Orlando fish stores

[bluerug]

So who lives in orlando and what fish stores do you guys go to. My two favorites have to be aquaholics and fishy business who has been in the business for a heck of a long time, he is one of the dinosaurs left in the state lol. But picked up a lion fish from fishy business and could not be more happy with it, its allready eating frozen like a champ and rick the owner will not let them go until they are eating frozen, what a nice guy he is by the way. My sister will be buying a tank setup from his store. His prices are some of the best in town and his fish selection is awesome, i will be getting a mappa puffer from him soon hopefully. So fishy business gets my vote, who gets yours?

 

[bluerug]

Also i plan on buying a broomtail wrasse a well from him or a saddle back grouper, cant really decide.

 

[thor32766]

my vote as seen in many threads goes to my girl marcye at SITC!

 

[MacnReef]

My favorite is OceanBlue.

Mike

*I wonder how many more of these threads are going to pop-up this week...lol

 

[Stoney Mahony]

Gotta say SITC! but Rich always has nice stuff. Im just more into SPS."Cause hes an indian outlaw..."lol sweet

 

[bluerug]

Nice that you know that song. Yep your right its rich.

 

[waterfaller1]

Rich was my first experience with keeping a sw tank. He recommended crushed coral and 7 damsels to start. Then when I returned for some "real fish" a couple weeks later I was told that I could have ANY fish in the store so I went home with 9 fish at once. A mandarin, a flame angel, a blue hippo tang...to name a few fish that should'nt have been in a new tank. I did'nt have a clue then, did'nt know about forums such as this, and they were not forthcoming with info..like 9 fish should NEVER be added to a tank at once. They all died, every one of them except one die-hard damsel. He also tried to convince me that I had to have $200 worth of snake oils or my tank would'nt be healthy.I would much rather shop at a store that is honest, even if it means they may lose a sale that time. A smart LFS knows that if they give the proper info they will gain a faithful customer who will return. And animals won't have to die because of an inexperienced keeper or a tank that is'nt stable or mature enough.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Just curious how long ago was that?

 

[waterfaller1]

Feb of 03'. I really thought that store was the best..because they had so many different pretty fish. I had a 75 gal tank. After all my fish died and another bad experience with a petland employee who squeezed a cucumber before putting it in the bag,I started reading and researching the hobby.

 

[keithntracy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7832832#post7832832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thor32766
my vote as seen in many threads goes to my girl marcye at SITC!

ditto twice over!

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Guess I should have read your "hobby experience tag" DOH! Well by your knowledge I would have thought you've been reefing for at least 10 years.

That is a horrible experience btw....and the petland one too. One guy at PL dropped a fish from the top tank so it fell at least 6 feet....then he bagged it and tried to sell it to me.

 

[waterfaller1]

Yeah, that cucumber turned solid as a rock the next day and threw it's innards{eviscerated}..I knew enough about animals to know this could'nt be good so I started reading. I absorb things I love like a sponge, and animals are my thing..of all kinds. That's why I seem so "knowledgable", but thanks. Hours and hours of reading and saving articles and websites. Heck, the first forum I found was hilarious. I bet my post is still sitting there at the top of the page unanswered. I went back day after day and noone ever replied. Then I found swf.com..LOL..well it was a start in the right direction.

 

[Juck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834335#post7834335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
Rich was my first experience with keeping a sw tank. He recommended crushed coral and 7 damsels to start. Then when I returned for some "real fish" a couple weeks later I was told that I could have ANY fish in the store so I went home with 9 fish at once. A mandarin, a flame angel, a blue hippo tang...to name a few fish that should'nt have been in a new tank. I did'nt have a clue then, did'nt know about forums such as this, and they were not forthcoming with info..like 9 fish should NEVER be added to a tank at once. They all died, every one of them except one die-hard damsel. He also tried to convince me that I had to have $200 worth of snake oils or my tank would'nt be healthy.I would much rather shop at a store that is honest, even if it means they may lose a sale that time. A smart LFS knows that if they give the proper info they will gain a faithful customer who will return. And animals won't have to die because of an inexperienced keeper or a tank that is'nt stable or mature enough.

That's appalling. Which store is this Rich character at?

 

[thor32766]

fishly buisness over in longwood.

 

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7834335#post7834335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
Rich was my first experience with keeping a sw tank. He recommended crushed coral and 7 damsels to start. Then when I returned for some "real fish" a couple weeks later I was told that I could have ANY fish in the store so I went home with 9 fish at once. A mandarin, a flame angel, a blue hippo tang...to name a few fish that should'nt have been in a new tank. I did'nt have a clue then, did'nt know about forums such as this, and they were not forthcoming with info..like 9 fish should NEVER be added to a tank at once. They all died, every one of them except one die-hard damsel. He also tried to convince me that I had to have $200 worth of snake oils or my tank would'nt be healthy.I would much rather shop at a store that is honest, even if it means they may lose a sale that time. A smart LFS knows that if they give the proper info they will gain a faithful customer who will return. And animals won't have to die because of an inexperienced keeper or a tank that is'nt stable or mature enough.

I am not calling you a liar by any means, but this is not the rich i know, he is very honest and would not be in business as long as he has been if he acted like this i assure you that. He is one honest guy, i will ask him about this tommorow and see what he has to say.

 

[bluerug]

This is why rich keeps to himself and only his self when it comes to other stores in the area, he does not like drama nor will he deal with it. Fishy business still gets my vote. Being in the business as long as he has, he must be doing something right. Ya think?

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7835984#post7835984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluecarpet
I am not calling you a liar by any means, but this is not the rich i know, he is very honest and would not be in business as long as he has been if he acted like this i assure you that. He is one honest guy, i will ask him about this tommorow and see what he has to say.

You have the nerve to question my honesty and integrity? You don't know me.

 

[tomlando]

I have known all the fish stores in Orlando since 1979 when I had my first SW tank. In my opinion, just because a store has a lot of fish, doesn't mean it is a good pet store. I mean Lombardi's has a lot of fish! Fishy Business is my least favorite. It does a lot of business volume but I found most of the help to be inexperienced and felt like I was in a meat market instead of a pet store. I stopped in a couple of moths ago and have found that some things don't change much.

 

[Stoney Mahony]

Sorry to have to chime in but I know a few of the employes at Fishy biz(not all) and they are VERY knowledgable in the SW/REEF area. Thy helped me raise my first batch of baby cardinals, and gave me lots of good info that still rings true. Im sure almost(I did say almost) every LFS has at least 1 employe givin out not so good info. It's human nature...it's hard to say "I really don't know" when it's supposed to be your buisness. If Marcye does'nt know, she just opens her lap top and finds out for ya! Can't beat that! I would just double check any questionable info on the net and if what you read different, take it back and confront them! Any good LFS will take back if they advised wrong.

 

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7837478#post7837478 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
You have the nerve to question my honesty and integrity? You don't know me.

I dont have to know you, to tell you that this is not the rich i know. Lets please not get in a bickering contest, i just simply would like to hear honest opinions of the lfs's in the area and i am not calling your post un honest by the way. You know who had really nice corals but was not very good in customer service was saltwater reef. Very nice selection of all types of corals.