Hi all, I'm in Providence, RI. I have gone to a variety of places; quite frankly none of them have truly impressed me. I went to Tropic Isle in Framingham once, just because they were the closest place I could find that carries Bio-Spira.
Otherwise, I have been to PetSmart (Rt. 1 in Attleboro, MA), Petco (N. Main St., Providence), Aqua-Life (Wickendon St., Providence), National Aquarium (N. Main St., Providence), and Fish Bowl Aquarium (W. Warwick, RI).
Starting from the back, I thought the fish at Fish Bowl were horrible--however, they have ghost shrimp at $1 a dozen and they sell a variety of live foods (bloodworms, grindal worms, etc.). I will go there to get that stuff but could not see myself buying any fish there. National Aquarium sells live brine shrimp (50 cents for a baggie full), and has a big selection of wish. Quality of the tanks seems to vary. Aqua Life is a cramped little store, but overall many of the tanks seem to be in good shape--though the rainbowfish I bought from there were almost certainly sick already so that has left a bad impression on me. The PetSmart in Attleboro sometimes has knowledgable people (more than I would expect from a chain) and some of the tanks aren't half bad. The Petco is worst of all; every employee I have met there knows virtually nothing about keeping an aquarium or about the fish they sell, and many of the tanks are horrible.
Anyway if anyone else has suggestions in RI (or near-RI sections of MA) for places to shop, I am all ears!