Best place to buy???

[SpaceGooch]

I have not had much luck in finding a good shop in my area (Wichita, Kansas)

I have been to two shops and have been dissapointed in both. One seemed decent, but the gentleman helping me didn't seem to know much, and I think they sold me some mixed breeds. (See post in ID section)

The second just had a bunch of different tanks with tags on them saying "Assd Cichlids" and the people working there had no idea what kinds they had.

My only other options are Petco and Petsmart which I have stayed away from because of the horror stories I've heard about sick fish, etc. But at least they have labeled tanks with the names.

Are they any orgs out there with links to good pet stores, or could tell which ones are good for cichlids? I'd drive as far as KC, Tulsa or Oklahoma City if I had to. It will be awhile before my tank is cycled and I can add more, but I'd like to be ready.

[jnorris]

Ya I am actually originally from KS. KC Missouri Spec.

If you want to come to Denver there are a few good shops here.. You could also try mail order...... Expensive, but.....

Try Lawrence KS or KC..Do some Yellow Page Searches. I bet that would be worth it....

[jonah]

There's a couple of stores in OKC that have good African cichlids. PetVet in Mid West City (east of OKC) and Aquarium Concepts. Sean (a member of this forum) works at PetVet and has an online business. www.theaquariumexchange.com . He's on vacation on the west coast right now, but he could probably give you a good price on some fish. He sells Texas Holey Rock too. I think he gets back after New Year's.

I'd offer some of mine, but all I've got available now are Neolamprologus multifasciatus and some electric yellow fry. I'm not 100% certain of the parentage on the yellows yet. They seem right, but the color hasn't come in on all of them yet. They're really small now. The multi's are all F0's or F1's.

If you just want the more common mbuna like red zebras, bumblebees, electric yellows and auratus, Petsmart isn't always that bad. The health quality seems to vary from store to store.

[SpaceGooch]

Thanks for the help, I checked out the web page.

I may head down to OKC some weekend afternoon. I've never been to OKlahoma (only lived in Kansas 8 months) and it sounds like a good excuse to go...

[Randy]

You don,t have a " BIG AL,s " around you ,do you ? Cause I was in one the other day right after Xmas and they had a great sale on. I got 4 Apisto cacuoides for 12.99.

[SpaceGooch]

Don't have one here, I checked around online, and I only saw them around Canada.

[jonah]

I don't think they have Big Al's stores in the US. We just have the online business and they don't sell fish on it.

If you come down, come early. PetVet closes around 4:30pm on Saturdays (closed Sun) and Aquarium Concepts closes at 6pm. Give me a holler (PM) if you come down and I'll try to show you around. Don't worry about a fish box, both of those stores will give you one for your trip.

I think PetVet has more unusual cichlids, but Aquarium Concepts is alright too.

[SpaceGooch]

In looking around some, I ma now actually thinking of opening up a store myself. I need to learn alot first, but I guess those mBA classes can at least help on the buisiness side. On th efish side, I guess I would need about a year's worth of practice. My wife is going to love all those tanks I set up.

There are no shops at all in the north west part of the city here, which is the new section for the people with money. Also, as stated, I have been to each of the shops here, and none have that many african's or even know much about them. I guess salt water is big here, because there were alot of them. I think the store would do well where I'm thinking of, and then I can have all the fish I want.... :D

Any advice would be appriciated on what/where to learn stuff for this wonderful adventure I'm thinking of...