Southern Illinois, Buyer Beware!

[Fishyfanatic]

I live in Southern Illinois where there aren't many lfs options. We generally frequent Fish Nets in Carbondale, Fish Tales and Pet Connection in Marion, and Sunny Hills in Cape. The same owner owns Fish Nets and Pet Connection. Stand clear of these stores. They do NOT guarentee fish. They will give you the run around and will ultimately not refund your money or replace the fish. The excuse on why my Pleco died was because the pH was .2 off. My Cichlids died from Hexamitosis beacuse of the aggressiveness of the fish. The gold Nugget couldn't be replaced because I called them 24 hours later but couldn't bring the fish into the store until 48 hours later, thus the guarentee was void. The most recent disease, Hexamitosis, it killed off 7 of our Cichlids because of one of their infected fish. They wouldn't even replace the fish OR give us meds to treat the tank ($6). Stand clear of this store. Fish Tales has always been great and Sunny Hill is superb! I highly reccommend Sunny Hill to ANYONE in southern Illinois, North Eastern Kentucky and Southern Missouri. Check it out, well worth the drive! They guarentee their fish as long as you call them before the time period expires.

[jersysman]

Do you know of any decen LFS around Peoria?

[Fishyfanatic]

Nope, sorry. But if you decide to come to STL, I can point you to a couple GREAT ones and a couple that should be torn down.

[gheitman]

I highly recommend Sailfin Pet Shop to anyone within driving distance of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. I have been doing business with them for about four years now and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They have an excellent selection of both freshwater and saltwater fish (including invertebrates). Sailfin has been bringing in several species of dwarf cichlids and bettas recently that are really exciting. They also have a good supply of plants plus equipment such as filters (canister, power, wet dry and sponge), heaters (all of the major brands), air pumps, accessories, foods (including frozen), medications, etc. They have a 7 day return policy on their fish where you need to bring in the fish that died, the receipt and a water sample then they give you a refund. The store has been recently remodelled and they have added some specialty tanks (for bettas, dwarf cichlids, etc.) and some tanks dedicated to invertebrates. In my experience, this store is better than stores in St. Louis that people rave about

[Fishyfanatic]

Gheitman- Have you ever been to Malawi Aquatics or Pet Market Place?

[gheitman]

I have been to Pet Market Place but not to Malawi Aquatics. I think Sailfin is better although the store size is smaller.

[Fishyfanatic]

Pet Market Place has a large selection of fish, but not too many of each fish. That's what I LOVE about that place.

Malawi Aquatics is more geared towards African Cichlids. It's not the nicest looking store, but it has a very nice selection of Africans and they are healthy. They have the basics of the other fish, but have TONS of difference Cichlids to choose from. That's what draws me to that store. It tooks me about 6 to 8 months to find Acei's and they have them on a regular basis.

The stores that I listed earlier should be avoided, Fish Nets and Pet Connection. VERY tiny selection and they only carry the basics. If you want a Tetra, they have pretty much only one or two to choose from. Then they jack up the price and don't guarentee their fish. Fish Tales has really gone down hill. That place should also be avoided. Those are the only stores within an hours driving time from us.

[gheitman]

Sailfin is my Mecca. I make a pilgrimage there at least every other week. My estimate is that they have over 33 saltwater tanks (their main display reef tank must be over 300 gallons plus there are 6 tanks dedicated to invertebrates) and over 100 freshwater tanks. They also have 8 tanks with nothing but live plants. There is also a small pond set up in the front of the store.

Recently they have brought in such fish as African lungfish, fire eels, bichirs, various apistogrammas, exotic bettas, American-flag fish, etc. They always have in stock a wide variety of rift lake cichlids, discus, dwarf cichlids, angelfish, tetras, goldfish, otos, corys, guppies, hatchetfish, platies, stingrays and so many more that I can't even keep count. I have found their livestock to be both healthier and larger than the chain stores like Petsmart and surprisingly cheaper too.

The tanks are well maintained and redecorated on a regular basis. They are organized depending on fish types, pH levels and temperature. If you are ever going to be in the area you need to visit this store.

[Acer]

hey guys how are you doing.. im new on this board and somewhat of a newbie to the hobby.. i am from chicago and am really having trouble finding a good lfs.. does anyone know of any good ones??
Sailfin sounds like a really good store but like i said im from chicago.. do you think fish would make the drive back? thanks..

[gheitman]

Welcome to Aquarium Advice. I think you will find it as helpful and friendly as I have. I don't know about any LFS in the Chicago area, but if you are in the neighborhood I definitely recommend you stop by Sailfin. They can package your fish so that they will stay healthy for the two or three hours it takes you to get back home.

[flame82]

i was just in sailfin and well i think they need to drop the price of a few tangs and a huge empore angel. now i will give that 9 times out of 10 they give really good advice but the one time can mess everything up. case in point they are charging full price for a few tangs with laterial line disease and the angel and a huge tang that have been chewed up by something and look like crap. now the fins will grow back, however laterial line is usually permant and will eventually die from it. and just this weekend i was going to plumb up a sump and i did not know what kind of plumbing glue would be reef safe, if regular from the hardware store would work and well i got some sure it will work and i think its safe and never an answer.

but they are alot better than the ones in carbondale wow these people havent a clue what ich is. i went to buy a fish and quickly decides not to when i saw one tank with ich and all of them were using the same sump. yup i went back a few days later and all the fish were ich !!!! and do you think they temporaly held these fish until the problem was fixed not !! and that is bogus to sell sick fish and their prices are way out of the sky.

the hardware n pets in murphysboro isnt bad alot cheaper but you have to educate yourself before buying anything cause no one down here knows much and just sell stuff to make money and not to teach people about the hobby and help building a safe thriving tank for the fish

so sailfin is still the best bet when i am around central il but just to let you know there are at least three people there i can ask any questions and they can answer but there are a few there, that do not know there limits and need to just say i dont know but let me ask the other guy he knows.

so good luck i posted my opinion and i am not trying to start an argument just my opioins so take with a the grain of salt its worth and i know i have found out to ask questions on here and read the book before i purchase something and i now i dont have to worry about if the lfs guy was right or wrong

[Fishyfanatic]

So I'm not the only one that thinks the Fish Nets in Carbondale is a bad lfs. I haven't been to Hardware N Pets but have driven by it many times. I figured that a store that sells hardware shouldn't be selling pets.

Where are you from flame?

[flame82]

well home town is back up north a few miles south of champaign, but i am in carbondale attending siuc right now. ya the fish net is horrible however they did have one guy that i am not sure if he still works there, he new his stuff. but all the others were clueless. and the one in murphy thier ok but definetly not as put together as fish net. they do sometimes now more depending on which person you ask. the older gray haired lady does know a good amount about fish and who will get along. but then again go and have a look they hold 5 to 10 mandarin in a 20 gallon tank with no lr and they told me before ahhh they eat flakes. haha i have heard only a few people on here that manage to get theirs to eat and i can tell you i really dought theirs at the store do. and the word copepod ya they couldnt tell you what it means. ohh but their prices are way cheaper on alot of items including suppllies