Marine Fish Store in Silicon Valley
Sheldon Laube
fish only tank and would like any suggestions about a good store to develop
a relationship with.
thanks...
Tim J. Patterson
I've got about 500 gallons of marine tanks and often make the rounds.
There is a selection to choose from:
Inland Ocean - gauranteed no cyanide which sometimes limits their
selection. The high school help is clueless but the older 2 know their
stuff fairly well. Generally the most healthy fish and the only
extensive selection of corals. Slightly more expensive but the
generally better health easily offsets that in most cases.
Fish Tank - generally more knowledgeable help. A much more popular
store so stock turns over quickly - long enough you can't watch fish
there over time but they will hold fish for you. Due to the speed with
which fish are sold, it is not uncommon for the stock to have injuries
from being bashed around in the fish catching process. Inspect the
fish closely before purchase and again after it is bagged.
McClouds - I wish they were better since they are 2 blocks from my
home but the stock is ofter over priced and in poor shape. The best
of their help is o.k. but there are some really ignorant people
working the fish room. They have more room for marines than the others
but even with their boast that they do their own importing, the stock
is usually limited.
SeaScapes - A good clean store with generally healthy stock. Prices
vary from good to bad. They carry corals and more live rock than
others even though the store is actually smaller. Staff range from
o.k. to good but I've not talked to a real expert there. Definately a
better shot at finding really rare stuff in this store.
Flyinggoat
my >marine fish only tank and would like any suggestions about a good
store to >develop a relationship with.
---Dolphin Pet Village (on San Thomas Aquino) in Campbell has a GOOD
selection of Marine stuff, and they take a lot of care of the animals they
have on site. Usually they carry smaller, younger fish than some stores
do, but they are healthy. The people that work there ALL know fish, but
50/50 whether you grab a fresh water person or salt water specialist.
They have an excellent selection of live food. Their prices are good.
This is a BIG store. They also have good reptiles, feeder animals, and ok
birds.
---The Fishtank Pet Center (off of Mary Ave) in Sunnyvale has a big
variety of marine fish, and the best prices for tanks. They have live
food. They only carry fish and fish supplies. If you've got wierd
equipment, they've got replacement parts for it, probably. Everyone knows
the salt water stuff.
---McCloud's (2 locations, one on El Camino in Santa Clara). BIG. The
BIGGEST store in the south bay (except their New Park location, which is
bigger). The most expensive. Has a big variety of fish. Not all
healthy. Have fish, reptiles, and birds.
---Seahorse Aquarium (in Woodside) the best invertebrates. Period. Small
store, has good prices, healthy fish, lots of eels. Everyone knows fish.
There are others, but my significant other and myself spent an entire day
once visiting ALL the fish stores in the South Bay listed in the phone
book, and these are the best marine guys. There are some additional
stores as you head up towards SF that are also excellent, but you
specified Silicon Valley.
Betty Cunningham(Flyin...@aol.com)
illustrator, animator, and likes to collect dead things
Mashugana
I really like Undersea Discovery in Cupertino, close to Vallco. Good
people, good selection. 19664 Stevens Creek. 408-252-7888. Seahorse
Aquarium in Redwood City is also good, but a little small. 801 Woodside.
415-365-2918.
There are also a couple of stores in the City I would recommend.
>> Dave K <<
>> Professional Dad <<
>> Best Job in the World <<
Kristi Bittner
: >>
: I really like Undersea Discovery in Cupertino, close to Vallco. Good
: people, good selection. 19664 Stevens Creek. 408-252-7888. Seahorse
: Aquarium in Redwood City is also good, but a little small. 801 Woodside.
: 415-365-2918.
These guys went out of a business a while back. :-(
: There are also a couple of stores in the City I would recommend.
Which ones?
: >> Dave K <<
I thought Undersea Discovery *was* the best.
Haven't been to Seahorse Aquarium.
Generally like Inland Ocean for animals (equipment prices more
outrageous than most!) Inverts sometimes don't get enough light/water
quality (their systems are old fashioned), but often ok. Fish are
generally in good shape, tho' sometimes there are problems.
Also like SeaScapes in Mtn View. Best variety. Modern store/systems.
Inverts generally in good shape. Fish get mixed reviews - generally
seem ok, but definitly go thru cycles of disease problems.
(Has anybody had consistently good fish out of there? I haven't bought
much there.) Still better than other stores for marines.
There are actually two (at least) Fish Tank stores (Sunnyvale and
Milpitas). They've got nice variety, but I'm usually not happy with the
condition of their animals. I mainly end up getting equipment/supplies
only from these stores.
There's a guy who has bought out Fintastic (Keily and Benton in Santa
Clara), and is trying to make a go of it. He revamped a lot of the
store equipment, and actually bought some of the old equipment out of
Undersea Discovery. Small store, and doesn't have a lot... but really
good prices, and the marine fish generally seemed in good shape. The
inverts were mixed looking condition, but generally ok. He's got
GREAT prices on a lot of his stock. (1/2 to 3/4 other local stores,
it seemed like).
Currently, I would buy livestock primarily from Inland Ocean or
SeaScapes only.
On a slightly expanded note... Can we expect a fish store to have
consistently healthy live stock? Or is it the nature of the beast for
even the most perfectly run store to sometimes have problems?
Kristi Bittner
QUIT
store to sometimes have problems?
Kristi Bittner
jba...@amd.com
> There's a guy who has bought out Fintastic (Keily and Benton in Santa
> Clara), and is trying to make a go of it. He revamped a lot of the
> store equipment, and actually bought some of the old equipment out of
> Undersea Discovery. Small store, and doesn't have a lot... but really
> good prices, and the marine fish generally seemed in good shape. The
> inverts were mixed looking condition, but generally ok. He's got
> GREAT prices on a lot of his stock. (1/2 to 3/4 other local stores,
> it seemed like).
>
> On a slightly expanded note... Can we expect a fish store to have
> consistently healthy live stock? Or is it the nature of the beast for
> even the most perfectly run store to sometimes have problems?
>
> Kristi Bittner
>
Kristi;
thanks for the vote on my X store ( USD ) and by the way all customers
should expect a fish store to have consistently healthy live stock for sale.
With the use of quarintine tanks and hospital tanks for the live stock that is
not in the best shape. If a store does not have these for the sick fish all
customers will have a problem.
Also I am tring to help randy out with his store. I have given him all my
contacts for fish and inverts and he will be getting some in soon. I am doing
some red sea ,africa and figi hard corls out of my house.
J bargas
Flyinggoat
: people, good selection. 19664 Stevens Creek. 408-252-7888. Seahorse
: Aquarium in Redwood City is also good, but a little small. 801
Woodside.
: 415-365-2918.
>>These guys went out of a business a while back. :-(
Seahorse, at least, was open on Saturday (two days ago) with no signs for
going outta business.
Kristi Bittner
************************************************************************
My mistake folks! I meant to say that Undersea Discovery, in Cupertino,
has gone out of business, *NOT* the Seahorse Aquarium shop (in Woodside,
I gather). Sorry about that! I hope anyone who saw the first note also
sees this correction! My apologies, esp. to the Seahorse Aq.
Kristi Bittner
************************************************************************
Flyinggoat (flyin...@aol.com) wrote:
: kristi (kri...@sc.hp.com) wrote:
: : I really like Undersea Discovery in Cupertino, close to Vallco. Good
Chang-Ping Lee
Flyinggoat <flyin...@aol.com> wrote:
>: I really like Undersea Discovery in Cupertino, close to Vallco. Good
>: people, good selection. 19664 Stevens Creek. 408-252-7888. Seahorse
>: Aquarium in Redwood City is also good, but a little small. 801
>Woodside.
>: 415-365-2918.
>
>>>These guys went out of a business a while back. :-(
>
>Seahorse, at least, was open on Saturday (two days ago) with no signs for
>going outta business.
Still owned by Mike and Tim? Haven't been there for
a long, long time.
Chang
Chang-Ping Lee
You bought Fintastic from Paul? Last time I saw him he
was breeding Discus.
Chang
Phil Sanders
picks his fish from the wholesalers each week. A lot of shops just order fish
over the phone and hope the wholesaler delivers healthy stock.
His fish prices are good and he has a fair return policy (just bring in
a water sample).
Phil
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jca...@ccnet.ccnet.com
The VERY BEST marine & reef store I have ever seen is in Hayward, CA. I know
it's not Silicon Valley but it is more than worth the drive. Best selection,
prices and quantity of all sea creatures - without a peer. It's worth it just
to see a spectacular 400 gal reef stocked with a huge selection of corals.
They have 3 150 gal tanks just for live rock!
To give you an idea on prices - most stores in the area are currently selling
Flame Hawks for about $53. His regular price is $42 and sale price is $38.
Golden head sleeper gobies are $10 here vs. $17 in most other places. Hundreds
(yes hundreds) of corals to choose from. Same goes for fish.
If anyone is interested in the name and address, just drop me a line - just
kidding. The store is
Aquarium Concepts & Reptiles
1410 W. Winton Ave.
Hayward, CA 94545
ph: 887-7500
open mon-sat 1-6pm (noon on Sat)
W. Winton is the first exit north of San Mateo Bridge (hwy 92) on I-880. Go
west about a mile - store is on the left hand side across from the Calif Air
Nat'l Guard base.