What happened to the fish stores of old?

[alexrex20]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

I live <1mi from Alex's. I guess since my switch to saltwater, I've lost interest in his fish - and his prices. His African cichlid selection (esp. Tanganyikan) is the best in Houston, though.

My personal favorite is B&B Fish & Pets on FM1960 just west of HWY249.

Kevin on 249 has always got good deals (esp. on SA/CA cichlids and predatory catfish) and until recently he always had steals on his saltwater selection.

There's a place about 3mi from Kevin's called Inwood Aquarium(?) which we've dubbed "juicer." All his cichlids are definitely juiced - to the point where female electric blues are showing as much as mature males. He also can't seem to keep his saltwater fish alive, but if you come right after he receives a shipment, you can easily punch him in the face. He sells large yellow tangs for $18, clown triggers for $28, and Dory's (blue/regal tang) for $26. I checked over the weekend and he also has a very healthy powder blue for $45.

[Jose]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Anyone remember a pet/fish store in east Houston that was in cloverleaf? It was almost in the middle of the neighborhood. That was really the only fish store I would visit(back then there wasnt ANY fish store in easthouston that I knew about). I would always look. I was a kid so I didn't have any money.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Kid's Aquarium
just off redbluff

was the one fishstore I would drive up from Galveston to window shop.

[Delock]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Sunny's... YES YES YES!!!

Delock and I went this past Saturday to Sunny's and I was in satisfied. We arrived in the middle of a little Texas shower but hey a little rain doesn't stop this train...  When we walked inside I was impressed with the number of display tanks located through the store. From a South American tank all the way to a Discus tank. The Malawi tank is a must see. The Clown Loaches were pretty and inpressive. He had just redecorated the Tang. tank but it was very nice as well. We met Mike and had a wonderful time at the store.  More stores need this type of setup. Different ideas presented to the customers on how to do a tropical tank.

Thanks Mike for the tour and the time. Delock will be back.

We also made the trip to Alex's shop... Yes, Sunny's store was better. Alex had one tank setup that was breath taking. I just stayed right there and looked at this tank. Other than that, Alex needs more dispays of those troupheus fish...

On a sad note, my URI Auqasun burned out when I returned home and NOBODY CARRIES URI AQUASUNS ANY MORE!!!!

Docmump.
Looking for replacement lights..

LOL.....I went back the next day


Mike shop is wonderful and not that far from my houe.

I have to let go that Alex is not the same Alex that I met years ago selling tropheus out of his apartment. In addition, I have to come to grip that Wild Caught is not the same. When Alex was a pure breeder (side bar: can anyone tell me how many tanks he had in his 695 sq foot apartment?) he would bring in some of the biggest wild caught I have ever seen.


oh well...................I"M BACK

[Tiapan]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

would also like to chime in for sunny's. however there are a few others that i like as well. Timo's is very well priced but yes there were no dispalys. Village tropical has some very nice displays including one as part of their counter. (and how easy would that be to maintnance) they are not the best priced but neither are they super over priced and they always have something new in there. Fish ranch looks like it is trying to expand away from salt as much and more towards fresh planted, but their displays are kinda falling apart.

[docmump]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Tiapan,
It's really not about price. If you show some customers a nice display tank and tell them they can have one too. They will commit to the tank and purchase the equipment no matter the price (within reason of course).

But I have to come to grips that the times are different now from when I use to cruise up and down the streets looking at different tank setups around Houston.

I remember when Mike S. used to have a Display Tank party at Tropicaquarium. We all would pile up in the store and watch him and his brother redecorate a tank.

[wvgdiscus]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Anyone remember a pet/fish store in east Houston that was in cloverleaf? It was almost in the middle of the neighborhood. That was really the only fish store I would visit(back then there wasnt ANY fish store in easthouston that I knew about). I would always look. I was a kid so I didn't have any money.

There was 2 fish stores in that area the one you are talking about was 1st at Uvalse & wood forest. she moved it to cloverleaf. The owner was very good with fish but when she moved it was not at a very good location. If you did not know were it was it was hard to find.
The other store was at Uvalde & Wallisville they did not fish very well.
I wish I could remember the ladys name that own that store.

Walter

[docmump]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

I remember both stores Walter. One was in the corner of the shopping mall at wallisville and the other was near the Mr. Ghetti's.

[docmump]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Okay, more of the local fish stores of Houston.

As mentioned above my URI Aquasun's went out on Saturday. :( and I was in need of some replacement lights. You see the first went out earlier this year and I went to the old faithful stores looking for a replacement Aquasun. NO STORE IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON HAD ANY AQUASUNS!!!! :evil: So, I let this young guy at Fishranch talk me into getting the URI Atentic Blues. Yuck!!!!    But I stuck with it. Well the other went out and I had in my mind to swap out both lights.

So what store do I go to... Yes, Megan, it's your turn.

So, I go to Welcome to Megan's Tropical Emporium . When I first walked in I was totally over taken on how clean the store was. I must admit, this was the cleanest fish store I ever been in. Guys, the store was clean and I can stress this enough. The floor space was also amazing and you know what that means to me. Yes, Display tanks.. But no she did not have many fresh water displays. Even though I must admit, every tank I looked in was nicely displayed. But not too many show tanks, I should say... Well she and this nice display tank in the rear of the store and it quickly caught my eye. I stood at the tank and just looked at how clean it was as well. It reminded me of Delock's new tank with the under the bottom returns. Yep, it was being cleaned by a huge Ehiem filter..

So, I looked around the store and looked at the frog tank. He was kinda cute. Ask me in public  and I will deny this.

So Megan comes up to me and asks can she help me and I tell her I also post on HoustonFishBox and I came over to get a light. She said okay and showed me some lights and told me this was her personal favorites and if I did not like them to return them.

Yes, Megan I like these new lights and I am going to keep them. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL ADVISE ON THIS MATTER.

If there is anything negative I could say about this store it would be that Megan is within her comfort zone with the store. E.g. I did not see any exotic fresh water fish in the store. I believe she should step out and do a nice cichlid display tank to show off her creative mind. Let us see what Megan thinks about the hobby.


Any who, I believe the store will be successful, it's in a great spot with wonderful people working in the store.

If you live southeast, go to Megan's Tropical Emporium  for your aquarium needs.

I wonder what store I will visit next...  :)

[PhishPhreek]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Did you notice the two display tanks under the front counter?

They are on rolers so they can be pulled out for easy access.

[docmump]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

Yes, I noticed the two tanks. They were Salt water tanks. But I liked the concept...

[Tiapan]

Re: What happened to the fish stores of old?

thats crazy cool, i didnt notice that feature on them. armthehomeless and myself picked up some pitbull plecos from that store a few weeks ago. it is very clean. the clerks reminded me of myself back when i was 15 and workin at an lfs. brought back funny memories.