LFS in Dayona Beach / Volusia area

[mattycakesclark]

I figure I would share some of my finds. Not all are freshwater, but I figure I would share. The next few times I am in the stores I will
see if I can ask to take some photos.
Also, if you are in this area, there are some worth while shops in Flagler or Orlando to stop by if driving by.

Organized by town, then alpha, to be fair.

Ormond Beach / Holly Hill / Ormond by the Sea

Bluewater Reef Aquariums
1678 Ridgewood Avenue,Holly Hill, West side of US1
Saltwater, Corals, SW Fauna, SW Flora, Equipment and supplies.
This is their newer location. It is a bit small, but the two gentelman there were very very nice. Their selection of coral is in several large tanks, and their livestock is not as diverse, but looked healthy and happy. They had a Mandarin that looked quite happy, which they said was on being feed frozen/dry food.

Daytona Beach / South Daytona / Daytona Beach Shores

Amazing Aquariums
2330 S. Nova Rd, South Daytona, West side of Nova
Saltwater, Corals, SW Fauna, SW Flora, Equipment and supplies.
I walked into this shop a few months ago, and it was the inspiration to setup my first saltwater tank. When walking in you are greeted by
several very wonderfully cared for display tanks, that have been well established for a while. The tanks very from pico, to nano, to large
tanks. The first thought to my mind was I never have seen such happy fish, even in the livestock tanks
Their coral holding tanks have some really nice coral from what I have seen in comparison, and they have plenty of CuC, and beautiful fish. The
owner tells me they only carry ORA coral, or shop raised coral. The shop workers are nice, but very set in their ways. They do all of their water changes with NSW, but do sell RO/DI and salt mix.

Daytona Aquarium
3131 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, just West of 415 on the South side of ISB next to LKQ Junkyard
Freshwater, FW Fauna, equipment and supplies.
I drove by this place for years, as it looked like a Bahamian colored shack, but the first time I walked in I was amazed. They have an
insane variety of Cichlids, really intense. They have grow out / breeding concrete tanks in the back yard as well, and the shop is set up well,
and the tanks are clean (he uses bushynoses and hortwort to help). There is a mild selection of other FW fish, and a little equipment. The man
there the day I was there seemed quite busy, with his son I believe, but it looks like he knows what he is doing. This is a must stop of cichlid
fanatics.


Fish Store
Nova Rd, Daytona, plaza in North West corner of Nova and Mason, same as Harbor Freight
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, Corals, SW Fauna, SW Flora, Equipment and supplies.
I was refered to here by Amazing Aquarium on the issue of repairing a broken tank. The shop is quite compact, with some trade in goodies as other hardware. They have a pretty standard collection of FW Fauna, including WCM. Saltwater is standard too, but they seemed light on the corals. Good stop if you are hitting up Harbor Freight.
Update 9/27/12: Stopped by the other week, in search of a bulkhead. After researching reef pests, then visiting this store, aiptasia was in a few tanks, but I assume this is typical most shops. They did have a few dead livestock, including a Mandarin, which I pointed out to the kid working there and nothing happened for the 20 minutes I was there.


Mr. Petman
2400 South Ridgewood Avenue, South Daytona, right next to the skating rink at the Sunshine Mall
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW & SW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Interesting store, they have every pet imaginable, I had to drag my girlfriend from the angora rabbits. They have insects, rodents, snakes,
fish, etc. They also have a personal collection, including some primates (made me sad). Be prepared though for a huge knock in the face or
smell, it is bad. The fish area is hit or miss, depending on what you want. The only ok/fair are the coral tanks (they have quite a collection
of red bubble algae though , the SW and FW holding tanks are bad, especially the FW. The guy back there I don't think likes his job.
Have over heard quite a number of horrid/sad discussions with uneducated customers. The fish generally are not happy and energetic, and really
looked like they were not liking life at that time. Their display tank walking into the fish room one time had 3 or 4 lion fish in a tank where
the sole lighting was color led bubble wands..... The equipment section is not too great either. Apparently this place has been around for a
while. I stop by once and a while when I goto Duffs (hey, I like to eat )
Update 9/27/12: Stopped by a week ago. They are rearranging a lot of their setup in the fish room, mainly it seems with the freshwater side. The salt side seems not as stocked in the coral as before, but it looks like they have a lot on their hands with the remodel. Still some bubble algae, and hair, but not more than most in the area.

Petco
2500 West International Speedway B #900, Daytona Beach, in the plaza behind BJs Brewhouse
Freshwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Pretty bland Petco, and an old generation store. Over half the tanks are unused. They have a large planted tank, but basic stems and low
lights. Fish selection not great. Staff is very unexcitable.

Petsmart
1900 West International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Best Buy plaza
Freshwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Very large fish stock, but nothing crazy in terms of rares. They do have ottos sometimes. Their tanks are quite clean, and there is always at
least one person there, sometimes two in the fish area, sometimes a knowledgeable hobbyist. Good amount of equipment, but nothing stands out.
The planted tank is hit or miss, average selection, but at times (such as this past week) is algae choked.

Poseidon Aquariums
1730 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach, behind Dunkn Doughnuts, and next to Steve's
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW & SW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies
I walked into here after having another amazing breakfast at Steve's Famous Diner (a MUST, get the homemade Greek bread, toasted, or french toasted!). Back to the
fish store, they have some nice stuff, but the store is very crowded and dark and felt dingy walking in between all the hardware, as they run an e-shop. They had a very
very large FW display tank (if i recall approaching 1000 gallons), with some monster fish. Best variety of FW in the area (CPD sometimes, rams, FW
puffers, WCM) and some less seen plants such as HC, but not much plants really. They were very eager to help, and not lazy, and the tanks were
quite clean. Their SW is fairly extensive. They had some nice LR, and a good amount, but the coraline "premium" was $8-9/lb (is that high?).
Good SW fish selection, but it seemed like they had a very hodge-podge mixture of tanks and lighting, with some tanks looking better maintained
than others.
Update 12/11/11:stopped by to purchase some fish, and to look around more. Good prices on equipment and limited hardscape materials. I picked up some new T5HO bulbs at a great price, some Gold Wonder Killifiah, Rummynose, Blue rams, amd nerites. The guy there said he would bring in some galaxy rasbora, pea/dwarf puffers, and anything one wants. He had some really interesting tropical fish, which look very well cared for. The guy was one of the nicest I have meet.
Update 1/10/12: I lost 2 GBR, and 3 rummynose to ich and the following treatment. They looked healthy from the shop, so I would suggest quarantine, but I will also say they do have quite the best selection of interesting not as common fish, and a nice shop that I will be going back to. At the same time I went through their goods, they have quite a lot of goods, lights, meds, etc.
Update 9/27/12:As of about a week ago, they moved their shop a bit further south from SR-400/Beville on Nova, still on the West side. Just a tad north of Amazing Aquariums. Their new place makes them by far the largest fish shop in the area, even larger than Daytona Aquarium on US17-92. They still have their good selection, which I can see getting better, and their dry goods are now very well organized and stocked. Great store, can at times feel like they watch you when you browse around, but generally very helpful. Keep an eye on this place.


Port Orange

Pet Supplies Plus
3829 South Nova Road, Port Orange, next to Publix
Freshwater, FW Fauna, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Very basic pet shop, with a few surprising pieces of equipment. The tanks were not too great with average selections, and the fish keepers were
typical retail staff. If I recall, the place smelled really bad as well.

Petco
5513 South Williamson Boulevard, Port Orange, in the Pavilion
Freshwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Typical Petco, but with a very limited and under developed fish center. Typical fish selections, and basic plants (swords, some crypts, tons of
non-aquatics) The staff was very blah. They do have some saltwater supplies, but nothing I am sure you could not get elsewhere.

Pet Supermarket
5000 S Clyde Morris Blvd # 10, Port Orange, across from Walmart
Freshwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
Typical Pet Supermarket I have been too, down to display tanks. Generally clean tanks, but nothing surprising.
Update 1/10/12:I returned a week ago, and was quite disappointed, a lot of dead fish. The sales staff seemed more interested in selling a Fluval Ebi.

Port Orange Pets
4074 South Ridgewood Avenue, Port Orange, SW corner of US1 Ridgewood and Nova
Freahwater, FW fauna, equipment and supliest, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
I have not been in this shop yet, but peeking in when closed it seems like they have fish, and other pets, but I could also smell it though the
closed doors. Will update next time I stop by.
Update 12/12/11:: I stoped in today at about 530 PM while wasting time. The fish area is very very poor, it is a neglected collection of 10 gallons common plumbed, with very very sad looking fish. The lighting is very very poor. All the fish had no color, and looked very very dead. Reminds me of petshops as a kid. It looks like a bird hoarder, or a place that takes on a lot of adoptions. To update on the smell, it is a mixture of bedding, ammonia, and moth balls. Quite disturbing, and that is from a guy who works at a wastewater plant.


New Smyrna / Edgewater

I know there are some shops, will take a round in the neer future.

Deland

Pets 4 Less
2452 North Volusia Avenue, Deland, in the Winn-Dixie plaza
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW & SW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
There used to be a store in this same plaza named "Pet Store", and when it closed Pets 4 Less moved in a few doors down. The first time I
walked in, they had a bad looking fish section, with not so great staff back there, and I recall them attempting to sell their holding tanks on
craigslist at that time. The other week, I stopped by, and found the place very much improved, with a guy attentive to his SW tanks. The coral
selection was not awesome, but he had decent SW fauna, and wads of chaeto in holding tanks, and worked with the setup he had. Unfortunately, the
FW took the second stage, nothing too exciting there.

There also used to be Animalia Pets in downtown Deland, that is now closed.

Deltona / Orange City / Debary (lumped them because for how populous this area is, it is quite "pet dry")

Petco
921 Harley Strickland Boulevard, Orange City, in the Kohl's plaza
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW & SW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
The best Petco in the Volusia area. They have full built out FW and SW section (for the newer generation store). The SW selection is bah, and
the LV is priced bah, and the few corals are blah . . . so overall blah on the SW. The FW is decent, with an average selection of plants. The
FW fauna can be hit or miss, they have many types of standard fish, but sometimes they have some interesting stock such as rummynose, ottos.
Just like most Petcos in the area, seems like the fish guys are multi tasked, and you often have to go searching for them, but this is the best
one in that sense. Although I have heard some eeeeeeeh advice / lack of education.

Petsupermarket
1235 B Providence Blvd., Deltona, in the Winn-Dixie plaza
Freshwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, equipment and supplies, other pets (cats/dogs/etc lol).
This is the store that got me in the hobby, and once and a while I walk in when in town. It has the basics, just like most Petsupermarkets,
every time I walk in I am reminded how far my hobby went. Just like most of the these stores, clean tanks.

There is also another SW shop on Doyle between Deltona and Osteen that shut down, but I heard reopened recently maybe under new name. There is
also a closed store in the old Winn-Dixie plaza at Doyle and Courtland in Deltona.

Update 9/27/12: Hit up a number of Orlando shops this past weekend, there is some nice reef shops down there.

[demonr6]

Nice information there for those venturing in the area. Sad that we have a horrible representation in a state that has an abundance of water and fishkeepers.

[RAZmonkey]

Interested in hearing about Flagler/Palm Coast area and north.

[mattycakesclark]

Originally Posted by demonr6

Nice information there for those venturing in the area. Sad that we have a horrible representation in a state that has an abundance of water and fishkeepers.

I think there is an awesome SW scene, but planted tanks seem to much bigger out West, some might say because of Asain influences but it is a big deal in Europe is seems too. There are some aquatic nurseries here, and commercial breeders, and I think that Florida will be a great hub in the future. We have good vendors like GLA, and some very active and proactive Floridians on this board.

Originally Posted by RAZmonkey

Interested in hearing about Flagler/Palm Coast area and north.

I might venture up into Flagler some point, but it would be hard to justify to the lady a car trip just for my "dork" hobby. Mind you she has so much yarn for knitting and such.
I can tell you of a good LFS in Marteniez Ga lol.

On a side note, Florida is a great place for inspiration. You can go to almost any body of water and find plants and scape ideas.

[demonr6]

I only know of the Pet Supermarket in St. Augustine. They take good care of their tanks and the stock is healthy. Not a huge selection but what they have is certainly not as bad as some of the other box stores and even the smaller specialty stores. Plant selection is not notable but what they have is in really good condition. We are up there every other month and I always stop by and see if there is anything new and interesting. As a whole that store is really good and the employees are more attentive and seem like they actually do not hate their work.

[mattycakesclark]

Updated Port Orange pets in... Port Orange, and Posiadin Aquariums in South Daytona.

[RAZmonkey]

St Augustine
Pet Supermarket
Petco
Pet World

Those are the three I know about. But I haven't found the employees to be very helpful and most of the tanks have several dead fish in them. But I might've been on off days.

[ScottFish]

Originally Posted by RAZmonkey

Interested in hearing about Flagler/Palm Coast area and north.

Palm Coast has a good African Cich. store off of 100 (east of Belle Terre Parkway, south side; hard to find --in a business park).

[DBridges]

Very sad about Mr. Petman. I grew up in South Daytona, not far from where Mr. Petman is. They used to be in a different location in the same mall complex (used to be called the Outlet Mall back then). Growing up they had a very good selection of fish and plants. Even after they moved to their current location, things were still good for many years.

Unfortunately, over the past 8 or 10 years, every time I come back home for a visit the store is worse and worse. The store didn't used to have that awful smell that it does now. Very much a shame what's happened to Mr. Petman - used to be a fantastic store.

David

[mattycakesclark]

I was back in Mr. Petman the other day. They seem to be puttingl a bit more into their SW setups, but the main tank still has traces of red bubble algae and others.

[mattycakesclark]

Updated:

Fish Store
Nova Rd, Daytona, plaza in North West corner of Nova and Mason, same as Harbor Freight
Freshwater, Saltwater, FW Fauna, FW Flora, Corals, SW Fauna, SW Flora, Equipment and supplies.
I was referee to her by Amazing Aquarium on the issue of repairing a broken tank. The shop is quite compact, with some trade in goodies as other hardware. They have a.pretty standard collection of FW Fauna, including WCM. Saltwater is standard too, but they seemed light on the corals. Good stop if you are hitting up Harbor Freight.

[mattycakesclark]

updated a bit, added Bluewater Reef Aquariums, update Fish Store (revisit), Poseidon (moved to new bigger store), Mr. Petman (updating fishroom)