good stores in Tampa ?

[enzo]

Petmart recently moved down the street to 56th and busch. They are having a sale on march 1 and march 2.

50% back on live aquatics if you spend $50 or more

I dropped by there new location and the store layout is more open and appealing.

[Sponsors]

[forddna]

I was just there a couple of days ago, and they didn't have water in the freshwater tanks yet, much less have them cycled and ready for fish.

[Me813]

Pet Mart does have freshwater fish now and are selling them at a really good price. They had Gold Nugget Plecos and Peppermint Plecos going for $20 (cheapest I've found so far in Tampa).

[madgalaxy]

I am fairly new to this forum, but have been in the hobby on and off since a child. I recently got back into it a year ago with a planted aquarium. I love this forum, always so much information! Well any way...

I live out in the Brandon area and do most of my shopping at the PetsMart on 60. Plants are basic ones, but they are clean and kept up. The fish tanks are also clean never had a problem with fish I bought there.

Aquarium Creations has some nice fish, but seems to lack in the plants department. They do not have much equipment stocked and seem to cater to saltwater more.

There is a new place, can't remember the name, down on Bloomingdale Blvd (in the BigLots plaza). The gentleman is very knowledgeable and gave me 10 ghost shrimp for free (I only wanted a few as cleaners).

I have been to Fish World once and when I saw the BGA (cyanobacteria bacteria) in about 5-6 of their tanks, I left.

I LOVE Marine Warehouse, but with the price of gas I rarely get over there (sometimes I wish I did not buy that Silverado!). If I ever have to goto Tampa for something else, I always work in a stop at Marine Warehouse.

In the next few weeks I am going to try and get over to the new Pet Mart on 56th and Busch!

[forddna]

I agree with the Petsmart on 60. All my fish from there have done SUPER. The tanks are always clean, too. Usually very nice fish.

The one on Bloomingdale is called Aqua Star. They had a couple Silver Arowana's when I was there before. Can't remember much else.

[Craig]

Ugh i can't keep reading you all say Marine warehouse is a great place over and over. They probably have the highest prices in town and the selection is pitiful. Westside aquariums has more and far better prices and if he doesnt have it he can get it.

Also I saw some people mention aquaticplantdepot.com they are local and have an enormous selection at wholesale prices.

happy hunting peeps

[madgalaxy]

Originally Posted by Craig

Ugh i can't keep reading you all say Marine warehouse is a great place over and over. They probably have the highest prices in town and the selection is pitiful. Westside aquariums has more and far better prices and if he doesnt have it he can get it.

Also I saw some people mention aquaticplantdepot.com they are local and have an enormous selection at wholesale prices.

happy hunting peeps

Never heard of Westside Aquariums... Where are they located?

[forddna]

South Dale Mabry. That's as much as I remember. I wasn't impressed. Yes, good prices, but dirty tanks, cloudy water, etc.

[lauraleellbp]

I didn't think that aquaticplantdepot.com sells directly to the public?

Could be wrong, it's been a while...

[Church]

Originally Posted by Craig

Ugh i can't keep reading you all say Marine warehouse is a great place over and over. They probably have the highest prices in town and the selection is pitiful.

Dang, are you talking about the same Marine Warehouse that the rest of us are talking about? Selection may be one thing, but the plants and fish they do have are certainly lower priced than other LFS's, at least in my experience. And the plant guy, Steve, does a very good job of keeping in-stock plants alive and healthy while waiting to be purchased. I rarely-to-never find any ugly or dying plants in the plant tank.

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

I didn't think that aquaticplantdepot.com sells directly to the public?

Yep, they do! Except, when not on the internet, they are called Everglades Nursery. Located by the Vandenberg Airport, over by the Hard Rock Casino. The only problem with them, in my experience, is that the hours they ARE open to the public are limited. It's best to call them ahead of time and schedule an "appointment" to come out. But the plants are SOOO cheap when you get them there! Cheaper than the prices you pay for their mailorder!

[forddna]

A few of the fish at MW are overpriced, but the rest seem on par or cheaper than others. The highest priced one around here is definitely Fish World!

[Craig]

yeah they are nice but the prices are always crazy, everyone shops at the big places but its the small places like Westside Aquariums that have good deals because they don't blow all the money on flashy tanks and systems (like the new place on Macdill (i think its there) they put 200k into that place and thats why prices are wacky. Also Westside Aquariums probably has the biggest survival rate of most pet stores he hand picks all th fish out from the suppliers and if all they have is crap he wont get it. I'm telling ya he is the place to go, I've gone for years.

[lauraleellbp]

Where on South Dale are they?

I used to live down there... grew up on El Prado about 1/2 way between Dale Mabry and Bayshore

[Craig]

he used to be on westshore but now he is one block north of el prado. on the west side of the street.