The only stores that I have local are a couple of the bigger chains. I only go there if I need something fast. Otherwise I drive the 40 miles to a Mom & Pop
FS. They are great about everything. They have a great selection of fish, they try to keep it interesting. If they don't have what I want, they will order it for me, that way I'm never stuck paying those insane shipping charges.
They don't carry a lot of equipment. But equipment is cheaper online and doesn't come with a big shipping fee, like fish do.
Same with decorations, not a lot but what they do have is very well made, no way for your fish to get hurt by it. But that too is better purchased online.
If they don't have the substrate I want they'll order that too, no shipping.
What they do carry is a lot of a few high quality foods. What I mean is, they carry the entire line of NLS for one, along with a few other high quality food lines. They do the same with medicines. They try to carry a couple of really good meds. to cover the common illnesses of all the fish they sell.
There has never been an issue about returning a fish for any reason. The fish is a bully or the wrong sex, or it got to big or it's being picked on and it's life is to stressful , so it needs a new home, whatever it is, they take them back. It's a wonderful policy that they have about it all.
They also gave me credit, I'm on a fixed income because I'm disabled. Some times the cash runs out and my fish need something or I run out of Prime a couple of days before I get paid so the credit makes both mine and my fishes life easier.
So supporting your closest but not always local Mom & Pop stores can be a benefit to you and your fish too.
