Best Petshop to buy Tropical Fish in Dublin

leef23 · 15-12-2005 3:59pm #1

what in you opinion is the best place to buy Tropical Fish & accessories.

as in price, healthy fish, best range of fish & and staff that are helpful/friendly and with a good knowledge of fish.

or does anyone buy stuff online

Arcadian · 15-12-2005 8:08pm

I wouldn't buy fish on line i like to see what i'm getting, call me fussy:D

Petstop in Blanch isn't bad for value or selection, there's only one guy there who i'd be inclined to ask advice though.

Dublin Petstore? Think that's the name of the one on Capel St, grand for community fish.

Shop on Parnell St and the one at Newlands Cross are 2 that tend to have sickly fish.

Hagar · 15-12-2005 8:12pm

leef23 wrote:

or does anyone buy stuff online

The delivery firm would want to be on the ball for that one.

wasted_winter · 15-12-2005 9:54pm

I was actually logging in to ask the same question!

I haven't kept fish in many years, but I'd like to start again. Previously I wasn't in a position to have tropical fish - but I'd like to start. I've been browsing the web looking at tanks and getting info, etc.

I'd really love if anyone could give me the name of a good pet shop - one that specialises in fish would be appreciated!

I'm in the north wicklow / south dublin area & I can't really get to any inner-city pet shops (ie: getting the tank, etc home to start with... and afterwards the fish...).

Most importantly I want to be able to speak to someone in the shop who actually know what they are talking about! As a beginner I will have to rely on the shop for advice in equipment and fish.

Also can anyone offer advice on the type of tank to buy - I want to get a decent sized tank, as in I want to be able to start with small amount of fish and to gradually build up the amount - but at the same time I don't want a huge tank that I can't take care of... or one that the primary fish will disappear in!!! I've looked at some websites and the range of tanks is unbelievable... and I can't tell the difference in any of them!

Also if anyone knows of any good websites for reading up on it would be appreciated! I'm keen to get started but I don't want to spend a lot of money on unnecessary/worthless/unsuitable equipment.

Cheers!

(PS - For all the pro's out there can anyone 'put together' a nice beginners collection of fish? A sort of newbies amazon wish-list!!!

)

Shelli · 16-12-2005 11:51am

I have heard great things about Fish-FX in Dun Laoghaire. Don't go near the shop on parnell st.

johnnyrotten · 16-12-2005 12:00pm

Shop on Wellington Quay, Dublin near the Clarence Hotel. Good advice there

Fuzzie Bear · 16-12-2005 12:45pm

My dad has 35 year fish experience so he could probably help if you want to drop him a line info@fishkeepingsupplies.com

dark_jedi_ire · 16-12-2005 1:04pm

Well i have been to most of them At this stage I thing

And the best seem to be

Aquatic Village , Bristas Road www.aquatic-village.com
Knowledgable. willing to help , good stock, And One of the cheapest Around,

Wackers Parnell Street ( best in town I think)
Again knowledgable OK stock, helpfull, price= average,

Fish Fx Seem To be really good also, But havnt managed to make it out there So far, But are they just Marine? or Do they do freshwater also?

Sites to Read.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/ (really good.)
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/ (really Good)

In the past I have posted other Sites so have a Look through my old posts And you should find more,

Rob

leef23 · 16-12-2005 1:18pm

i've bought food/accessories/equipment on ebay it's a hell of alot cheaper then the shops

Shelli · 16-12-2005 5:01pm

Stay away from Whackers is my opinion, I've had and heard of too many bad experiences coming from that shop.

dark_jedi_ire · 16-12-2005 7:21pm

Hmmm thats your opinion . me have never had any problems with them, and a friend has never had Any problems with them also,

Then again I personally havnt actually bought fish from them but friends have ,any Advice was spot on and plants were grand and normal Supplies were if a little over priced were grand,

Everyone`s allowed there own two cent

Rob

fred funk }{ · 16-12-2005 7:24pm

OK here's my opinion............

Stay away from pet-shops that dont specialise in fish. The fish are normally in very poor health and the staff know how is pretty poor.

There are a number of tropical fish shops (TFS) around and the best in my opinion is Aquatic-village, they will advise you correctly on everything you need to know and you get the feeling when talking to them that they aren't looking for the quick buck. They also have a superb range of fish and not to dear either. Although the owner can be a bit of a Dick head sometimes its still my favourite TFS where i buy all my weekly needs.

FishFX in Dunlaoghaire are robbers plan and simple. Everything they sell is way more expensive than everywhere else. I bought all my equipment there at first but after a while and visiting other TFS i came to relise just how bad they are. The quality of their fish isn't bad its actually good, its their greedyness that lets them down.

I buy filters and stuff like that on the net http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/default.asp
Are ok for stuff and not badly priced.

http://www.kilkennyaquatics.ie/

This place in Killkenny have a superb range of fish and are one of the cheapest places in the country and well worth the journey the odd time.

dark_jedi_ire · 16-12-2005 8:07pm

Agree completely with Silver Knight

I have found aquatic-village fantastic for advice, prices, Fish stock,tanks. and everything else including the dick head smart arse owner,

Havnt been to Fish Fx but heard the samething there over priced

Newlands isnt the best either same kinda thing, but there is on guy there who I think is trying to break the mold, he always orders a width and diverse selection of fish , but can be a little bit pricey on supplies,.

Rob

Fuzzie Bear · 16-12-2005 11:50pm

Has anyone any opinions on the new fish department in Pet Stop in Blanchardstown ??

First visit there, most of the fish were in awful condition - they seem to be better now, but theres not really many interesting fish....

u2gooner · 21-12-2005 12:32am

In my experience, whackers were more interested in the contents of my wallet than the contents of the tanks.
Try Dublin Aquarium centre in Ballybough. Its behind Henry's fishing tackle shop beside Annesley motors on Ballybough Road, Dublin 3.
The guys name is Joe, very knowledgable, will give you advice all day if you have thetime to hang around the shop. Nice fish and quite cheap. Im sure he'll try get certain fish for you if they're not in stock. He doesn't do marine fish but has nice coldwater and tropical fish and breeds his own Discus.

cynos · 07-01-2006 7:15pm

Petstop in blanchardstown are very good and have a huge selection of marine and tropical
Coolock and swords petstore are good for tropical stuff too
Kinsealy are extremely overpriced, and sell fish in poor condition - Stay away
Whackers in donameade are a little overpriced and havent got a great selection
Just my 2pence

J2DaC · 09-01-2006 12:26am

If anyone is getting a tank, I HIGHLY recommend going up the north to belfast! They are so much cheaper up there! We got a huge tank for £100. Down here they were about €400!!!!!!

J2DaC · 09-01-2006 12:28am

If anyone is getting a tank, I HIGHLY recommend going up the north to belfast! They are so much cheaper up there! We got a huge tank for £100. Down here they were about €400!!!!!!

karlin · 09-01-2006 11:34pm

Petstp can be OK if you are selective on the tank and the stock. They don't really care for the fish, at least the freshwater tropicals; there are often dead fish floating around. Whackers has some knowledgeable guys, OK on fish but tend to focus on pricier cichlids etc and have less of a community tank selection; and plants are a bit high but they clearly know their stuff. I really like Aquatic Village; shame they are so far away from where I live!

Where in Belfast were they selling €400 tanks for £100?! Just the tank or setups? That sounds very low going by prices on UK websites for tanks and supplies... Dark Jedi thanks for suggestions of websites as well; those have been helpful as I've set up a tank for the first time in many years!

cynos · 10-01-2006 2:08am

Petstop in blanch have a fella working there, cant remember his name but he knows a sh1tload about marine fish.
Are you refering to wackers in town or donameade?
cause personally donameade, the guy hasnt a clue for someone who's worked there for years

karlin · 18-01-2006 3:46pm

Whackers in Parnell St. I have found them to be fine, a little pricy on some things but not on others.

I think Petstop in Blanch is probably a lot better on marines than tropicals! The tropical tanks get really ugly, lots of dead fish. The last thing anyone should be doing is buying fish from a tank that has dead ones floating around, of course. :eek: Decent for plants though as turnover is high so there's lots of fresh stock.

One thing I find frustrating is that everyone only wants to sell big package aquariums and few sell tanks on their own and hoods alone etc. Only Baumann's in Dublin seems to sell ClearSeal tanks rather than just Juwel packages, for example. I rang them to get the price on a hood and they only special order the ClearSeal hoods. I used Aquatics Online in the UK, as recommended above by Silver Knight, http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/default.asp, and the same hood even with postage AND the currency exchange was a fourth less! Plus I had the choice of a less expensive model that suited me fine and for the price I would have paid just for the special order hood, I got a hood, light fixture, siphon, and some other bits and pieces. Shipped on MOnday and I just got the package an hour ago: three days from the UK!! Very well packed. Highly recommended. BTW they had the same extern filter I bought at Aquatic Village for over a third less.

whiteshadow · 06-02-2006 11:58am

supposed to be a good place in kilkenny also
killkenny aquatics.. never made it down but
they are cheap for eheim products...

Nala · 06-02-2006 7:27pm

The fish in Petstop in Blanch are always sickly, always loads of dead fish in the tank too. And the staff never have any idea what they're talking about.

Rippleman · 20-02-2006 8:53pm

u2gooner mentioned 'Aquarium Centre' in Ballybough which I have been using for about 20 years (YIKES!!!!). Joe use to have the front room of his house set up as a shop & later moved to Ballybough.
Being a true fish enthusiast, experienced and very knowledgeable he can be trusted 100% with advice. I have never got a sick fish from him (which I can't say of any other shop I have bought from). He buys fish from local breeders when they are available so you know they will be happy in Dublin tapwater.
Prices reasonable, sometimes cheap, (Bought a school of locally bred Cory adolfoi recently for €7.50 each) but being a very small shop stock is limited. Best time to call in is Sat morning (by evening very little stock left!).
Gets my thumbs-up for anyone that can travel to Ballybough.

emma6606 · 21-02-2006 3:00pm

Hi every1!
i go to the aquatic village in blessington! its great, their really nice & helpful there... thursday night from 6-8 they have 2 for the price of 3 offers on all fish!!
Is anyone else here a member of www.irishfishkeepers.com ??
Check it out!!
Emma

Rippleman · 23-02-2006 7:15pm

Hi emma6606,

I guess you mean aquatic village do a 3 for the price of 2 deal! Is that every Thursday? Quite a trip from where I live but worth the effort for a deal like that.

Thanks for the ITFS link.

Carl

karlin · 24-02-2006 1:11am

I was at Aquatic Village about 2 weeks ago, and they told me they will be opening a shop in Rathfarnham at the end of March.

Rippleman · 27-02-2006 10:54am

Called out to Aquatic Village over the weekend and was really impressed with the shop and variety of 'stuff' on offer. A little worried to see whitespot in some of the tanks though... no quarentine sign on them or anything. Most of the tanks seemed overstocked.

Needless to say I left having spent more money than I care to think about... did not buy any fish though!

cynos · 27-03-2006 11:43pm

Rippleman wrote:

u2gooner mentioned 'Aquarium Centre' in Ballybough which I have been using for about 20 years (YIKES!!!!). Joe use to have the front room of his house set up as a shop & later moved to Ballybough.
Being a true fish enthusiast, experienced and very knowledgeable he can be trusted 100% with advice. I have never got a sick fish from him (which I can't say of any other shop I have bought from). He buys fish from local breeders when they are available so you know they will be happy in Dublin tapwater.
Prices reasonable, sometimes cheap, (Bought a school of locally bred Cory adolfoi recently for €7.50 each) but being a very small shop stock is limited. Best time to call in is Sat morning (by evening very little stock left!).
Gets my thumbs-up for anyone that can travel to Ballybough.

I'll have to check the place out at the weekend

Rippleman · 28-03-2006 12:21am

Hi Cynos,

Saw your post looking for a tank builder... while your in Ballybough ask Joe about custom built tanks. I don't know if he does them but I did see a huge glass tank there one week which was obviously custom made. He does a good deal on Juwel aquariums including cabinet if they are of interest to you.

Carl

the Guru · 28-03-2006 12:41am

Aquatic Village , Brittas Road on the way to Blessington ask for drew (Northern Irish guy) www.aquatic-village.com

I would not buy my fish anywhere else.

Also wackers, I have never met a more ignorant bastard in all my life , stay clear there tanks are full of dead fish

Best Petshop to buy Tropical Fish in Dublin

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