Looking for LFS recommendations in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Thread starter tomdkat
- Start date
I've been interested in visiting Albany Aquarium near SF since they appear to have a large selection of rare plants, but don't feel like driving over an hour from SJ to look at fish and plants.
www.albanyaquarium.com
www.albanyaquarium.com
Thanks! Albany isn't outrageously far from my (maybe 30 mi) so I'll check them out!
I've been to Aquarium Concepts in Hayward (my hometown) and they have some great marine displays but I'm not sure how good they are for freshwater fish.
Peace...
I've been to Aquarium Concepts in Hayward (my hometown) and they have some great marine displays but I'm not sure how good they are for freshwater fish.
Peace...
Superway Aquarium in either union city or hayward, not sure. east of 880 on tennyson and I'll find out when I get home for you if you don't find it by then. If you're willing to travel, my favorite lfs of all time is dolphinpet village in cambel. They have a website www.dolphinpetvillage.com , but its only good for getting an address and phone number. I also like Amazon pet in San Jose on the branham right next to 85. Hope that helps you, if you are particularly interested in any of these let me know and I'll tell you what I can about them.
I live in San Francisco and have hounded a good portion of the fish shops. The two that I'd recommend are the following, both entirely freshwater:
Ocean Aquarium:
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/review/886360/502918/?brand=google
This is a really interesting place. The owners don't put any prices or names on the tanks, which are stacked all over the place and fully outfitted with plants and wood and such, and so you have to ask, but asking is fun; they know and care a lot about fish. The other bonus is that they often get interesting and exotic fish, which they are meticulous about quaranteeing and getting them from reliable sources. I go in there sometimes just to look around at all the wild tanks.
The second place I really like is Aqua Forest Aquarium:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/XYGT0_5YkPk-z_3xea-pOw
These guys opened up a couple of months ago and are also an excellent resource for exotic freshwater fish and knowledge. They are more of a boutique store selling a lot of ADA equipment (tanks, diffusers, nutrients, rocks, wood, etc.). They also do set ups Amano style, which they have examples of in their shop. They have a very good supply of plants and fish, and their prices are pretty reasonable. On top of it, they're really nice guys.
Hope this helps.
Ocean Aquarium:
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/review/886360/502918/?brand=google
This is a really interesting place. The owners don't put any prices or names on the tanks, which are stacked all over the place and fully outfitted with plants and wood and such, and so you have to ask, but asking is fun; they know and care a lot about fish. The other bonus is that they often get interesting and exotic fish, which they are meticulous about quaranteeing and getting them from reliable sources. I go in there sometimes just to look around at all the wild tanks.
The second place I really like is Aqua Forest Aquarium:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/XYGT0_5YkPk-z_3xea-pOw
These guys opened up a couple of months ago and are also an excellent resource for exotic freshwater fish and knowledge. They are more of a boutique store selling a lot of ADA equipment (tanks, diffusers, nutrients, rocks, wood, etc.). They also do set ups Amano style, which they have examples of in their shop. They have a very good supply of plants and fish, and their prices are pretty reasonable. On top of it, they're really nice guys.
Hope this helps.
Although not quite an LFS, I rather like PETCO in Castro Valley. They have a good stock of FW-only fish in clean and well-labeled (thank you!) tanks. I have never had a problem with their fish. Another place where I find decent prices for equipment and food and such is Pet Club on the corner of Tenneyson and Hesperian. .
Mind you it has been some time since I have been to Albany Aquarium (I moved to TX, MA and now MN), but the owner is the same as it was when that was my first job back in 1977. I imagine the building is a little rough now a days - it was so back then- but the quality of the stock was good. I do not think they do salt water any more
http://www.mynatureaquariums.com/triptosanfrancisco/
http://www.mynatureaquariums.com/triptosanfrancisco/
I've been going to Superway Aquarium for years, since it was close to me. Superway has been around for a long time. The selection is decent but the shop isn't very large. I've had good success with the fist I've purchased from there but I've been looking for other places in the Bay Area that might be better.stingray4540 said:
I'll check out Dolphinpet Village.
Thanks!
Peace...