LFS Prices

squaretankguy08

squaretankguy08

New member
This is just basically a rant about my local fish stores recently. I go to school at a smaller school in Missouri not too far from my home town. Unfortunately its the opposite direction from my usual LFS. The only pet store in town here that has SW stock is unbelievable over priced. Like 2 times as much as my typical one, which has also gone down hill a little as well. Brothers Pets in KC is the same way. At Least twice what the same fish is somewhere else. I just cant believe they mark things up that much and people actually shop there. I just wish i had a good LFS close.
 
theres a few in my area that are the same way. one store actually charges 59.99 for a cleaner shrimp and 49.99 for a golf ball sized piece of GSP. I wish i could get 49.99 for the weeds in my yard just like they try selling gsp for.
 
No kidding, i had an out break of algae the other day (newer tank) and i went to the place in town to get a turbo. Turns out they were 5.99 for a small one, and considering I'm used to paying 2.50 regardless of the size i was surprised by the price. I need it so i payed it but reluctantly.
 
I don't mind paying a little more for little stuff like that, especially if you need it. Its when i see skimmers, filters, chemi-pure, and bigger animals for 10x their price. How old of a tank. judging by the 8 posts i'm guessing pretty new
 
Well its actually my oldest tank which i have had for atleast 4 years but when i moved my apartments in july i replaced my dsb because the old stuff was very nasty underneath. So i reused the water and LR but it still slightly cycled and i lost most of my crabs and snails. Didnt phase my neon dotty back though which is now returned to the LFS for credit, since every new hermit i bought he ate. Obviously the amonia spiked because i could even smell it. Its looking better now especially with the new inhabitants.
 
I used to live in KC. Brothers has been around for a long time but always high priced. When I was in there a couple of years ago, I was not impressed. It looked dirty.

I'll be making a trip back soon. What other stores are left in town?
 
I have a LFS that is 5 minutes from my house. Prices are great but the tanks are somewhat iffy. A ocellaris clown there is 19.99. I have another LFS that is around an hour away, but the store is super clean, great livestock and wonderful customer service. The same species of clown is around 15-20 dollars more. I'd lose 15 dollars and have a better feeling purchasing a fish knowing that it was in good care compared to the HA infested tanks of the closer store.

So what I want to say is that I would rather pay a higher price, knowing the quality is good, rather than save a couple bucks and worry about what this fish may bring into my tank, or even die on me.
 
I've been in the hobby for many years. In my area there is one major LFS which also has an online business and advertises here called Toofishy.com. I find that their prices are reasonable and competitive but have noticed huge price increases everywhere over mostly the last 3 years. An adult 5 inch emperor angel used to sell here for about $100 to $120 bucks now I don't see them anywhere for under $170.00 for that size unless it is a sale. Skimmers OMG it is ridiculous what these pieces of plastic made in China cost at least for a good one. Of course everything is getting out of hand price wise. I really don't know how so many people are going to make it. Sorry just disgusted with the cost of this hobby after being in it for almost 30 years.
 
I frequent the kc area and have found midwest reefs in liberty to be top notch as well as aquarium wholesale in kansas. I have. Walked out of a lot of lfs mad because I felt they were trying to rip off newbies. I won't even go into those stores now so there is no temptation. Where in. Mo are you?
 
Im east of Kansas City in Odessa but i go to school at UCM. I agree brothers is always dirty, which is the same way with the place in warrensburg. I have been to Midwest reefs and i also agree its very nice just quite a drive north. Same with aquarium wholesale but im gonna make my way out there eventually, i hear its really nice.
 
As LFSs slowly go the way of small town hardware stores many resort to less orthodox pricing strategies. For example the store with the high coral prices may have lower prices on salt, or tanks, or fish. Did you compare prices on anything other than corals?

And for my own little rant (not directed at the OP): if the LFS owner were as simple-minded ( or is it conniving? or spiteful?) as the customer's indignation at pricing so often seems to imply, then he/she would have gone out of business a long time ago.
 
i never want to go to my LFS agauin because a diamond goby was 39 and tiny hermit crabs are 2 buck a piece i just cant do it anymore just got an order online and very happy
 
Toofishy.com sells a 25 lot of hermits I think blue legs for $25.00/dollar a piece. Their nice size to not the size of a pea I'm hearing people are now getting.
 
I think its best to buy as much as possible at the lfs. The things I order are stuff I can't get locally (less than 2 hours away). Those include mainly bulk products. Fwiw
 
Premium Aquatics is local to me and I am very thankfull for it. They have great livestock and better prices.
 
They basically have nothing at the store i was talking about. They are high on everything though, filter material you name it. A thermometer like what is 1.25 at walmart was 3.79 there. They are only still in business because they sell other animal stuff for birds dogs ect as well.
 
My lfs is very overpriced too however it is a good quality store and all fish are qt'd before being sold so they can go right into the tank they have a very impressive holding area where they also propogate their own corals.
 
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