Nashville Reef Stores

[NirvanaFan]

Hello everyone,
I'll be in Nashville/Opryland for business at the beginning of May for about a week and a half. I'll be staying at the Gaylord Opryland hotel doing a trade show exhibit there. I've got a couple questions.

- Are there any must see reef stores around there (~half hour walk or 10 minute cab ride)? I get pretty spoiled, there are many great stores in Western New York.

- Are there any public aquariums, or other must see marine-related places?

Thanks!

 

[james3370]

Aquarium Restaurant inside the opry mills mall....which is adjacant to the hotel

few good fish stores but all are a good drive from the hotel. only one that i might be 10-15 cab ride from hotel & IMO the best one in nashville.....the Aquatic Critter

Mapped Directions

 

[ZachB]

I miss the stores I went to in Tampa.

I could get a sea fan for $15 bucks, good sized. Hippo Tangs, $35 for a nice sized fish. Kole tang, $30. Pair of black clowns, $60. All very healthy. I could continue all day.

Aquatic Critter and Fins are good stores, but they're a bit of a drive from Opryland. I wouldn't go out of my way.

 

[Mobikob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14845533#post14845533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZachB
I miss the stores I went to in Tampa.

Ditto!
Tampa bay Saltwater for one!
Condys and brittle stars all day long for 5 bucks, and snails and hermits for 25 cents or something ridiculous like that.

Mobi

 

[ZachB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14845796#post14845796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mobikob
Ditto!
Tampa bay Saltwater for one!
Condys and brittle stars all day long for 5 bucks, and snails and hermits for 25 cents or something ridiculous like that.

Mobi

heck yea. I went to Westside Pets in South Tampa and Paul would always would get awesome fish and anemones in, sponges, all sorts of cool critters for cheap. Great store, great guy.

Also Marine Warehouse, they were a bit more expensive but still very cheap compared to here. You're right, I could get hermits and snails for like .15-.25 cents. I thought my rock was expensive at $4 a pound. Better than $10 / pound filled with aiptasia.

Next trip back to Tampa I'll be making some purchases.

 

[DMBillies]

Yeah guys, but these places are right on the water... and we are stuck high and dry in the center of the damn country Yes, I am starting to miss the ocean...

I'll tell you what, I could have made a mint off of you guys with blue legged hermit crabs just snorkeling in Cozumel. Seriously hundreds per square yard. If only there wasn't that pesky customs nonsense.

 

[ZachB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846001#post14846001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMBillies
Yeah guys, but these places are right on the water... and we are stuck high and dry in the center of the damn country Yes, I am starting to miss the ocean...

I'll tell you what, I could have made a mint off of you guys with blue legged hermit crabs just snorkeling in Cozumel. Seriously hundreds per square yard. If only there wasn't that pesky customs nonsense.

True. But the tangs don't come from Tampa Bay. Neither do the wrasses, clowns, and many other critters that are half price. Crabs and such I can see. The fish and inverts are flown in, the guys would pick them up at TPA international. It shouldn't be that much more in freight to go the additional 2 hours up to Nashville.

 

[NeveSSL]

NirvanaFan... there's pretty much nothing that is a half-hour walk or a 10 minute cab ride from much of anything in Tennessee.

That being said, the Aquatic Critter would the one I suggest you go see if you wanted to see one. Its about a 30 minute or so ride from Opry Land, though.

Brandon

 

[NirvanaFan]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm still not sure if I'll have time to check much out. Sometimes we work 8 hours a day, and others times it is 14 hour days.

 

[Fishboy42]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14844588#post14844588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NirvanaFan
I get pretty spoiled, there are many great stores in Western New York.

Would you mind posting or sending me a PM with your favorites? I might be up there in the not-too distant future and wouldn't mind doing a bit of "shopping"

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14845533#post14845533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZachB
I miss the stores I went to in Tampa.

Pair of black clowns, $60.

Knoxville has something on Tampa there

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14846080#post14846080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZachB
True. But the tangs don't come from Tampa Bay. Neither do the wrasses, clowns, and many other critters that are half price. Crabs and such I can see. The fish and inverts are flown in, the guys would pick them up at TPA international. It shouldn't be that much more in freight to go the additional 2 hours up to Nashville.

There are large international wholesalers in Tampa that allow walk-in shopping for local businesses (much like Los Angeles). For the LFS this saves a lot in freight costs (and stress to the animals) compared to shops that must cover freight and the associated work between the wholesaler and the shop.

As you probably know, most of the cost of wild-caught marine ornamentals is in the freight. Working with a local wholesaler to do transship orders allows stores to get animals incredibly cheap.

But then living in Tennessee has its share of benefits too

Matt

 

[ZachB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14901621#post14901621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishboy42

But then living in Tennessee has its share of benefits too

Matt

It does?

 

[NeveSSL]

:lol:

It does, Zach. Check out SustainableAquatics.com for further information.

Brandon