Recent LFS trips

[xhaust50]

This weekend I visited 3 LFS: Suffolk County Fish and Reef, Fishy Inc., and A Lot of Fish (2 miles west of Fishy Inc. on Montauk highway in the Sherwin Williams parking lot, right at the end of 231).

I was expecting to make a purchase as SCFR, but was a little dissapointed. They had a few dead fish, and fish that were on their way out, and only one knowledgable person working there.

I decided to go elsewhere, and went to Fishy Inc. They did not have much, as I was informed that they are currently moving locations and are lightly stocked. However, everything was healthy, not one dead fish.

I then went to A Lot of Fish, where they had a pretty deceivingly large selection of both fresh and saltwater fish. The owner was the only employee, but he was very knowledgable. I also could not find a single dead fish in any of the tanks, and they had corals too. I purchased a fridmani pseudo and a local puffer fish, both were pretty cheap. I have to say this was the best LFS that I have been to recently.

I also went to Magic Isle last weekend, but was extremely dissapointed when I found a 6" Volitan Lion and a 6" Porcupine Puffer together in a 10G tank, and the puffer had a huge hole in its tail. This used to be my go to store, but not anymore.

As a whole, in the two times I have been to both Fishy Inc. and A Lot of Fish I have never seen one dead or dying fish. Pretty impressive compared to most LFS's. A Lot of Fish has great prices, too. Just wanted to inform the uninformed.

 

[directional]

Have you tried going to Aquahut down the street from magic isle ( twoards north ocean and middle island ) Its about 15minutes from magic isle but is alot bigger and they have alot of fish.

Where are those other 2 fish stores that you said were good. I see you are in Smithtown ( I am in Farmingville / Ronkonkoma ) are they close? I am looking for a good fish store since I will be making a 10g nano reef.

 

[xhaust50]

I've been to Aqua Hut. It is better than Magic Isle as far as selection (I feel), and mostly everything is healthy. But again between Fishy Inc. and A Lot of Fish I have never seen a dead / dying fish. They do not have the selection that larger stores can offer, but both owners have been very friendly, and the health is top notch. They are both located on the southern side of Montauk HWY, Fishy Inc. in Bayshore about a block east of 5th Ave and A Lot of Fish in West Babylon about a block west of 231.

Update: My brother actually just purchased a 12" Golden Knife from A Lot of Fish for $40, and it was packaged in an extremely large bag with a lot of water, and was placed inside a very large styrofoam cooler. Top notch.

 

[directional]

I am looking for a yellow tang for my 55gal and like I said I will be getting stuff for my nano-reef I will go check it out.

 

[xhaust50]

I just added the info to the LFS post that is going on. You can give A Lot of Fish a call, but he did have Yellow Tang's there this weekend. Fishy Inc. is in the middle of a move so he was lightly stocked. I don't think SCFR had any yellow tang's, and I was slightly disappointed with the health of their livestock on my recent trip. They do have large selection though, and probably the only place where what is listed is what's actually in the tank.

 

[pyro383]

I stopped in at Aqua Hut today. Major changes coming:
All the stands are being torn out and replaced with new wood structures all coated (baby blue) tanks are drilled and painted in the back. All supplies have prices written on them. Supplies are being sorted and stacked cleanly. Ceiling panels replaced (as needed) and all light fixtures were relamped (bright as hell in there). Access to fish very limited as the fresh water is mostly completed and salt in under going renovations.

 

[kev apsley]

You may also want to try Country Critters in Patchogue, dry good selection leaves a lot to be desired but the livestock selection is very good for corals and both fresh and salwater fish.

 

[Neurotech]

Yes, I saw Aqua hut yesterday - Don is planning on being all set up by Oct 2. I would bet that he would call that baby blue color "Aqua". He did some fancy tilework too.