<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15163836#post15163836 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by euromomtx
captive bred fish
knowledgable, friendly staff
Besides customer service, I want someone who actually knows what they are talking about from their own experience. Oh, and cares about the hobby and the livestock etc.
I.E. Walk into a local online shop's warehouse and it is kept clean and very well lit. In the past 2 years, they have done something like 3-4 remodels of the location, constantly updating both their displays and their mechanical inventory to make sure they are selling quality, healthy livestock. I don't think a single one of them doesn't have atleast a nano, and if they don't know the answer, they will go ask immediately. You want quality (especially maricultured/aquacultured frags), they will do everything possible to ensure and inform.
At another LFS I go to, they are a mix fresh/salt/reptiles. Here, there are plenty of employees that really have no idea what they are talking about, and they had a cichlid tank once but thought it was cool to do marine fish. A good chunk of them will try and force you/pressure you into buying something. I honestly only shop at this one when one particular employee is in, as he really knows what he is talking about. He will walk me through their livestock and specifically tell me NOT to buy something because its looking a bit ill or such. Further, he owns about 8 different tanks (2 225gs, etc) of his own and understands the hobby and biology.
As for a new store: I want to see someone with the knowledge of the hobby who is actively participating in QTing their tanks and coral propogation right there in the store. I will pay easily 50% more for a fish that is reliably and proven to be better taken care of then the same fish at another less thorough facility.