Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Pet Shops and Product Reviews => Fish Supplier Experiences Good and Bad => Good Pet Shop Stories => Topic started by: adenann on June 25, 2019, 09:15:29 PM
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:wave:
My go-to supplier for stock is Maidenhead Aquatics, the Cambridge branch inside Scotsdale Garden Centre (https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/storefinder/scotsdale/).
Unfortunately, MA is a franchise so quality can vary, store-by-store, but I find this branch to have a good selection of healthy looking fish, well presented and backed up by knowledgeable, helpful, staff.
I've tried other suppliers, there's another MA nearby, a Pets@Home and a couple of independents too.
Never tried P@H but stock from some of the others has let me down with, relatively early deaths and, in one case, introduction of White Spot that took out existing stock as well. I know I should have a quarantine tank, but well, I just haven't.
Value for money is not just about price. You have to take account of longevity as well. In my limited, 3-years into to hobby, experience, cheap fish are generally not as good quality/longevity as those I'd rather spend a few pence more on.
Why do I go back? All of the above.
For non-fish supplies I rely on Amazon to source my SeaChem Prime, Stability & Pristine only when there's a 30% Extra "Free" offer on.
I'm a big fan of NT Labs for their liquid test reagents and Pro-F Pellet ranges, Tropical & Catfish. They're competitively priced and last ages.
:cheers:
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Excellent, thanks for sharing!
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MA are the best round here for me too. They stock a decent range of everything, rather than specialising in certain areas. As you say different stores give slightly different experiences, what I do like about all those near me is their Facebook pages are always up to date and messages are responded to quickly. I can check which store I need to go to to get the fish I need without leaving the house.
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The Maidenhead Aquatics at Scotsdales is also my local store, and I have purchased the majority of my tanks, equipment, fish, and everything else there.
They have also been very accommodating when I've had issues. A couple of years ago they offered to lend me a chiller for my axolotl tank while they ordered the one that I wanted.
Occasionally they have some more unusual stock available, and I got my mudskippers from here. This year they have really upped their game on betta and shrimp stock, the sort of things you would expect to have to go to a more specialist shop for.
I agree with @adenann the staff are knowledgeable and helpful. I have got to know them all during my very frequent visits to the store, and they all keep fish themselves. They are always happy to talk about the fish, pass on advice, and help with any problems that their customer come to them with.
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I've not long got back from a trip to the shop this morning, and was very entertained to realise I'd visited on day that they were cleaning their main display tank. ;D
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I've not long got back from a trip to the shop this morning, and was very entertained to realise I'd visited on day that they were cleaning their main display tank. ;D
Wow that's one way to do it I suppose! I wouldn't like to fall over whilat inside and crack it!!