Going to S.F this weekend ---

[ringram]

My wife and I are going to S.F. on Sunday to visit the Zoo/Primate Center, but I wanted to stop by(if convenient) a fish store or two along the way ---> I am looking for algae-eating shrimp(cherry or amano) and SAEs. I already understand that Octupus Garden in Berkeley, All about Fish in Concord & Albany Aquarium in Albany carry the shrimp, but is there anything closeby S.F.? I don't think we'll have the time to go too much out of the way. I know from about 4 years ago when I was last at Nippon(S.F.) that they carried SAEs, but what about shrimp? I saw the other thread just below this, but it doesn't mention any place in S.F. I don't know the bay area very well btw, so I'll be relying on a map as it is

[item1702]

If you are coming from Davis, Octopus Garden and Albany aquarium are both pretty much along the way. Nippon does carry amanos but I haven?ft seen any cherrys for sale there. Ocean Aquarium is also in the city and they carry amanos. They are on Cedar St., it?fs a small one way street right off of Van Ness. I think they may have your SAEs, also. Another place is 6th Ave Aquarium near Nippon. They had amanos the last time I was there. Their address is 425 Clement St.

[ringram]

I think I've been to Ocean Aquarium before --- is it a small, 2 story store that carries both fresh and saltwater, with most of the saltwater fish being in troughs(as opposed to tanks) that are open-top? I was also at another place once that was near China town(i think)... kind of a mom&pop kind of place, owned by an Asian couple. I bought some angels from them if I remember correctly -- it was a really small store, but they had some good livestock in there.

[Nolan W.]

Originally Posted by ringram

I think I've been to Ocean Aquarium before --- is it a small, 2 story store that carries both fresh and saltwater, with most of the saltwater fish being in troughs(as opposed to tanks) that are open-top?

Ocean Aquarium is in a basement. I don't think they carry saltwater stuff. They do carry a lot of freshwater rarities, if you're interested.

I was at Nippon about two weeks ago, and I saw plenty of Amano shrimp and SAE's. I think Amanos were $2.99 and SAE's were $1.99. I've never seen cherries there.

[item1702]

Originally Posted by ringram

I think I've been to Ocean Aquarium before --- is it a small, 2 story store that carries both fresh and saltwater, with most of the saltwater fish being in troughs(as opposed to tanks) that are open-top? I was also at another place once that was near China town(i think)... kind of a mom&pop kind of place, owned by an Asian couple. I bought some angels from them if I remember correctly -- it was a really small store, but they had some good livestock in there.

I think the first store you are refering to is 6th Avenue Aquarium. It?fs two stories and they have saltwater fish on the first floor. You get to catch the fish you want your self. The second store where you bought the angels may actually be Ocean Aquarium.

If you are looking for cherrys I know Octopus Garden had some cherrys the other day but buyers beware. The shrimp I have bought from that place have died on me at an alarming rate. It is probably best to get them from Albany. The owner said he was going to put some out this week.

[glass-gardens.com]

Originally Posted by ringram

to visit the Zoo/Primate Center

Say hi to my ex-wife for me will ya?

[ringram]

Well, looks like I figured out where to go ---> on the way back to Davis from S.F., I'll go to Nippon and pick up some SAEs and amanos and stop by Albany Aquarium and hopefully find a few cherry shrimp as well. I'm excited now -- I just need to make a map so I don't get lost!

[hoffboy]

Be sure to check out the temporary downtown California Academy of Sciences facility. They're got some sweet fish and an amazing (HUGE!) prototype reef. When the new building(s) in Golden Gate Park is finished it's going to be truly magnificent.

[ringram]

LOL Is she the one behind the bars and throwing feces?

Originally Posted by glass-gardens.com

Say hi to my ex-wife for me will ya?

[gw11ucb]

SAEs are cheap at Nippon.. it's 1.99 per fish. Amano shrimps are much cheaper at Octopus Garden in berkeley 3 for $6. I don't know where to get cheap Cherry shrimps good luck.

[Marc]

yeah hit up Nippon on your way home- its been very hot in the city lately!

[ringram]

Originally Posted by Marc

yeah hit up Nippon on your way home- its been very hot in the city lately!

Yes, if I find anything, they'll be in an air-conditioned car for 2 hours or less only, so they should be fine. $1.99? That's a good deal for SAEs -- I bought an SAE at Capitol Aquarium recently(they only had 1) for $5.49 or thereabouts -- rip off! They didn't have any shrimp, but I saw a shrimp at a local petco that looked like it was on steroids(2" or so) and it definately wasn't cherry or amano -- I think it was the "ghost" or glass shrimp type, but for $3-4, I didn't care to find out.
Thanks for the help everyone! That place in Golden Gate PArk sounds neat! I doubt we'll have time this weekend, but we'll see -- definately going to make that a day trip sometime though

[Marc]

dont forget to check out the planted tank upstairs-
if you have time you could check out 6th ave aquarium. Just one block over on clement and 6th.

[ringram]

I went to Nippon & Albany Aquarium today. Nippon only had 2 or 3 SAEs left, but I bought 2 for $1.99 ea (not bad!) and 12 amano shrimp for about $28. Albany Aq. didn't have SAEs(just a few in their planted tanks, but not for sale), but they had cherry shrimp for (gasp!) $7.99 ea, or 5 for $29.99, so I got 5. Tank should be under better control now. Nitrates *were* about 5ppm, now they're around 20ppm with Phosphates 1-1.5 ppm (closer to the 10:1 ratio) and CO2 is slowly going back up since I just got a tank refill. 4 SAEs, 12 amanos, 5 cherrys and 2 ottos should help against the algae.

Neat stores -- Nippon definately had better prices and were more friendly, but Albany had some nice plants for sale and some more difficult to find species, like cherry shrimp.

[Gill Man]

You should have gone to Ocean Aquarium! Justin sells SAEs for the same price and much better quality. He quarantines, Nippon doesn't. It's always Caveat Emptor, but more so at Nippon with regards to fish and 6th Av is a ****hole and a smelly one at that, IMO. Anyway, there is going to be one less fish store in SF in the coming months....guess who?

I gotta secret, I gotta secret