Petco has actually been good for me...

[LordClownFish]

So i decided to play devils advocate and I ordered some fish from Petco to stock my Biocube over the last 6 months. So far I have ordered, a red mandarin (this one is the most shocking, he eats flakes!), a yasha goby, 2 platinum percula clowns, a midas blenny and a firefish. ( I also ordered a snowflake eel and have him in a 40 long right now. He's doing absolutely fantastic, but i supplement thiamine) Every single fish has not had one fluke in a 5 minute freshwater bath and not one indictor of ick or any other disease. I do QT, they get a copper power 30 day and Prazi for another 7 but to be completely honest (no QT for the yasha or mandarin), I don't think they have needed it. Just thought I would share, ordering fish straight from Petco may be decent.

 

[fishywishy]

The only fish I’ve ever had that were healthy were from Petco.

Does anyone know where Petco gets their fish from?

 

[Psyduck]

Petco fish have a bad reputation because of the store not where they get their fish from. When they run 50% off livestock online, its worth it to buy from them since their minimum free shipping is so low you dont have to spend $$$.

 

[ninjamyst]

Petco online fish comes directly from quality marine, the same supplier that many LFS uses. By buying from Petco, you are skipping the middle man and your fish spent less time in transit.

I been telling people this for years now and it shows because fish are often out of stock now on Petco.com

 

[ccc111]

Usually, the issue with PetCo is their staff and not their suppliers.

One of the PetCo locations near me is really good and has two staff members who seem to care about their aquariums. But I have also been to other PetCo locations that were clearly poorly taken care of and had untrained staff.

I think that is the main issue with PetCo. They do not appear to have proper staff training for a pet store, and thus, you get lots of negative feedback from folks who were trying to get care information, recommendations, etc.

It's a really hit-or-miss establishment.

 

[fishywishy]

Petco online fish comes directly from quality marine, the same supplier that many LFS uses. By buying from Petco, you are skipping the middle man and your fish spent less time in transit.

I been telling people this for years now and it shows because fish are often out of stock now on Petco.com

Can you just buy straight from quality marine? Also how do you know?

 

[Doctorgori]

Following, bumping, looking for feedback ...
Are these quarantined and do they need it?

 

[twentyleagues]

Can you just buy straight from quality marine? Also how do you know?

Wholesale only. You need to find an lfs that orders from them which should not be that hard. Pick up the fish the day they arrive. 2 lfs near me will even give me a "discount" if I get the fish before they open the bags. 15% of cost if its still in the bag if its opened I have to pay whatever they are asking, it usually equates to $5-10 off per fish.

 

[PizzaIan339]

My petco even has coral albeit not the best but they do!

 

[Popeye]

My petco has corals too. They look decent when they first get them but if they don't get sold quick they start to get ugly in their system

 

[ninjamyst]

Following, bumping, looking for feedback ...
Are these quarantined and do they need it?

They are not quarantined to the level that you can trust them 100%. If you want QT fish, you will have to pay a lot more for them.

 

[ninjamyst]

Can you just buy straight from quality marine? Also how do you know?

I know because the shipment from Petco says it came from quality marine. Also when I had a DOA, I have to claim through quality marine.

 

[ieatbugman]

Interesting, my petco sometimes has decent stuff. And since i know the guy in charge of the fish section i can (sometimes) get discounts

 

[Philip Chin]

Bangaii cardinals and PJ cardinals are my only purchases from Petco . So far absolutely no issues.

 

[Johnd651]

Good to know

 

[saullman]

Petco fish have a bad reputation because of the store not where they get their fish from. When they run 50% off livestock online, its worth it to buy from them since their minimum free shipping is so low you dont have to spend $$$.

When do they run this sale and how often?

 

[jrill]

The only fish I’ve ever had that were healthy were from Petco.

Does anyone know where Petco gets their fish from?

Petco gets fish from the same place every other seller gets them from.

 

[formallydehyde]

I understand why people would buy from Petco online considering everyone seems to indicate they're just a drop shipper but I absolutely would not buy a fish from a physical Petco store unless it was impossible to find elsewhere and I had a good quarantine tank set up.

I went to buy chelated copper and formalin to have on hand in case of an emergency and was told by the employee that they don't sell any real fish medications (not even copper!), just herbal remedies of questionable efficacy due to corporate policy. So unless the employees have a secret stash of copper and other proven meds that they can access which aren't sold to the public, Petco stores have no way to treat sick fish and or prophylactically treat healthy ones.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I agree it all depends on who runs the store and how well maintained. I have a really high volume store near me for saltwater fish which means they have a really nice massive display of corals, inverts, and sw fish for a Petco! It’s also where I got Hewbie from! I ordered him special! I have heard the one in NYC that is their big show store is really nice too.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

The local Petco here in Columbus Ga, is so so when it comes to saltwater, they do have coral frag tanks, but i am not to interested in what they have. They seem to have quite a good selection of saltwater fish from time to time. I did get some turbo snails from them. I mostly get salt when needed from them. There is one guy who works there, he is tall and slim with curly hair who seems knowledgeable on saltwater after talking to him. The manager told me when I bought my tank , since the tank was stated not tempered, and tested not tempered, That if it was when I drilled it, to bring it back he would refund or replace.