Live Plants from PetSmart?

[tharsis]

The petco near my house has a 90 gallon tank filled with plants, all sorts of swords, crypts, and stems. I picked up two huge portions of Alternanthera Reineckii and a nice Cabomba furcata, for $7 I was amazed and could not pass it up. They are in my tank and growing wonderfully. The plants in this Petco tank look way better than alot of the LFS stores around the area.

But, the petsmart near my house on the other hand only has the tube plants and algae infested anubias on rocks for $12 (rip-off). And I have seen other PetCo's that really suck as well. So it really depends on the box store you are buying from.

To be honest, if you go to the swap and shop section at plantedtank.net you can get almost any plant you want for super cheap. Even with shipping added on it is usually cheaper than buying them directly from an LFS or box-store.

 

[teenyfish]

I've bought plants from my local Petsmart, they have a tank with multiple different types of plants, and most usually look healthy. I have had no issues, I think it just depends on the specific store. I would definitely make sure you know what you're buying though.

I've never bought any of the plants in the tubes, so I can't help you out there.

 

[cicrush13]

I've bought plants from my local Petsmart, they have a tank with multiple different types of plants, and most usually look healthy. I have had no issues, I think it just depends on the specific store. I would definitely make sure you know what you're buying though.

I've never bought any of the plants in the tubes, so I can't help you out there.

You're Petsmart is one of a few left that still have their plant tanks. Eventually they will get rid of it for test-tube plants to help save more money.

 

[teenyfish]

You're Petsmart is one of a few left that still have their plant tanks. Eventually they will get rid of it for test-tube plants to help save more money.

That's really unfortunate that they're doing that. They are/were a good source of cheap, basic plants.

 

[cicrush13]

That's really unfortunate that they're doing that. They are/were a good source of cheap, basic plants.

Agreed. The test tube ones are 2 times more expensive and they may not even be aquatic.

 

[bgourami320]

I got my plants from Bob's Tropical Plants, ordered the low light package and everything is growing. I even got a banana plant thrown in, and that's growing beautifully, thank you Mgamer I've looked at the plants in the tubes at my local Petco and I saw plants that I've had in pots. As long as you know what your getting, Amazon swords,Anubias etc. you'll be ok.

 

[soobie]

I've gotten 2 kinds of crypt and an Anubias as tube-plants from Petsmart, and they've done great. I also got an Anubias/java moss combo on a rock ($4) and a java fern on wood ($5), and they're also doing great. All have been in my tanks for years, and provided many new plantlets.

However, when I first started out I was suckered into buying several of the non-aquatic tube-plants. Buyer beware, yes, but as long as you know what plant you're buying and are picky about getting ones that look healthy, they do fine.

 

[rufioman]

I buy mondo grass and anacharis from them and they're fine. $0.02.

 

[shadow1345]

I recently went to my local Petsmart and checked out their "tube-type" plants and wow most of them were in bad conditions. Dark brown to dead leaves on than half of them . And my petsmart don't have the real plants in the water anymore.

 

[jptjpt]

They really are hit and miss. I did find/buy Crypt parva at a Petco a couple times in the past. Recently, I found a nice Windelov Java fern in one of the tubes. Didn't buy it since I already have alot of them.