It’s always exciting to buy some new fish for your tank; after all, fish are the centrepiece of every aquarium – they liven up any fish tank with their bright colors and dynamic behaviors.
You may be setting up a new aquarium or just want to add fish to your existing one. Either way, the next question you’ll ask is “where can I buy aquarium fish?”
It’s not just enough to get your fish from anywhere; you should look for the best places to buy aquarium fish. That way you can ensure that you get good breeds that are healthy and robust.
Let’s look at where to buy fish for an aquarium; we’ll be looking at three main ways of getting aquatic pets for your fish tank.
Where Can I Buy Aquarium Fish
There are three main ways of buying some fish for your aquarium. They are:
1. Your Local Pet Store
2. Buying Them Online
3. Buying From Other Pet Owners
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each method and how you should go about buying fish that way.
1. Buying Fish From Your Local Pet Store
Your local pet store is the first place you’ll instinctively look for fish; it is better still if it is an aquarium store.
The best way to buy something is to look at it in person – the same goes for fish too. Pictures on some online stores are – sad to say – misleading. You can never tell the state of the fish without looking at it up close.
By doing that, you can say exactly whether you like the color or not. Most importantly, it allows you to assess the health of the fish.
Another advantage to buying from the local pet store is that you can bring the fish to their new home quickly, instead of letting the poor critters spend some dangerous time in a mail package – who’d like that!?
If you’re wondering “where to buy aquarium fish near me?”, I suggest you use a map service such as Google Maps. You can look at the reviews there to determine how good the store is.
2. Buying Fish Online
Buying anything online has various advantages. One of them is the large selection available – your local store may not have every fish breed.
Also, because of the high sales volume, online prices tend to be lower as well, although you have to consider the shipping costs.
The downside is that you cannot see what you are getting – pictures on the website are not always an accurate reflection of the product. There are even many cases of people getting the wrong breeds.
Moreover, you cannot see the conditions under which the fish is being kept and bred – some stores keep fish in overcrowded and terrible conditions, leading to unhealthy fish that have a higher mortality rate.
When buying online, make sure the packaging is robust and safe; opt for quick delivery too – the more time the fish spends in the package, the bigger the risk of it dying there.
In case the worst happens, make sure the store has a return policy for dead on arrival.
Where to Buy Aquarium Fish Online
You can use different websites depending on which part of the world you are in. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible for fish to be exported/imported across borders, as there are regulations that prohibit it.
So you are left with companies that provide service in your own countries.
If you’re living in the US, you can order your fish from Aquaticarts, Aquahuna, and Dan’s Fish. Dan’s Fish has operations in Canada too. Other options in Canada include PetSmart Canada and Aquarists Across Canada.
People in the UK can make use of Maidenhead, Pets At Home, and Tropco.
In China, Alibaba is a popular online site where you can order fish.
LiveFish and Coburg Aquarium are good sites to buy fish in Australia.
If you search a bit, you can find many other websites, but it is important to make sure that you are getting quality products.
3. Buying Fish From Other Pet Owners
Instead of going the commercial route, you can reach out to your fellow hobbyists for help. It has a few advantages.
First, the fish already has a healthy home (provided the aquarist knows what they’re doing and is ethical) and so can live for a long time.
Second, the behavior of the fish is documented; for instance, you know whether it is aggressive or not towards other fish. Any other annoying behaviors, such as persistent digging, will also be known beforehand.
As for the price, it could be cheaper, or it could be not; it all depends on how much the aquarist values their pets.
If you do not know that many hobbyists willing to sell their pets, you can check out any local aquarium clubs to find sellers – there may even be auctions here where aquarists sell their fish.
Alternatively, you can make use of fish auction sites such as AquaBid.
What You Should Do When Buying Fish
Once you have found a suitable place to buy fish, there are a few things you should keep in mind before you bring it home.
· Water parameters at the store: Make sure you ask this, as abrupt changes in parameters can stress the fish. If there is a difference, slowly acclimatize them to the new conditions.
· Nitrogen Cycling: Make sure your tank is properly cycled before you introduce any fish; it takes about 4-6 weeks to cycle an aquarium from scratch.
· Dechlorination: Chlorine is toxic to fish; if you use tap water, make sure you dechlorinate it before adding any fish.
· Fish compatibility: Make sure the fish you buy can get along with other existing fish – novice aquarists often overlook this.
Conclusion
Each method of buying fish for your aquarium has its pros and cons; it is up to you to decide which one is most suitable for you.
We have provided you with some of the best places to buy aquarium fish to get you started. You can search further to find more places, while keeping in mind the basic things to look for.
Good luck on your next aquatic adventure.
