Visiting Saint Louis!

Option · 10-07-2012, 11:39 PM

Hey STL,

Haven't been back in awhile but I'm visiting my family in Saint Louis next week and I wanted to know where is the best place (local fish stores, pet stores, etc) in the city to get freshwater shrimp and plants? Let me know where the best places are!

Thanks in advance.

BigMOCats · 10-09-2012, 04:54 AM

Not sure how long it's been since you've been back but the St. Louis lfs scene has really gone down hill. Only 2 shops I still visit, Tropical World on Watson and Malawi Aquatics up in north county. Of course, if you put off your trip til Nov. 1, the AGA convention will be here. Have a safe trip and enjoy your stay!

tomfromstlouis · 10-15-2012, 08:44 PM

I have not been to Malawi, but Tropical World and my other fav Aquaworld on Gravois rarely have much in the way of shrimp: red cherries usually, not much else. Aquaworld does have the best plant selection in town though.

Seattle_Aquarist · 10-15-2012, 10:19 PM

Hi All,

Too bad, quality local aquarium shops are good for the local hobby and local clubs. During high school and my first year of college I worked at Vick's Aquarium at 7248 Gravois. They were the area's largest fish, plant, and dry goods wholesaler and distributor at the time. Weekly shipments came in from FL, Asia, and SA. They also built their own line of brass anodized (gold colored) aluminum frame aquariums.

Vick's Aquarium (slightly before my day!)

Davelybob · 10-16-2012, 07:05 PM

I haven't been there in a year or two, but Malawi's a great shop. I've never bought fish there because I've only recently started keeping fish, but I used to get crickets there for my lizard and have always popped in every once in a while just to look. Mostly Cichlids, mostly from Lake Malawi. Their fish are gorgeous, but I don't keep cichlids so don't take my word for it, go see for yourself. They used to always have alligators too, so make sure to poke your head over on that side of the shop. Let me know if they still have those giant red-tailed catfish, those suckers were like 5 foot long last time I was there, but it's been awhile.

tomfromstlouis · 10-16-2012, 07:14 PM

Aquaworld has a large catfish in a tank with a beautiful arowana, a nice large planted show tank, and a large saltwater eel tank with the meanest looking moray I have ever seen. It does NOT make friends.

I guess that is why I hav not yet been to Malawi; I haven't been sucked into the african chiclid game (yet).

Vick's was the fish store of my youth. What a great place. Nice picture!

Option · 10-17-2012, 11:59 AM

Wow, you people weren't kidding. There ain't nothing in this city! Thank god for places like NYC.

Davelybob · 10-17-2012, 11:43 PM

MASI meeting is tomorrow. They auction stuff off cheap at the end.

Sent from my PantechP9070 using Tapatalk 2

BigMOCats · 10-24-2012, 04:50 AM

I remember going to Vicks a few times, what a great place. We've lost so many fine stores over the years, it's really sad! Thanks for the pic!

10-07-2012, 11:39 PM	#1
Option Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 774	Visiting Saint Louis! Hey STL, Haven't been back in awhile but I'm visiting my family in Saint Louis next week and I wanted to know where is the best place (local fish stores, pet stores, etc) in the city to get freshwater shrimp and plants? Let me know where the best places are! Thanks in advance.

10-15-2012, 08:44 PM	#3
tomfromstlouis Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 452	I have not been to Malawi, but Tropical World and my other fav Aquaworld on Gravois rarely have much in the way of shrimp: red cherries usually, not much else. Aquaworld does have the best plant selection in town though. __________________ RAOK Club #76 220g altum, 75g high tech, 6g shrimp: one office, three tanks http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=183658

10-15-2012, 10:19 PM	#4
Seattle_Aquarist Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (25/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,027	Hi All, Too bad, quality local aquarium shops are good for the local hobby and local clubs. During high school and my first year of college I worked at Vick's Aquarium at 7248 Gravois. They were the area's largest fish, plant, and dry goods wholesaler and distributor at the time. Weekly shipments came in from FL, Asia, and SA. They also built their own line of brass anodized (gold colored) aluminum frame aquariums. Vick's Aquarium (slightly before my day!) __________________ *Roy* 45 Gallon Tall; 96 Watt AH Supply CF; 6700K; & 30 Gallon Long; 2X36 Watt AH Supply CF; Press. CO2; UGF; Heat Treated Montmorillonite Clay Greater Seattle Aquarium Society (GSAS)

10-16-2012, 07:14 PM	#6
tomfromstlouis Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 452	Aquaworld has a large catfish in a tank with a beautiful arowana, a nice large planted show tank, and a large saltwater eel tank with the meanest looking moray I have ever seen. It does NOT make friends. I guess that is why I hav not yet been to Malawi; I haven't been sucked into the african chiclid game (yet). Vick's was the fish store of my youth. What a great place. Nice picture! __________________ RAOK Club #76 220g altum, 75g high tech, 6g shrimp: one office, three tanks http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=183658 Last edited by tomfromstlouis; 10-16-2012 at 07:14 PM.. Reason: sp

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10-09-2012, 04:54 AM	#2
BigMOCats Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: StL Posts: 38	Not sure how long it's been since you've been back but the St. Louis lfs scene has really gone down hill. Only 2 shops I still visit, Tropical World on Watson and Malawi Aquatics up in north county. Of course, if you put off your trip til Nov. 1, the AGA convention will be here. Have a safe trip and enjoy your stay!

10-16-2012, 07:05 PM	#5
Davelybob Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 45	I haven't been there in a year or two, but Malawi's a great shop. I've never bought fish there because I've only recently started keeping fish, but I used to get crickets there for my lizard and have always popped in every once in a while just to look. Mostly Cichlids, mostly from Lake Malawi. Their fish are gorgeous, but I don't keep cichlids so don't take my word for it, go see for yourself. They used to always have alligators too, so make sure to poke your head over on that side of the shop. Let me know if they still have those giant red-tailed catfish, those suckers were like 5 foot long last time I was there, but it's been awhile.

10-17-2012, 11:59 AM	#7
Option Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 774	Wow, you people weren't kidding. There ain't nothing in this city! Thank god for places like NYC.

10-17-2012, 11:43 PM	#8
Davelybob Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 45	MASI meeting is tomorrow. They auction stuff off cheap at the end. Sent from my PantechP9070 using Tapatalk 2

10-24-2012, 04:50 AM	#9
BigMOCats Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: StL Posts: 38	I remember going to Vicks a few times, what a great place. We've lost so many fine stores over the years, it's really sad! Thanks for the pic!