Petstore recommendation - Northern VA

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Can anyone recommend a good petstore in Northern Virginia/Washington DC
for picking up freshwater fish? I moved here from out of town and have
been unable to locate a good aquarium.

Thanks!

[Mario]

I'd like the same information - but for the equipment side. I'm
looking to start a tank, and would like to find a place that has
knowledgeable folks to get me started on the right track.

Mario

[Fluff]

I'm in NoVA, and Super Petz on Little River Turnpike in Annandale is
the best one I've found. They have a large aquarium section with a
pretty big selection of freshwater fish and alot of equipment.
There's also another aquarium store about 2-3 miles down Little River
Turnpike from there toward Alexandria, I think it's called Wally's.
That's not as big, but it's near enough to Super Petz to make it
worthwhile to stop by whenever I'm in that neighborhood. Another
place I also visit is Vienna Aquarium, it's in downtown Vienna a few
blocks off of Maple Avenue (I don't know the street's name). It's
smaller, but decent. Other than that, the only other places I know of
are the big retail chains like PetSmart and Petco.



>Can anyone recommend a good petstore in Northern Virginia/Washington DC
>for picking up freshwater fish? I moved here from out of town and have
>been unable to locate a good aquarium.
>
>Thanks!

[Ray Martini]

Do yourself a favor and use the fish store for INFORMATION ONLY! Find out
what you need and then shop online. Prices are almost half of what they are
in the LFS. What would have cost me over $600.00 in the stor cost me $300.00
when I bought from an online dealer.

For example Petco and my LFS wanted $199.00 for the Fluval 404. I paid
$89.00 at Big Al's.

Here's a couple of links ...

http://www.drsfosterandsmith.com
http://www.biglasonline.com
http://www.thatfishplace.com
http://www.marinedepot.com <--- for sal****er needs

All have excellent prices on anything you'll need.


--
Happy Fishin' ...
Ray

"Mario" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'd like the same information - but for the equipment side. I'm
> looking to start a tank, and would like to find a place that has
> knowledgeable folks to get me started on the right track.
>
> Mario
>

[Mario]

As a consumer, I can understand this approach. However, as a
small-business owner, I have take some issue with this (information
only) approach.

That knowledge and information at a LFS is worth something, and for me,
I'm willing to pay a little extra for good information and advice. I
will spend my money in that store, because I would want that LFS to be
around in the future. I'm still learning about this hobby and the fish
aquarium industry, but if it's like other hobby industry, this approach
will lead to the disappearance of the local LFS that is owned and run
by knowledgable enthusiats, and the dominance of the big box pet stores
where the knowledge base can be pretty inconsistent.

Mario

[ToeKnee]

On 16 Dec 2004 14:25:32 -0800, wrote:

>
>Can anyone recommend a good petstore in Northern Virginia/Washington DC
>for picking up freshwater fish? I moved here from out of town and have
>been unable to locate a good aquarium.
>
>Thanks!


I asked this early last year.

As Fluff said, SuperPetz is great. After your done there, head west a
block or two and have dinner at Ribsters.

Below are the responses:

>Did you try Wally's Aquarium? It is on Little River Turnpike 2 or 3 miles
>east of SuperPetz. They've been there for a good long time. I've only been
>in there once in the last 10 years (living in MA now). The selection is not
>as big as SuperPetz, but they were always very helpful.

I haven't been to Wally's yet. This is not the same as Wal-Mart!

>Well... depending on how far you willing to drive...
>
>From I-695, take the MD-26 W exit- exit number 18B- toward
>RANDALLSTOWN. Merge onto MD-26/LIBERTY RD. After 3 miles, turn RIGHT
>onto OFFUTT RD. We are located in Randallstown Plaza Shopping Center.
>
>There is a BIG LFS there called "the Aquarium Center" that has been in
>business for over 20 years. I started out with this guy when he only
>had 10 tanks in his mothers house... now he is one of the biggest I
>have ever had the pleasure to deal with.
>
>http://www.aquariumcenter.com/
>
>These people know their business when it comes to fish. Salt, Fresh,
>Pond whatever. Online prices seem a lil on the high side, but their
>fish store is great. Good place to purchase live foods
>
>It's about 45 minutes to an hour from the Washington beltway... They
>can and do pack fish with oxygen for extended trips and/or shipping.

Big store. Unlike SuperPetz, aquarium only. A goodly drive, but if
you are in the area worth a stop.


> There is a "small" fish store called Centreville Aquarium on rt 29 @ rt
>28. Dave is the owner, nice guy. He can order you whatever you need.

True, and indeed. about two blocks east of the intersection, on the
north side of 29, across from Copelands.

There is a pet store in Leesburg as well. Nice place.

HTH...

Tony




--Tony