Finding loaches to buy

[Icewall42]

Where does everyone get there loaches? I see all these neat species of loach that I woulddearly like to have, but all the fish stores here are terrible (got stiffed in one today) and I'm lucky if they even carry clowns. I've been wanting a yoyo and some striatas but no one here has them.

I can forget getting any more exotic loaches. So how should I go about finding them? Perhaps not immediately, since I need to get a biiger tank (again). But any ideas?

[mikev]

Most of my fish (and all loaches for the last few months) came from Frank.

He has yoyo's now, hopefully striatas some time soon (I still want them too...)

[Icewall42]

Thank you, that site has a great selection (though there are still other loaches I'm very interested in owning).

[Martin Thoene]

Icewall42, a lot of it can be down to luck, or just having a LFS that is run by somebody that's a complete fish nut. I'm lucky in that I have that near me.
When the person ordering the fish knows fish and gets a kick out of getting unusual stuff in you're on a winner. If you can build up a relationship with someone like that they'll look out for cool stuff because they know they have a market for them.

Martin.

[mikev]

Thank you, that site has a great selection (though there are still other loaches I'm very interested in owning).

Ask him here about the others, this is how he often decides what to import.

And, of course, if you can get a *quality* local store to order what you want, it is better -- you can see and chose the fish. My problem with lfs' was that only one was willing to order what I want, but they did not treat or quarantine nearly every time the fish they got came with various deadly diseases... The fish from Frank is considerably healthier.

[lstaunt]

The fish from Frank is considerably healthier.

As a longtime lurker and first time poster, I'll second mikev's vote of confidence in Frank and his loaches.

I've gotten Gastromyzon occelatus, Gastromyzon ctenocephalus, Sewellia lineolata, Botia Striata, Rosy Loaches, and Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki from Frank, as well as a variety of shrimp and non-loach fish on several different occasions. I was very worried about shipping the hillstream loaches in particular, but they came through with flying colors. All of the fish I've ordered from Frank have survived the trip (he does an excellent job of packing) and are thriving.

They are far healthier than the vast majority of fish I have gotten at any of the LFS in my area. Considering I live in the Washington DC Metro area and have many shops to chose from, I believe that's pretty extraordinary. Granted, I haven't visited every LFS in a 150 mile radius, but I'm doing my best.

In a perfect world, I'd live near a Frank or an Emma and wouldn't need to subject the fish to the additional stress of one more plane trip. So far, taking the risk on that additional plane trip has paid off, though, in the form of healthy fish I don't have to fret over and medicate -- Frank has already done that for me by quarantining and medicating as necessary.

I've been reading the posts on this forum and the info on this website for almost a year now and have benefitted greatly (as have my loaches) from all of the knowledgeable loach-keepers here (thank you, all). Without Frank, though, I doubt I would have been able to share in the joy of keeping loaches. I probably would have given up, disheartened and sad, after the first few skinny, pathetic specimans I got at the local shops died &/or struggled to survive. It really seems to make a huge difference to start with healthy fish.

Best wishes for finding the loaches you'd like.
Lou

[Icewall42]

Thanks very much for the info, I've spoken with Frank over email and it sounds like I found myself a new friend If only I could just get that bigger tank... !

[Martin Thoene]

As a longtime lurker and first time poster, I'll second mikev's vote of confidence in Frank and his loaches.

Well welcome lstaunt.....sounds like it's about time you posted. I'm glad that you chose praising Frank as your first post. Good, reliable shops that sell good-quality fish are prescious few it seems based on the experiences of some on here. Mikev is a case in point and I'm sure he's happy having now found Frank as a source.

Whilst businesses are not supposed to use these forums as an advertising medium, I think I can speak for most people here in that they'll feel that good people like Frank, plus Emma & Steve should be praised because of their commitment to providing good healthy fish to customers and taking appropriate care of the fish before they go on sale.

There's a general malaise in the industry which more and more people are speaking up about. There's a wind of change coming that's maybe just a breeze at present.

Seeing dedicated professionals doing it right rather than just concentrating on more profit is refreshing. There should be ethics when dealing with living stock.

Martin.

[Icewall42]

Yeah, I really wish things would change... I did business with the fish store nearest me only once because they don't know how to treat and keep customers. I bought a pangasius catfish from them that ended up being sick with ick, so rather than call the store and bring the fish back to die (since I doubt they'd bother treating it) I tried to treat it since I have years of aquarium experience. I tried saving the poor things's life, and in the end the ick was significantly better but the fish still promptly died 4 days after I bought it.

Of course I tried to get a refund or even store credit. But the store blew me off because I didn't call the first day, and because I treated the fish. I refuse to do business with such a place if their interest is in merely profit and not the welfare of the fish or the customer.

I suppose some people mgiht see me in the wrong... but I've co-owned a fish store with my parents for 5 years, and that's not how you keep customers. You don't sell a person a fish and then say "oh, too late, now you can't return it, and if you treat it, you're still screwed." What happened to the good old days when people actually cared Every other fish store I've been to has been deplorable in their care of their tropical fish stock, except for our own store (we tried our best) and a store I went to when I was probably five or six years old.

Sorry. End rant.

[lstaunt]

Icewall42, glad to hear you've made Frank's acquaintance. I can definitely identify with trying to figure out how to squeeze in more tanks and bigger tanks.

Thank you for the welcome, Martin. I was a bit afraid I'd sound like a paid advertisement, but I agree that those who are doing it correctly should be praised and held up as a positive example to the community.

Likewise, I try to plug this loach community with the owners/employees of the local shops when I visit. You and the other experienced forum members provide a very valuable service by supplying and spreading the word on the proper way to keep the various loaches. I try to do my part by coaxing the LFS folks into reading that info and then sharing it with their customers.

I know it's an uphill battle, but I hope if enough of us keep prodding, we can get that malaise you mention to dissipate.

Lou

[shari2]

Istaunt,
If you're interested in trying to help fish stores provide accurate information you might be interested in what's going on here:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=3943

shameless plug, i know...

[Icewall42]

Hey, I don't mind the advertising here because I asked for it

[distrbd]

Icewall42, a lot of it can be down to luck, or just having a LFS that is run by somebody that's a complete fish nut. I'm lucky in that I have that near me.
When the person ordering the fish knows fish and gets a kick out of getting unusual stuff in you're on a winner. If you can build up a relationship with someone like that they'll look out for cool stuff because they know they have a market for them.

Martin.

Hi Martin.
Where is that fish nut located ? ,I wouldn't mind to check the place out.

[Martin Thoene]

The Menagerie Petshop, 549 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X 1P7

416-921-4966.........Ask for Harold (but he's not there most weekends)

I know he has stuff coming in from Singapore this week, but that may probably be it till New Year. Certainly last week they were well-stocked. His plants are the best in Toronto.

Martin.

[distrbd]

Thanks Martin.