Fish are generally easier and less expensive to feed and care for than other pets, but they do require a suitable environment and competent owners. Anyone who watches its glide serenely through the water is said to experience a relaxing influence.
If you’re thinking of getting a pet fish for the first time, you’ll want to buy it from someone you can trust. They are a bit of a mystery as live creatures, especially if you’re thinking about buying them online.
If you’re new to specimen keeping, you might not know who the most reliable sellers are. So, let’s have a look at some of the greatest sources to get your first pet fish.
This is the only article you’ll ever need to read. You want your brand-new pet to be safe, happy, and healthy when it arrives at your house. You’ll want it to live as long as possible. Check out who the greatest experts to buy from if you want to make sure you’re getting the best sample of its kind.
If you’re just getting started as a fishkeeper, you might not know how dedicated you want to be. It may appear to be the simplest option to simply go to your local pet store and get a beginning kit. While the local pet store is convenient, it isn’t the greatest place to go if you want to acquire a high-quality specimen.
You’d be far better off looking for other places to get a pet. Conduct some research to see which merchants are located in your neighborhood or will deliver to your residence.
Generally speaking, we recommend purchasing from an aquarium or fish-breeding professional. Not just for your first fish, but for everyone after that.
In addition, qualified dealers will provide you with expert guidance. They’re well worth the extra few steps you may take to find the appropriate fish.
Let’s take a closer look at who you can buy from and where you should get your first pet fish, as well as whether you should…
How Do You Know If You’re Getting A Good Specimen?
Your new fish should be happy and healthy when it arrives at your house. A healthy pet is energetic, disease-free, and free of infection. It should also be devoid of wounds and evidence of other fish attacks. It may take a few days for them to restore their vigor and adjust to their new surroundings.
Don’t expect your new pet to be ecstatic the moment you hand him over. He should recover nicely and settle in happily after a few days in a new tank.
1. Local Pet Stores
There are two types of local pet stores: franchised or chained businesses and independently owned stores.
Now, I have to acknowledge that there are some fantastic local pet stores. Small business proprietors, usually independent business suppliers, can be found who are dedicated, knowledgeable, and fantastic at what they do.
The biggest issue with generic pet stores is that they must sell a wide variety of items to fulfill the demands of every customer. They normally have supplies for a wide range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and other unusual pets, as well as specimens.
Because they are small and often easy to care for, these little shops will sell the specimen themselves, but not necessarily any other pets, instead of stocking up on food and supplies to help you care for them. Even if they are their sole pets, that doesn’t imply they’re experts on them.
Generally, they will only have a basic knowledge of fishkeeping because they must be knowledgeable in a variety of other fields.
They may be limited by their brand to simply knowing about and selling a particular number of breeds and things if they are part of a chain or franchise.
These locations are convenient and inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. You are unlikely to receive the same level of product quality or expert guidance as you would from a professional seller.
What’s the best place to look for them?
Everywhere. A pet store is likely to be found in every suburb or big retail mall. Smaller, more specialized aquarium retailers, on the other hand, should be searched out. They have a larger selection of fish to choose from.
Legal Note: We are not implying that high-street businesses offer poor-quality pets; in fact, several have excellent employees with extensive experience. What we mean is that specialty shops have a larger selection.
2. Specialist Tropical Fish Stores
Specialist tropical retailers are harder to come by than chain or local pet stores. They’ll be spread across the outskirts of major cities. There will be no dog leads, worming medicines, or cat litter in them. Specialist fish stores typically have walls of tanks, plants, and fish, as well as anything else you’ll need.
With their blue-green radiance, calm hum, and pleasant environment, these specialty aquariums transport you to another world. All of the specimens they sell are likely to be expertly prepared by the crew.
They’ll tell you how to feed and care for your pet, as well as what illnesses they might have and what challenges a new fishkeeper might face.
Staff at this store will not only have a vast understanding of them, but they will also have a strong desire to keep them. As a result, they are excellent persons to seek advice from when you are just getting started.
One of the smartest things you can do when buying your first fish is to make friends with your local specialist store. As a beginner, you are likely to make several little errors and may want assistance for a variety of reasons. It’s critical to have a provider you can trust to give you honest and sincere recommendations.
You will not only be able to purchase higher-quality fish that are more likely to be healthier and survive longer but you will also be given the finest advice on the necessary equipment.
When it comes to setting up a home aquarium, there are a variety of various types of equipment to choose from, all of which range in price. Buying the correct equipment for your needs is one of the best methods to save money while putting up a tropical aquarium. Talking to your specialty store is the simplest approach to figure out what to buy.
These specialist businesses are a good place to buy your first pet fish because of the knowledge and interest of the staff, as well as a bigger selection of fish.
What’s the best place to look for them?
To find a local expert vendor, search for “specialized fish stores near me.” You’ll probably have to drive through a few suburbs or take some extra public transportation, but it’ll be worth it.
3. Breeders
We believe that the greatest location to acquire fish for your home aquarium is from a breeder, especially if you’re looking for your first pet.
You’ll need to perform some preliminary study to figure out what kind of specimen you’re looking for. Breeders tend to specialize in one or two breeds at the most. If you’re unsure what kind of fish you want, a specialist fish store with a variety of breeds can be a better option.
Talk to a breeder if you want the best specimens and the best guidance on how to care for this particular breed.
Breeders specialize in a single species of fish and usually live and breathe it. They will know everything there is to know and will be able to guide you through any problems you may encounter. They are professionals inbreeding, and their specimens will be extraordinary in this one variety of fish.
You should go to a breeder if you want the best variations of a breed, the hardiest, most beautiful, and rarest.
What’s the best place to look for them?
Google ‘pet fish breeders near me,’ or better yet, include the name of the breed you want to find, such as ‘angelfish breeders near me.’
4. Online stores
Online specialized fish stores can be quite convenient as well as reasonably priced. They are also frequently excellent sources of professional advice. The majority of the advice will likely come in the form of articles and blogs rather than actual interactions or responses to your specific issues.
They can be hit-or-miss in terms of quality, and because you’re purchasing a live fish to be delivered to your door, transportation can be a bit problematic.
However, there are numerous excellent online specimen businesses to choose from. Some of them offer assurances that your pet will arrive alive and well. With the assurance of obtaining an alive and healthy specimen, these online retailers might be an excellent place to purchase your first pet fish.
On one website, you may compare a variety of various specimen breeds. You’ll also read information to help you choose the right fish for you. You can usually purchase all of the equipment you require at the same time and have it delivered at the same time.
What’s the best place to look for them?
Return to our old friend, Google, and type in “online fish retailers.”
The following are some of the greatest online fish stores:
- LiveAquaria is a company based in the United States.
- Imperialtropics is a company based in the United States.
- UK-based Allpondsolutions
- Saltwater Fishing in the United States
- Vividaquariums is a company based in the United States.
5. Groups of People
A great place to get specimens is from folks who already like them. You can locate clubs and communities of local specimen lovers on social media platforms like Facebook. You can join ones close to you, which not only allows you to meet people with similar interests in your neighborhood but also allows you to inspect specimens before purchasing them.
These groups are a great way to meet new people and get answers to your burning questions. Whatever issue you’re having with your fish tank, probably, someone else has already dealt with it.
What’s the best place to look for them?
The greatest place to begin is on Facebook. Look for ‘angelfish groups’ (or the breed you’re looking for) or ‘fish hobbyist groups’ on the internet. You might also try looking for local fishkeeping or pet fish clubs.
Sometimes the names of Facebook groups and pages make it difficult to find them using the search function. You may need to be a little more inventive in your search or speak with your contacts about organizations they may recommend.
6. Hobbyists
No one understands more about a specific fish breed than those who have made it their passion to care for it. Their enthusiasm for the breed, as well as their knowledge of it, will be clear. A hobbyist is more likely to provide you with a high-quality specimen as well as advise when you need it.
When you buy from a hobbyist, you may make a lifelong friend and source of aid and expertise on your fish-keeping adventure as you learn to love this type of fish.
Although the costs are not the cheapest, the quality of your pet is frequently the best. Specimen hobbyists are excellent since they have a thorough understanding of the specimen they are selling. Before you buy, you’ll be able to inspect the fish in the seller’s home.
What’s the best place to look for them?
Although hobbyists are likely to be the most difficult to locate, Facebook and Google are still good places to start. Look for ‘hobbyist groups’ and ‘fish hobbyist forums,’ and then type in the breed you want.
To locate hobbyists near you to buy from, you may need to first join some social media groups and start conversing regularly.
As you can see, there are numerous options available when purchasing your first pet. Many individuals can be forgiven for rushing straight to the pet store to pick out their first pet fish. Choosing your first pet and, more often than not, giving it a name is all part of the fun of keeping fish.
Once you’ve purchased your first few fish and developed the fish-keeping bug, you’ll want to expand your search for a larger and more diverse supply for your home aquarium.
They come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and beautiful, brilliant colors. Fish are highly clean pets that don’t require grooming or tooth brushing. Some are playful, communicate with their owners, and may even be trained to perform tricks.
The biggest piece of advice I can give, especially if you’ve never maintained fish before, is to do a lot of study before getting it.