PlanetCatfish.com

I've re joined the hobby after a few years out and struggled to find good sources for fish / goods locally.

First good shop - Moved now hardly stocks any live stock. Very sad about this as they stocked some odd balls and always had packed tanks. (used to get the train for this one as next to station so went bus > train >shop >train >bus but always excited to do it and was do able in hour or 2 even with travel waits). Really regret not getting some of the pairs I saw as I didn't have space at time.
Local Pet store - Gone went today to discover that in last month has closed down. Really tried hard on the odd ball front ordering in royals, whip tails, shrimps, crayfish, snowball pleco - Regret not getting a set.
2 shops listed nearby on google are actually gone years ago. Good bit of time wasted looking for them.

Now I'm not an ideal customer I do mail order some of my goods as the cost is so much lower but if its a £1 or 2 on a packet of fish food or an item that's not much different to order online or is easier to return in event of issues I always try to use my local stores. I try never to leave a store without a useful product in hand and money into the till. Sometimes this is as low as £3-5 but never without trying to buy something.

Part of the what I've enjoyed is seeing the fish happy in tanks looking nice. The traveling to local stores for an hour or 2 out to see if they happen to have ordered in something special or found your request. Now it seems I'm going to be forced wider and further to shops or to mail order is this happening to everyone?

Is the local independent shop going due to chains or just way we do things now? We click buttons online and wait for it to arrive.

Is this pattern going on round the UK or around the world?
What's it like in your area?

In London shops seem to be hanging on but don't look in good shape.

ACytually the single biggest killer of FFSs has been the internet. First the lucrative hard good and supply part of the trade moved onto the net and now it is easier to find fish online than a good store locally. And when you do find a good store with knowledgeable staff and healthy fish, be prepared to pay top dollar for the fish.

All of us like to save a buck (or a pound etc.) where we can. But I have a saying about purchasing fish and health: "One live healthy fish has to be worth as much as three DOAS." The trick to buying fish, no matter from where or whom, is to know the reputation of the seller and the quality of the fish they sell.

It is all moving online now the only really two good pleco shops i know of here in the uk are Pier Aquatics in Lancashire or Sweet Knowle Aquatics in Warwickshire. There was 3 local pet shops in my area but now there is only 1 But being online is not all bad we have this wonderful site for info and any help needed. And there is also the wonderful Pleco sale and swap UK on facebook with some great deals to be had. There is nothing better then knowing your fish have come from a fellow hobbyist who has the same passion and dedication you do for your plecos/fish

Agreed. Finding a good LFS locally is getting harder quite a few locally have closed down the only one within walking distance I've now come to learn that some of the practises aren't acceptable. So I've had to find somewhere else to buy fish either now direct from a breeder or LFS one of I recently discovered which is a specialist catfish retailer I've found several others but it also means i usually have to arrange transport. In terms of equipment and dry goods i now buy most of mine online.

Dont suppose you mind sharing the face book group?

Here you go James https://www.facebook.com/groups/Plecosa ... p/?fref=ts

Thanks Brian am taking a step into the unknown and attempting to use facebook. Would use my wifes account but think she wouldnt be impressed. Viewing is one thing but joining groups I think is a bit unfair.

Many on here I know are non face book and I hope this doesnt cause offence.

Thanks for the other online retailer listed they have the dwarf pencil fish I have been looking for to add a splash of colour if I can't find something suitable in my next localish shop raid may have to place a christmas order.

A retailer called Orwell aquatics in uk you'll find them online they sell pleco breeding caves (and plecos!) I've been buying caves from are involved in a Facebook pleco group not sure if it's the same one mentioned above. If it helps.

Went out tonight to jolly pet food store they have 2 racks of fish, seen good fighters and a few catfish before. Racks closed till new delivery arrives next week. Not having much luck lately. Joined the pleco group on face book don't understand face book so will watch from wings a bit. 1 registered breeder near me.

Is the Internet going to send fish keeping out of fashion ? Or just price keepers out of it. Lower dry good prices is fine for the wallet but shipping costs are huge on a few tetra's