Fins 'N Critters

Edward O.

Joined 9 months ago

Bad Store. Avoid. Yesterday I stopped by this store. They split their store between reptiles and aquatics...

In the aquatics section, I pointed out a Puffer that was being harassed by a Convict Cichlid, to the aquatics manager. I still do not understand why they were even together.. He came over, pulled the 1” guy out, then walked him over and dumped him in a large tank with 8+ inch Cichlids! The little guy didn't last half a minute, I was shocked.

They had two types of Flounders. I asked about the larger species and he told me he didn't know a thing about them, other than they get big! That he had ordered them 'because they looked cool'.

Great, but where was the follow up research?!? He could not explain to me, the customer, the first thing about their care.

He then moved over to the smaller species stating, 'these are freshwater, for a community tank and won't get so big'. Now I don't know if I was just still in shock or what, but I bot his line; even though I'd kept Flounders years ago with little luck. I have since learned they are brackish fish, needing more salinity as they grow older..

Long-short; Flounder wasn't happy in my softwater tanks, go figure.. So I separated him that same evening (2Tbs Sea Salt / Gallon, 2/5 full brackish) and returned him to the store the next morning. He was actually looking perky!

The aquatics manager had and attitude and refunded my fish (base price only, not the tax – stole .47 cents from me..lol..) out of his own wallet (still don't get that).

He refused to listen to me about the brackish Flounder, literally giving me the cold shoulder as he dumped the poor guy back in one of this FRESHWATER aquariums.. Poor thing is going to die.

They do 'appear' a little more competent with reptiles – but even so, I will avoid this store in the future. They have no real 'concern for the animals'.

Recommends

Audrey414

Joined 2 years ago

It is better than its EVER been :). I have been coming to this store for years now and i havent been 100% satisfied with the service until now. The owner and the new staff have really made a new change in the store with their knowledge and their willingness to share their knowlege with me. I just purchased a baby bearded draqon and all the supplies to make sure that Syble (my beardy) lives a long and healthy life. The man I spoke to was polite and took the time to make sure he answered all my questions even though there were other customers in the shop (there were other staff members to help them). I was very pleased and grateful with everyone there and would recommend this shop to anyone and everyone!

Doesn't Recommend

Kael Tumakveh

Joined 2 years ago

Horrible conditions. I'd like to state first that this place improved under the previous management, despite what the ownership gave them to work with. Then said management was removed and replaced, and the business has been downhill ever since. The current staff has no idea what they're doing, have very little knowledge on anything that isn't cute and fuzzy, and worst of all do not honor their agreements. I am all for supporting local businesses, but I cannot in good conscience support a business that mistreats hard workers and does not even pretend to value the transactions it has made. I would give it no stars if I could.

Doesn't Recommend

lostcrow

Joined 5 years ago

Avoid. I've been to this shop a number of times since arriving in ABQ. A few times I have bought fish here; some lived and some died. The tanks are dirty, there are dead fish in some of the tanks that have clearly been there a while (at least days), and the fish are not kept in the proper conditions for their species. When I have pointed out to them that they have fish together that come from completely different water conditions (not brain surgery, like, African Cichlids pH 8, with Severums pH 6) they simply replied that "nobody in ABQ pH's their water...", which I highly doubt. Today I went in and there was a whole tank of dying puffers, with two floating on top that had decayed so badly they were unidentifiable, along with another three in various degrees of decay. The remaining alive puffers were layig listlessly on the bottom panting, probably because the water quality was atrocious and they were not in brackish water. This place should be avoided on sheer principle...let alone if you actually wanted your new fish to live. It amazes me when people are so lazy that, in addition to not caring about the well-being of the animals, they don't even care that their inventory is dying and they are losing money...