Loaches in NY

[aquachromis]

I'm going be traveling to NY next week and I was wondering if anyone can recommend some good fish shops. I'm thinking in a city that big there must be some shops that would have a better selection that what I might find here in the midwest...yes? no? I'll just be browsing but it would be nice to see something out of the ordinary.

Thanks

[mikev]

There are no stores that consistently have a good selection of loaches. Some of the stores worth checking are H2O Aquarium, Pacific Aquarium, Northern Aquarium, Fishtown USA... They all are likely to have *some* loaches.

All stores listed frequently sell very sick fish, so unless you look carefully and come back a couple of times, it is risky. H2O currently has Striata, S.Helodes, and a Schistura species, all three appear healthy (I looked). Pacific had Beaufortia last time I looked, but with the Patchy. Fishtown is the most likely to offer kuhlis, but they are temporary on my avoid list (last two purchases did not survive long, and I have a thing against places that sell plecos with massive body rot...but they do have occasional good stuff), so I don't know what they have now. Also New World Aquarium: conveniently located in Manhattan, very high prices, the only time I bought there I got a really nasty disease, so they are on a permanent avoid list for me.

Now, if you want Kubs your best bet is actually the Petland chain, some store is nearly certain to have them at any given moment of time. Same for Tigers, Clowns, Modesta, Horsefaces, Dojo's. Petland generally sells healthy fish, except for high probability of ich. [Most of my Kubs are Petland's, some H2O's, ditto for clowns and kuhlis.]

Anything particular you are looking for? (I probably will drop by some stores over the weekend, and if I see whatever you want, I can let you know).

hth.

[mistergreen]

how are you bringing it back to st louis?

[adamrf1126]

if you can go... there are 3 great fish stores in the new york/tri-state area.

1. The nicest store i have ever been to. Greenwich Aquaria in Greenwich, Connecticut

2. House of Fins also in Greenwich, Connecticut

3. Absolutely Fish in Clifton, New Jersey

Last week i bought 6 rainbows and 3 botia striata from Greenwich Aquaria. They are beautiful fish, and the store has very smart salespeople.

When i was there they had striata, clown loaches, and a few skunk loaches.

I have gotten a few great yo-yo loaches at House of Fins in the past.

Absolutely fish is one of the top rated fish stores in new jersey, and has a HUGE selection of fish.

The two stores in greenwich are beautiful, but there is not a huge selection of fish, however what they have is beautiful. Absolutely Fish has given me problems with ich in the past, but it is always worth a look

Also, Greenwich Aquaria in Greenwich, Connecticut is closed i think monday-wednesday, but it is very, very highly recommended. It is probably the nicest fish store i have been to. Every time i want to buy new fish in the future, i will defnitely make the hour long trip up to greenwich, the store is great.
They have the nicest saltwater display tank i have ever seen there, but everything there is amazing.

here are the links to them :
http://www.houseoffins.com/
http://www.greenwichaquaria.com/
http://www.absolutelyfish.com/

[aquachromis]

I'm not actually planning on buying anything. Just looking around for fun. I'll be staying in Queens and spending most of my time in Manhattan. Although, if any of these stores have a nice plant selection, I'm sure I could bring some plants back with me.

thanks for all the suggestions

[mikev]

Of the ones mentioned above, H2O Aquarium, Northern Aquarium, and FishTown USA are in Queens; the other two are Manhattan (I live in the first borough and work in the other). There are several more decent independent stores, Queens is a large borough (>1m people).

Plants are often pretty good in FishTown, and Coral Aquarium as well as Cameo Pet Shop (also Queens) are better than average (both also may have loaches, but these are smaller stores).

If you are into *looking*, H2O has very nice saltwater selection.

hth

[aquachromis]

Thanks mikev...I'll be staying with a friend in Flushing.

[mikev]

Thanks mikev...I'll be staying with a friend in Flushing.

Flushing: FishTown, Northern, also Tropical Pets. A pretty good Petland (had nice Dojo's and Horses last time I was there). That's about it.
Coral is on Roosevelt Ave, if you go to Manhattan by subway, it is exactly on the way. It had those Eels Graeme got last time I was there, very cute...H2O is in Elmhurst, two short stops away from Coral (Grand Ave stop). see their inventory above, if my luck holds, they will have something more interesting this Sunday. There are a couple more stores around it.

Now you know all that I know....

hth

[mikev]

All right, an update for your trip:

Petland on Coney Island has really magnificent S.Helodes...if you end up going that way.
H2O has Yoyo's with interesting markings. The fish seems very healthy, but very small, a perfect object for seeing how the markings develop before "YOYO" is seen. (I took the camera with me but forgot to charge it..darn) They also have a tank with big sign "Reserved for Mike", don't even think about touching it.

[aquachromis]

Mike, thanks for all the info. Unfortunately I found out Sunday that I have family coming in that I only see once a year at most, so I've had to cancel the NY trip. I've bookmarked this thread though and may resurrect it in a few months when I have a chance to schedule the trip again.