cichlidcasey
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 138
???????
anyone from Pittsburgh or Western Pa
- Thread starter cichlidcasey
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
JesseMessykinn
Aquarium Advice Freak
Im about Hour and ahalf east of pittsburg.
Tknofetish
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2012
- Messages
- 1
Getting closer with every post. I'm actually inside the city limits...
So what LFS does everyone here like? I think I've been to most of them...
Elmer's: Average selection and inventory, (slightly) more convenient location if you're actually in the city... All the basics as far as stock is concerned, but nothing fancy. And the freshwater plant tank is just sad. Also every time I've ever been there I've been given bad info about something by the staff. They're super-nice, but surprisingly not well-informed about their products.
Oddball: Scary, dirty and cramped... Feels like a serial killer's basement. And the fish don't look too healthy, either. On the other hand, easily the best and most eclectic stock in town (at least for freshwater). The only place I've seen crystal red shrimp, killifish or even kribensis. Plus he's got more plants than the others combined. Guy seems to know his stuff, too. Never bought anything here, though, so I can't vouch for quality...
Wet Pets: Probably the nicest of the bunch, but I've only been there once. Seemed more saltwater-focused, which is great if that's your thing. Freshwater stock was like 80% Cichlids, 20% every other kind of fish. Again, great if cichlids are your thing. The tetras and guppies I bought there, however, have been nothing but happy and healthy, so that's a plus...
Am I missing anyone? Anybody have different experiences with these places? I'm especially curious about Oddball... If I felt better about the quality of their fish (and also my chances of not being ritualistically murdered), I'd definitely be more inclined to shop there.
So what LFS does everyone here like? I think I've been to most of them...
Elmer's: Average selection and inventory, (slightly) more convenient location if you're actually in the city... All the basics as far as stock is concerned, but nothing fancy. And the freshwater plant tank is just sad. Also every time I've ever been there I've been given bad info about something by the staff. They're super-nice, but surprisingly not well-informed about their products.
Oddball: Scary, dirty and cramped... Feels like a serial killer's basement. And the fish don't look too healthy, either. On the other hand, easily the best and most eclectic stock in town (at least for freshwater). The only place I've seen crystal red shrimp, killifish or even kribensis. Plus he's got more plants than the others combined. Guy seems to know his stuff, too. Never bought anything here, though, so I can't vouch for quality...
Wet Pets: Probably the nicest of the bunch, but I've only been there once. Seemed more saltwater-focused, which is great if that's your thing. Freshwater stock was like 80% Cichlids, 20% every other kind of fish. Again, great if cichlids are your thing. The tetras and guppies I bought there, however, have been nothing but happy and healthy, so that's a plus...
Am I missing anyone? Anybody have different experiences with these places? I'm especially curious about Oddball... If I felt better about the quality of their fish (and also my chances of not being ritualistically murdered), I'd definitely be more inclined to shop there.
I share the same feelings towards Elmers and Oddball. Haven't been to Oddball in years though. One pretty decent place is Seahorse on Route 8 in Gibsonia. They got a huge selection of freshwater fish and what seems like a decent selection of saltwater fish and some corals. I'm not a saltie though so I could be way wrong. I bought most of my cories and tetras there over the years. They will special order anything they have on their list so that is a plus.
Lardeelion
Aquarium Advice Freak
Wet Pet! Such a knowledgable group. They've never steered me wrong.
bkiggy
Aquarium Advice Addict
I grew up in Weirton, WV. 45 min west. Now in Boston
Mommachef
Aquarium Advice Activist
I know this is an older thread but since I'm new here I'm just finding it. I'm about 25 mins north if Pittsburgh.
As for the stores, only one I've had the chance to go to (so far) is aqua world because its the closest to me. I love the place, the staff has always been super friendly to me and the owner (I assume he's the owner) usually cuts me some good deals on things- he claims he doesn't know how much it's marked for and winks. Then helps me carry stuff to my car. Lol
As for the stores, only one I've had the chance to go to (so far) is aqua world because its the closest to me. I love the place, the staff has always been super friendly to me and the owner (I assume he's the owner) usually cuts me some good deals on things- he claims he doesn't know how much it's marked for and winks. Then helps me carry stuff to my car. Lol
LandLocked
Aquarium Advice Regular
Washington here. Only small one I have ever been is wet pets. I have to have a look of the others on the list.
I seen one off the south pointe exit, they had a thing on Clist, for some reason I got the impression they are salt mostly. Edit (Haha its cause the name is Saltwater Sanctuary)
I drive past Aqua World all the time, never noticed it, thanks.
I seen one off the south pointe exit, they had a thing on Clist, for some reason I got the impression they are salt mostly. Edit (Haha its cause the name is Saltwater Sanctuary)
I drive past Aqua World all the time, never noticed it, thanks.
Saltwater sanctuary? Aquaworld is my favorite to go to but if your looking for coral frags I'm right down here in wheeling
LandLocked
Aquarium Advice Regular
I don't have any salt tanks but..... You #*#*#*ers here have me seriously starting to figuring out where it would go so maybe my next trip to the Good ZooI'll check ya out. Do you have a store?
SkyRocker
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Greetings. I grew up in the city of Pittsburgh (North Side, Hill District, Homewood, Penn Hills) and now live in Tarentum which is about 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, out route 28. I've had aquariums ever since I can remember, I'm 55 now, but they've all been smaller starting with a 10 gallon when I lived at home with my parents and moving up to a 20-29 gallon when I was out on my own.
Recently picked up a 55 gallon from craigslist, $100 for tank, emperor 400 filter and a few inserts and wheels, a few bags of gravel and a hood. Pretty good deal I thought. I'm planning on getting some cichlids, mbunas specifically, to fill the tank up. From what I've read you should ideally place all of the fish in at once because of the territorial issues but I can't afford to do that (I've seen it recommended that the 55 can hold up to 14). I've been searching online fish retailers, local pet stores, etc to try to find the best deals. I'm really glad I stumbled across this thread because growing up in the city Elmer's was always the place to go, I fact I go to the used equipment sale every few months or so.
I'd never heard of 'Oddball' or 'Wet Pets' so I was glad to come across those, and I was glad there was some recent activity on this thread, maybe we can get something going, maybe a good exchange of information.
Recently picked up a 55 gallon from craigslist, $100 for tank, emperor 400 filter and a few inserts and wheels, a few bags of gravel and a hood. Pretty good deal I thought. I'm planning on getting some cichlids, mbunas specifically, to fill the tank up. From what I've read you should ideally place all of the fish in at once because of the territorial issues but I can't afford to do that (I've seen it recommended that the 55 can hold up to 14). I've been searching online fish retailers, local pet stores, etc to try to find the best deals. I'm really glad I stumbled across this thread because growing up in the city Elmer's was always the place to go, I fact I go to the used equipment sale every few months or so.
I'd never heard of 'Oddball' or 'Wet Pets' so I was glad to come across those, and I was glad there was some recent activity on this thread, maybe we can get something going, maybe a good exchange of information.
Mommachef
Aquarium Advice Activist
I made it to wet pets a few weeks ago, it was well worth my hour trip. They were all really knowledgeable, I spent some time talking to them about setting up a pond, talked about their cichlids, and bought 4 fish but he only charged me for 2 (score!). When we were there the discus had fry, as well as a couple cichlids. REALLY cool for someone that hasn't explored fish breeding (like myself). The discus and the saltwater displays were the highlights for me. (I didn't know discus could get that big, btw.)
SkyRocker
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Made it out to Oddball's last sunday and got the last of my fish, the Iodotropheus sprengerae. I was really impressed that they had them, but to be honest I hadn't checked Elmer's, I got my Acei's at Pet Smart so I know they didn't have them there. Sure the "fish room" looked like a serial killer's basement to some folks, to me it looked like someone puts more interest in fishkeeping than "flash". It was a nice drive for me cause they are WAY off the beaten track, but well worth the trip for me. It was actually Mother's day when I went, got to spend some time with my sister, the weather was nice, and the variety was awesome. My sister likes aquariums too, but has never gone anywhere for fish except WalMart or K-Mart (years agao), so she was really impressed. I'd have to give Oddballs an a+ for variety and price, b for location (in my case).
I'm a little north of Pittsburgh and just getting started into aquariums. Working on setting up a 36g Bowfront now.
I have been to Super Aquaworld and they had a very impressive variety, but I wasn't impressed with how dirty everything was. Some of the tanks were very overstocked (20 foot long or bigger catfish in what looked like a 50g tank) but their saltwater and display tanks seemed to be much more maintained.
I've been to a couple of the local big box stores and the Petco at waterworks actually has had the nicest tanks and most knowledgeable staff so far. The selection is limited but the fish they do have are very active and very healthy.
I haven't been to the other stores mentioned here but I think i'm going to check out Wet Pets this week, they seem to have a very nice store from the pictures i've seen.
I have been to Super Aquaworld and they had a very impressive variety, but I wasn't impressed with how dirty everything was. Some of the tanks were very overstocked (20 foot long or bigger catfish in what looked like a 50g tank) but their saltwater and display tanks seemed to be much more maintained.
I've been to a couple of the local big box stores and the Petco at waterworks actually has had the nicest tanks and most knowledgeable staff so far. The selection is limited but the fish they do have are very active and very healthy.
I haven't been to the other stores mentioned here but I think i'm going to check out Wet Pets this week, they seem to have a very nice store from the pictures i've seen.
