Shak
04/30/2004, 10:11 PM
Please enlighten me if I am mistaken but here is my take on the reef keeping retail sector in Las Vegas. Please bear in mind that although I would never consider myself an expert (imho only those that dont actually have a reef tank label themselves experts), I do have a fair amount of reef keeping/ fish keeping background and experience, and I have seen or visited countless LFS over the years.
The LFS here in Vegas are horrendous, prices are an insult and the selection of healthy livestock is non-existant.
GV Aquarium - $$$$ Owners have no concept of profit margin, return business, advertising, merchandising or anything related to smart small business management. They do, however, have a decent selection of fish that appear reasonable healthy although I have not taken out a loan to be able to afford any of them. Small selection of over-priced common coral lifestock. Only found one knowledgable and helpful staff member (owners son).
ATM 1- go here if you like unhealthy corals, albiet the largest selection in town. They also have a huge fish selection, but the health is highly questionable and dead fish are apparent in almost every system. I cant ever see myself making a livestock purchase here, and I am often ashamed when I visit this store that the animals are treated so poorly. Again, make sure your credit is in order and you are prequalified for a small loan before attempting to purchase anything here.
ATM2 - never been, same owners.
Trop-aquarium - do they even stock marine fish? I have been several times, always on weekdays, and they have 3-8 fish total on average. Apparently, according to staff members, they receive orders on friday, sell everything out over the weekend, rinse and repeat. Cant comment on pricing/quality since there is never anything for sale, but dont count on healthy if you buy from there, the fish dont get acclimated even one day before they are sold to public. No corals to speak of at all.
F.I.S.H - dirty store, unhealthy tanks, bad lighting, pricing is reasonable. Staff is helpful and friendly at least, and they are the only store that appeared interested in my business.
Tropical Expressions - If Jackie is running this place I would assume the fish health and selection is excellent. I knew her back when she worked for Lance and Micki at Rainbow Seascapes (We used to combine our orders to save on freight and get volume discounts) and have nothing but good things to say about her fish expertise. I have not visited this store yet, since I just read about it existing on this forum a few minutes ago.
And that about sums it up, Vegas is a mail order town when it comes to marine aquatics. Perhaps i'll start up a shop again, once the horror of the 80-90 hour work week fades a bit (NEVER!).
Well, sorry I am venting, I've already come to the conclusion that i'll have to travel to so.cal to purchase anything quality in person. And as a side note, dont try to purchase a custom aquarium in this town unless you can get a 2nd on your home to finance it. I'll be ordering my new tank from Aquariumobsessions most likely, and having it shipped here, since I couldnt find a store that wanted my business for a reasonable dollar amount. (I know the vendors, I know the actual cost being charged to LFS, I know the markup that is reasonable, but one store I wont mention by name quoted double the actual cost, plus shipping, on a tank!)
Look forward to spending some time on this board, i'm not usually so critical but 3 weeks of shopping for a tank without success has made me temporarily bitter.
PS - remember how I said I wouldnt mention the store? I lied, it was Green Valley Aquarium.
The LFS here in Vegas are horrendous, prices are an insult and the selection of healthy livestock is non-existant.
GV Aquarium - $$$$ Owners have no concept of profit margin, return business, advertising, merchandising or anything related to smart small business management. They do, however, have a decent selection of fish that appear reasonable healthy although I have not taken out a loan to be able to afford any of them. Small selection of over-priced common coral lifestock. Only found one knowledgable and helpful staff member (owners son).
ATM 1- go here if you like unhealthy corals, albiet the largest selection in town. They also have a huge fish selection, but the health is highly questionable and dead fish are apparent in almost every system. I cant ever see myself making a livestock purchase here, and I am often ashamed when I visit this store that the animals are treated so poorly. Again, make sure your credit is in order and you are prequalified for a small loan before attempting to purchase anything here.
ATM2 - never been, same owners.
Trop-aquarium - do they even stock marine fish? I have been several times, always on weekdays, and they have 3-8 fish total on average. Apparently, according to staff members, they receive orders on friday, sell everything out over the weekend, rinse and repeat. Cant comment on pricing/quality since there is never anything for sale, but dont count on healthy if you buy from there, the fish dont get acclimated even one day before they are sold to public. No corals to speak of at all.
F.I.S.H - dirty store, unhealthy tanks, bad lighting, pricing is reasonable. Staff is helpful and friendly at least, and they are the only store that appeared interested in my business.
Tropical Expressions - If Jackie is running this place I would assume the fish health and selection is excellent. I knew her back when she worked for Lance and Micki at Rainbow Seascapes (We used to combine our orders to save on freight and get volume discounts) and have nothing but good things to say about her fish expertise. I have not visited this store yet, since I just read about it existing on this forum a few minutes ago.
And that about sums it up, Vegas is a mail order town when it comes to marine aquatics. Perhaps i'll start up a shop again, once the horror of the 80-90 hour work week fades a bit (NEVER!).
Well, sorry I am venting, I've already come to the conclusion that i'll have to travel to so.cal to purchase anything quality in person. And as a side note, dont try to purchase a custom aquarium in this town unless you can get a 2nd on your home to finance it. I'll be ordering my new tank from Aquariumobsessions most likely, and having it shipped here, since I couldnt find a store that wanted my business for a reasonable dollar amount. (I know the vendors, I know the actual cost being charged to LFS, I know the markup that is reasonable, but one store I wont mention by name quoted double the actual cost, plus shipping, on a tank!)
Look forward to spending some time on this board, i'm not usually so critical but 3 weeks of shopping for a tank without success has made me temporarily bitter.
PS - remember how I said I wouldnt mention the store? I lied, it was Green Valley Aquarium.