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snarfe
06/16/2004, 03:14 PM
hi all! i live and kokomo, and i'm willing to drive oh say 1 1/2 hrs. i'm wondering whats the best place to get fish and inverts?
thanks in advance!

DensityMan
06/16/2004, 03:52 PM
Best Selection - Uncle Bills Southside
Quality/Health - Abyss systems (they have funny hours and are not easy to find the first time)
People/Knowledge - PetWarehouse (Southside of Indy - close to UB South)

Fourseahorsemen
06/16/2004, 11:02 PM
Rob aka Coralsandbar.com gets tank raised ORA fish in each month at real good prices. If you are looking for something specific PA may be able to order it for you.

justgettinstarted
06/16/2004, 11:23 PM
aquarium world in lafayette has a pretty good selection

i was just there on tuesday, what are you looking for i can tell you if they have it or not (i go in weekly and am kinda obsessive!)

does uncle bills have a lot of SW stuff? they have a fathers day sale on tanks right now $1 per gallon for tanks up to 75g

DensityMan
06/16/2004, 11:33 PM
Southside UB's probably has the largest selection and greatest number of fish in the Greater Indy area. The East and West sides are much more limited in their selections.

I'm very tempted to buy a few tanks I don't need, just because of that sale... LOL

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 12:05 AM
is that pricing on acrylic tanks as well? i shoudl get a 75 bowfront at that price for my dad... to give back to me. :-)

justgettinstarted
06/17/2004, 12:12 AM
i think its glass only

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 12:42 AM
darn


still- do they have glass bowfronts sitting near 75? :)

DensityMan
06/17/2004, 01:31 AM
only 'standard' sizes are covered in the sale

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 07:05 AM
snarfe,
if you really want a real good selection and healthy fish go to abyss they have the best selection and veriety of fish and they are well taken care of and they arent priced real bad. probably alot better than critter corner i wouldnt buy anything form that place they dont take carer of anything and every pet store except premium and petco are over priced.

not ecooper
06/17/2004, 08:22 AM
UB's South has taken really good care of me. :) Steve's awesome, but only works there on Sat's now. Since Chevy took off, who's gonna take charge of my custom orders? Someone (no names mentioned) who I keep talking to really doesn't give a rat's a**. They really DO have some good quality fish, nice selection, and quite a few corals. Their new tank is really nice with several SPS frags.

I dunno about "people" for PetWarehouse. I've yet to have an intelligent conversation with anyone there. AND THAT BIRD! I'm told it doesn't like children, so everytime a kid comes in its a maddening, deafening cacaphony of squaks. I just can't deal with it.

THEY DO CARRY ESV BIONIC there, though. So thats a plus in emergencies (although I've never really LOOKED, but I'm sure its as expensive as all get out.)

I bought a pair of Onyx percs from Abyss, clean as a whistle. Can't think of owners name, but super nice guy even though some of the kids that work there wouldn't give me the time of day until I came in and dropped over $150 on a pair of clownfish. (Actually a good price for what I got.) They even held them for me to be sure they were healthy. :) NICE GUY, the owner.

Hope this helps.


Oh yeah....but Premium? They're my GUYS! I can't possibly list all the good experiences, but they are so kind to me. I have six docs in Indy, so I'm there all the time.....but docs don't do Fridays or Saturdays at that level (ENT's, neurologists, epilepsy specialists, ect.) so I'm almost NEVER there when they are open. But if I call, they let me in to get what I need so I can hurry and get out of their way. And always so NICE, too. :) I now make a habit of "Premium Runs" when someone is first starting out a tank in my circle of friends, or even just someone I know. Their live rocks is the BEST!

DensityMan
06/17/2004, 09:25 AM
Damn!

How did I forget Premium in my listing? :D

They knock the ball out of the park for Live Rock and supplies, though they aren't the best in selection of fish... /shrug

Ultimately this is why I still check out as many places as I can (with a few I wouldn't recommend to anyone). There are quite a few places in Indy to shop, and they all have different specialties.

;)

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 09:32 AM
and we all know there is nothing in freaking Noblesville:D

DensityMan
06/17/2004, 10:18 AM
save for freakin' Noblesvillinians... ;)

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 11:05 AM
so why is it that no pet store in town sells southdown? and the guys i talked to at the reef have never heard of it?

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 11:06 AM
because they want to sell the 20.00 to 25.00 dollar live sand or the 1.99 lb stuff

DensityMan
06/17/2004, 11:14 AM
*cough* ;)

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 01:48 PM
well, there are reef stores in town that don't even sell live sand.. and wouldn't even give me seed form their system for a reasonable price.. hmmmmm

justgettinstarted
06/17/2004, 02:16 PM
its because a 40lb sack or Carib Sea argonite costs between 20 and 25 bucks a pop and a 50lb bag of southdown costs like $6...

So you tell people that they are the same thing.... which one are they going to buy? Profit margin is not nearly as much on a $6 item as on a $25 item...

there is some spaztic person here on RC who sells southdown by the lb... and price includes shipping... i forget what the price was... like 50c or 75c a lb, maybe it was a buck i dont remember... sounded pretty dumb to me! LOL

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 02:18 PM
you got it and truth be known they are probably bagged by the same company just different bags.

overflowin
06/17/2004, 02:47 PM
i'll just get my sand from shawn...

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 02:48 PM
how much is he charging now a days? i might need some :)

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 02:50 PM
shoot maybe i should dig some out of my 125 and sell it , 100 or so lbs would hurt it.

overflowin
06/17/2004, 02:50 PM
a buck a pound for VERY live sand...its awesome stuff. and he always hooks it up pretty fat. i got everything he had last time, around 100lbs (to split with a friend) and he charged us $60...and that was the first day i met him.

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 03:02 PM
danny- saw this form chicago's cmas tour of inland- and thought of you. but this guy has you beat...
http://www.cmas.net/s_04_inland/f13.jpg

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 03:05 PM
thats pretty cool , yep looks like he might have me beat

DensityMan
06/17/2004, 03:07 PM
Now THAT's a deep sand bed... WoW!

snarfe
06/17/2004, 03:48 PM
thanks everyone....i'll check into abyss and the place in nobelsville, oh and sand man dan i hear ya on critter corner i get sick just driving past it! i don't even know if the owner knows how to take care of himself! i've been in there and seen dead fish to only come back a day or two to see the same dead fish in the same tank....truely sad. and the prices are sooo high. thanks again everyone!

sand man dan
06/17/2004, 04:06 PM
ya someone should call the animal police on him or something he is a real dumb#$& . wish i could remember his name pat i believe.

matt the fiddler
06/17/2004, 04:16 PM
an email to PETA the PITA is all taht is needed to loose all his customers


DJPB
06/17/2004, 08:50 PM
Thought I would post my .02

Premium is the best, I feel so lucky to live here because of them. You can't front on internet prices at a local store. Jeremy, Jason, Cory, and the rest of the guys there are honest, educated, and friendly. They don't try to sell you stuff you don't need. I purchase 99% of all drygoods from them. They also have a good selection of corals, especially acros. About half of my corals have come from them. Even if I move to another state I will still order thru them. They are the absolute best.


The Abyss is the probably the best fish store in the state, if not the midwest. The owner, Paul, really takes pride in his husbandry. The Abyss always has healthy clean tanks full of common and rare fish. In the past month I picked up a mated pair of Randall's gobies, a Radiant Wrasse, and an Indian Ocean Regal Angel from them. I haven't seen these fish anywhere else locally. Their prices are a few dollars more than other stores, but I believe you pay for quality. I have yet to lose a fish or get a sick fish purchased from the Abyss. They also have a decent selection of softies and LPS, as well as inverts. They sell frozen Cyclop-eeze! I do miss Glen. Abdul and Ralph are great guys as well. Their hours are Mon thru Fri 4pm to 7pm, and Sat 10am to 6pm. Call them for directions (right off 65th St. near SR37) 317 913 1537

PetWarehouse - The toadstool leather in the show tank is incredible. They also have some nice zoos. They probably have the best freshwater fish selection I've seen in Indy. Other than that, waste of time. I purchased 3 fish from them, all of which died within days. Their show corals are great, but the 4sale corals are pretty bland. And I have yet to meet an employee there that is knowledgeable. I have many stories but will stop now.

The Reef - Store of death IMO. Maybe I always visit them on bad days. Maybe I visit them on the worst days. I like the people that work there and I like the shark pond, BUT it's so cruel to put a tang or trigger in a 5 gallon tank. Tanks are pretty filthy, the show tank is full of aptasia, it's so sad. I used to shop there full-time, but once I started learning more I realized what kind of place this is. It has potential if the owner would bring someone in to turn it around, and fwiw the owner is a pretty good guy.

Pet Jungle (Noblesville) - Good people, terrible selection.

Petsmart (Castleton) - good place to buy frozen foods - that's it...

UncleBills - I have only been to the west side store and they had a decent selection. I was actually surprised. I purchased 2 cleaner shrimp that died on the way home. I used my refund to get dog food. I do still stop there occasionally to browse. They usually have nice fish.

(Indy's best kept secret)
Blowfish Aquatics (Noblesville) - Bryan's set-up is awesome. If you have never been out there it is soooooooo worth the trip. Best acros in the city. His local prices are reduced from the website prices. And he has 5 times the selection you would think by looking at his site. Inverts and other corals are A1 quality. Plus Bryan is a cool mf, lol, he is extremely helpful and knows his stuff. Not to mention, you can take the wife with you. While you coral shop, she can candle shop - win win. Highly recommended.

That's about it, thanks for listening...

dmits41
06/17/2004, 10:14 PM
Here's the funny thing about Uncle Bill's: their setup looks better on the east side, but the prices are lower on the south! I work in the same strip as the southside store and traded in some fw fish for a credit, then helped a guy out at our store on the east side...which happens to be in the same strip as THAT uncle bill's! I went into that one to save time, but the selection wasn't as varied and almost every fish was about $5 higher. They also had nowhere near the amount of corals as the south store. They also have B-Ionic for $20 as opposed to Pet Warehouse at $30.

About petware house, that one kid who's always there tried to tell me how great pc lighting is, but the thing that got me was when he tried to feed the aggressive tank in the back corner of the store. He pounded the front of the tank and said he was trying to get the attention of a lion or trigger that he wanted to notice a piece of food. Wow.

P.S. I'm a manager in the Gamestop in the strip with uncle bill's on the southside if you ever want to stop in and say hi...or trade stuff (when I can frag)!

not ecooper
06/17/2004, 10:36 PM
*laugh* PC lighting *laugh*

I agree. GREAT show tank at PetWarehouse. Everything else either sucks bad or is way too high for its quality. Yeah, lost a pair of true percs from there. They're still in my freezer, actually.

Anyone interested? Research project, ect? You're welcome to them.

I had bought them for a local here who I maintain her tank. Guess I figured I'd save them in case there was ever a question on whether or not they died in my q-tank. *shrugs* Its been a few months, so I guess I don't need them anymore.

overflowin
06/17/2004, 10:44 PM
the people at the reef are great, and if your into cichlids kevin is the guy to talk to, but their saltwater section is a little weak. they have improved it a lot since moving to the other side, but they need bigger holding tanks for their livestock. 99% is kept in 12gal nano cubes... which would be ok if they could sell every fish in a day or two. unfortunaely they can't, and the longer the fish stay, the worse they look.

i got my pair of false percs from abyss and they are great, very bright and active...even if they can't figutre out what to do with the anemone in the tank! i don't think i would ever buy a fish from anyone else, except maybe inland aquatics...

donnie

Fourseahorsemen
06/17/2004, 10:47 PM
DJPB, So glad you mentioned Bryan and Blowfishaquatics.com, I haven't seen him in a while I should lookm him up! He has some great dealer contacts and gets some awsome bali corals.
If you don't know Rob at Coralsandbar.com on the west side, he mostly brings in a bunch of zoos and ORA frags but he also does have real good deals on ORA fish.

DJPB
06/17/2004, 10:50 PM
Originally posted by Fourseahorsemen
DJPB, So glad you mentioned Bryan and Blowfishaquatics.com, I haven't seen him in a while I should lookm him up! He has some great dealer contacts and gets some awsome bali corals.
If you don't know Rob at Coralsandbar.com on the west side, he mostly brings in a bunch of zoos and ORA frags but he also does have real good deals on ORA fish.

I didnt know coralsandbar was local, shoot, learn something every day. I'll have to check them out!

DJPB
06/17/2004, 10:56 PM
Originally posted by dmits41


About petware house, that one kid who's always there tried to tell me how great pc lighting is...

You too? He tried to sell me a JBJ PC hood, saying it would be great for my clams and acros. What an idiot!:lol:

justgettinstarted
06/17/2004, 11:05 PM
i also have to say if you want SPS brian of Blowfish has awesome stuff.... most of SPS that i have and dont share (HAHA) are from there! he is a great guy

DensityMan
06/18/2004, 01:13 AM
I keep forgetting about Blowfish and Coralsandbar... I gotta make a point to head up there sometime.

The reef still just irks me. Mostly I think it's the price/quality balance is skewed there. Abyss prices on lack-luster livestock. Always killed me to go in and see the "All corals in this tank $69.99" and "mushrooms $15 per polyps" signs... and in the tank skeletons and weeds... The new setup/room looks infinately better, but the selection and general health still haven't been encouraging to me. They may be on the rise again... /shrug

Regarding people at Petware House; talk with Andy sometime. He's good people.

Premium Aquatics just proved how great they were again today. I was dumb when I picked up an order Wednesday. Thursday I called and John helped me fix the problem (then I bought a couple frags while I was there... and held off on a couple more I shoula grabbed that won't be there by the time I get there on Saturday). ;)

matt the fiddler
06/18/2004, 01:18 AM
this is the last saturday they are going to be open... oh well


reef finally did a surface skimming mod to their nano cubes [with puffer fish and tangs] by one of the guys who has a marine bio degree. funny.. they looked at me wierd when i mentioned that to them 2 months ago... their large stock tank is improving.. still- i dont' agree on 1 price for all coral... though stop in there a bunch since it is so close to my house- to look for "gems" they have astrea snails for $1.29 that is their main cheap thing.

DensityMan
06/18/2004, 01:28 AM
Last Saturday for Premium? I hadn't heard that yet... Would be a shame, but I can still get out there on Friday afternoons I suppose...

justgettinstarted
06/18/2004, 01:43 AM
1 price for all? I will sell any sps in my tank for $250

:-D

last time i was at the reef it was ghetto... but that was a while ago...

my feeling on premium is awesome selection on dry goods... but as for livestock.. not so much... always been pretty pricey for pices that looked kinda poo poo to me (at least the SPS i was checking out)

went down to uncle bills today and got 3 75's... 1 for me and 2 for derek...

i am gonna set up a new tank... still deciding what... gonna be fish only...3 options right now

a.) freshwater stingray, discus, and a few others
b.) ghetto reef... condy, damsels, and other cheepo crap
c.) ribbon eel and assorted food items! LOL

leaning towards either a or c... but we will see....

DJPB
06/18/2004, 01:47 AM
Originally posted by DensityMan
Last Saturday for Premium? I hadn't heard that yet... Would be a shame, but I can still get out there on Friday afternoons I suppose... Yeah, this is it for Saturdays. They will still be open on Fridays, and maybe one other day of the week. Also, if you need to get in there some other day just call them for an appt.

DJPB
06/18/2004, 01:51 AM
Originally posted by justgettinstarted

c.) ribbon eel and assorted food items!


Even a Dragon Moray would be cool as ****! Just think - any coral nippers in your reef could be removed and introduced to Mr. Eel+ j/k

snarfe
06/18/2004, 12:49 PM
yes sand da man his name is pat....couldn't tell ya his last name? thanks everyone for all the comments all have to check things out this weekend going to go race go karts sat :-) i'll probably try and get to a couple of the stores...my mission is to find a pair of pink skunk clowns...but i leave for vacation in 3 weeks so i'll probably hold off on actually buying them till after i get back from vacation...thanks guys

snarfe
06/18/2004, 12:50 PM
oops....sand man dan
sry :-o

not ecooper
06/18/2004, 05:01 PM
You know, I've seen lots of pink skunks lately. Are you looking for w/c or c/b?

Now ORANGE skunks that are w/c have been a rarity. I've been looking for one to attempt to recreate the natural hybrid a. leukranos, but can't. *sigh*

If I see any pinks I'll give you a yell.

MI0706
06/18/2004, 11:20 PM
Originally posted by justgettinstarted
aquarium world in lafayette has a pretty good selection

i was just there on tuesday, what are you looking for i can tell you if they have it or not (i go in weekly and am kinda obsessive!)


justgettinstarted: Aquarium World is my LFS as well... I live 1/2 south of them... When I go there (just like, normally weekly atleast), I always deal with Doug... Actually, all my livestock minus one fish and one coral came from Aquarium World!!!

ejsimcox
06/19/2004, 12:06 AM
Originally posted by DensityMan
The reef still just irks me. Always killed me to go in and see the "All corals in this tank $69.99"

Uncle Bill's on the west side does this. But I think they charge $39.99 for all corals. Do they do this at the south location?

DJPB
06/19/2004, 02:53 PM
Originally posted by DJPB
The Reef - Store of death IMO. Maybe I always visit them on bad days. Maybe I visit them on the worst days. I like the people that work there and I like the shark pond, BUT it's so cruel to put a tang or trigger in a 5 gallon tank. Tanks are pretty filthy, the show tank is full of aptasia, it's so sad. I used to shop there full-time, but once I started learning more I realized what kind of place this is. It has potential if the owner would bring someone in to turn it around, and fwiw the owner is a pretty good guy.

I'd like to make an edit on this post -
I visited the Reef today and was very surprised. They actually looked better. No more aptasia in the show tanks and the coral tanks looked healthy with a decent selection of softies and LPS - very cool hammers and plates. For maybe the first time I had a really intelligent conversation with someone there. I kinda feel bad now for posting my original thoughts - oh well...

I also went to Premium and finally got a pair of Tunze 6000's with the multi-controller. WooHoo!!!! Happy Father's Day to Me! I picked up this as well:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/cherrypick/sps/Acro6.jpg

dmits41
06/19/2004, 10:31 PM
The uncle bill's on the south side has 3 or 4 tanks with one price for corals. One tank is $25, then another is $30, and so on. They usually have a good selection of corals, although they sometimes don't know exactly what some of them are (like one coral I have now...thought it was a finger leather but it doesn't look like one).