seam to be a lot for stores there.

Thanks for the input and keep it coming,
Aaron;)

Let us know when you do go .. which stores you went to, and how ou liked them, please....


i yet have to check out big al's .. but heard its worth going.
 
Will do, I can't wait. Does any one know if you can take live goods w/ you on the plane? would love to get a nem or 2 but don't want to ship them.

Thanks for all of the store names,
Aaron
 
Ive heard of several people that flew from Cali back to FL and brought stuff back on the plane. Might want to check with the airline to make sure.
 
Go to the FMAS (Ft Lauderdale & Miami)site in the reef club forum.At the top is a sticky/spreadsheet of local stores in our area.Have a great trip.HTH.
 
I am leaving out tonight, and I am very excited. I will let you know what stores I go to and how they compair.

Thanks,
Aaron
 
I brought three corals in bags of water and they let me on the plane. Just explain to them that it is a living creature and that the water in the bag is pure saltwater. Maybe even mention a little about your tanks or about salinity of the water...just make sure they understand that they would be risking the health of the animal by not accepting it, obviously not in a threatening way. Usually, they should be cool. They have a stand where you can bring items and they will swab it to make sure there are no chemicals/bombs/I'm not sure exactly what they check for. LAX is usually pretty anal about there stuff, too. It really does not come down to company policy, more on the shoulders of the person inspecting, but if you had written permission I don't see how they would stop you, so it might be worth while calling up the airport/airline.

If you're going south and want to hit up Orlando, take I-4 "west" even though it goes south before west, and this will take you into the heart of the city. If decide to make it out to Orlando, SITC as mentioned before is what I consider the perfect store. If you go to our ORCA forum, you will see the praise that Marcye gets. Now that I thought about it, you might want to go to her store on the way back instead of the way down. You will end up getting something:)
 
Back
Top