How to choose a good Tropical Fish Store ?

Now, how to choose? Here are some tips for selecting an excellent Tropical fish store:

First impression

When you entering the Tropical fish store, check the smell. An excellent Tropical fish store should have freshwater smell, not musty - it means the tropical fish store has a good ventilation. If a tropical fish store smells bad, they may not be taking care of their animals. Check if there are any rotten fishes or if the tropical fish stores sell animals other than fish, there may be an odor around the small animals like hamster or reptiles cages, but the entire store should not smell like old urine or worse. A clean tropical fish store usually means clean aquariums and healthy fish.

Check the dead fish

Is there any dead fish there? Dead fishes in tropical fish stores are inevitable, but the dead fish should all be removed from the aquariums before the store opens for business. Also check, if there are almost-dead fishes in their aquariums. An excellent tropical fish stores should pay attention for the health of their fishes. How can they give you good advices on choosing pet fish or fish supplies, if they can't take care of their own?

Check the aquariums

The aquariums glasses should be clean, aquariums' water should be healthy : not cloudy, not smelly, no oil slicks and no excessive surface scum. Check if all life supports -such as filters and air pumps- are working well or not. If all the aquariums look good, the tropical fish store takes good care of their fishes.

Check the fishes

Do not buy pet fish from tank which have fish disease symptoms!. Fish diseases are usually contagious and can contaminate your home aquarium.

Check their advice

Before you do that, you should prepare yourself with some readings from books or internet. If you're a rookie, you probably think that the salesperson knows more than you do. It might be right, but doesn't mean that the salesperson is competent to give you good advices! If you already prepared with some readings, you can compare the salesperson's advices with the book. If you are more experieced aquarist, it's more easier to give them questions that you'd already knew the answers, just to check their knowledge. If the salesperson really gives the good advice, you may consider to buy fish supplies from there.

Note: Not all advices to solve aquarium problems involving money to spend. Some solutions such as partially water changes, feeding techniques, making good water agitation, circulation or others doesn't involve spending money.

Fish supplies prices

Price follows quality. Check if they sell trustable and reputable brands of fish supplies. Of course, you will find prices for the same types & brands are higher than online purchasing. But if you buy from excellent tropical fish stores, you will get help & support if you have any difficulties with some fish supplies. Just compare the price difference between tropical fish stores with the services and advices they provided, then you know where to buy!