Are there any physical pet stores that quarantine?

[oldpaddy]

I don't know of any around me.

 

[dana_rod]

Yes, there are some, although they are few. Here in Maryland there is Exotic Reef Creations. They quarantine and prophylactically treat their fish. There is another in Virginia that quarantines for two weeks but many do.

 

[emvanburen]

Yes, there are some, although they are few. Here in Maryland there is Exotic Reef Creations. They quarantine and prophylactically treat their fish. There is another in Virginia that quarantines for two weeks but many do.

Reef eScape in VA

 

[4FordFamily]

Two weeks won't do it. 99.9% of LFS cannot do it right. Their tanks share water and because of the sheer number of fish moving in and out its not feesible for them to do this. If they did it right, they'd have hundred or so individual tanks, after each fish left they'd have to sterilize it and do it all over again. Since they'd never be cycled they'd require hundreds of gallons of water changes per day. Your $50 fish would cost $150 with all of that overhead, if done properly. Completely cost prohibitive.

There is one person capable of doing this large scale because he has the experience and methodology -- and patience. @Humblefish but his store isn't up yet.

Until then, you shouldn't rely on ANY LFS to quarantine your fish. You'll always lose. It's cheaper and safer to do it yourself.

 

[don_chuwish]

I know one place that makes a good effort, but like 4FordFamily says, it's impossible to do it fully. In the back, in a separate system, they treat what they see and observe fish for a while before putting them out for sale. Only YOU can do it properly.

 

[Maacc]

There is one place down here in South Florida owned and run by a fish veterinarian, Healthy Aquatics, he runs a strict protocol and I have not received or heard from anyone else that has bought stock from there receiving a diseased fish.

 

[40B Knasty]

My LFS Unique Aquaria in Tweksbury MA. 3 weeks till the fish can be released and proof of your tank tests. I miss the store when it was at a location. Now it is at his Home and they do online orders now. I have been there recently and it is coming along great. I have bought 4 fish from him and plenty of my corals also. Grammica Lined dartfish, Spotted Mandarin, Randall's Prawn Goby, Red Saddle Back Anthies. The red saddle was bullied by the goby and is no longer around :(
All a year old now

 

[chris k.]

There is one place down here in South Florida owned and run by a fish veterinarian, Healthy Aquatics, he runs a strict protocol and I have not received or heard from anyone else that has bought stock from there receiving a diseased fish.

What part of south florida. Im in swfl.

 

[Maacc]

East coast, Boynton Beach.

 

[Fishfinder]

The Mad Reefer in satellite beach, Florida is setting something up right now. It's a small little shop. They set up 20 tanks all individual, the QT is not up and running yet though. I can go ask what his protocol will be