How Far Is Your LFS?

[Shenandoah Aquatics]

How far is the closest decent LFS to you? I haven't found anything less than 2 hours from me and we live in a relatively populated area. 

[H.K.Luterman]

I heard there's a really good store down in Birmingham, AL, about 90 minutes from me. But I haven't been because I really don't want to drive to Birmingham, lol (I have a Smart Car and driving on the highway is scary, not to mention I really have no other reason to make such a long trip). 

[Guppysnail]

2 hours except a very tiny one with 5-6 tanks about 15 minutes from me

[bettatester]

About 5 minutes from my house, and it is amazing. Where are you located?

[lefty o]

maybe 7 miles if you drew a straight line. less than 15min to get there. another good one a half hour away.

[Daniel]

The local big box store is 20 minutes away.

But the good LFS is more than 1 hour away. I am not sure why, but no matter where I have lived, the good LFS is always at least 1 hour away. 🙂

[Schwack]

Big box store is ~5 minutes away. Nice for equipment and food, but I don't trust their livestock. They had a store wide ich outbreak a few months back, really put me off buying from them.

Closest lfs is about 20 minutes away, there's another 35 minutes in the opposite direction. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I'll drive the hour or so and go to "the big one" in Portland. They're definitely my preferred store, but Portland traffic is a real bummer these days.

[Griznatch]

45 minutes away, not counting petsmart or petco and they are probably 20? after that it's 8 hours. Boise is in middle of nowhere...

[Chiclid addict]

Hmm well for me it depends I have a pet store that has a good fish department but a true fish store is 1.5-2.5 hours from me 

[sairving]

I have 2 lfs that are under 15 mins away.  There is a third one that I've never gone to because its downtown.  I don't really want to spend 10 mins looking for parking and then pay for parking on top of that.   

[Rudles]

On 6/25/2021 at 6:10 AM, alpenglow007 said:

How far is the closest decent LFS to you? I haven't found anything less than 2 hours from me and we live in a relatively populated area. 

900 miles ..... think I have you all beat.

I rely on Amazon, Aquarium Co-op, Aqua Huna and the USPS.

 

[CMcDermott]

Saltwater only store about 5 minutes away, nearest big box pet store about 10 minutes away, 30-45 minutes driving to LFS that have freshwater fish but there are three at that distance.

[Gucci Gourami]

I have two chain stores pretty close by. But a mom and pop store is 30min + drive.

[Ben_RF]

1 hour 57 minutes for me for a decent LFS.  So most of the time I shop at the local Petsmart or order online. 

[Streetwise]

I have two LPS (local pet stores) about 45 minutes away, in two different directions, similar to the distance to box pet stores. Sometimes, I will do a big half-day loop and hit two LPS, and three boxes.

[Colu]

I have one 30 minutes away it's not very good and staff aren't very knowledgeable

[tonyjuliano]

I can throw a rock and hit the local big box store (sssshhh!  I have! JK…).

There are a number of other LFS in the area too, but the only one I frequent is an hours drive away.  It’s a small place, owner manned, and it’s just great.

[FrozenFins]

Theres one thats 5 minutes from my house! Its fairly small, but I like small fish stores better they always seem to have better staff. The only downside is that they are saltwater focused but they do have good selection of freshwater fish and plants, they quarintine their fish and everything! I always try to buy from them first! If they dont have the fish I am looking for I'll either hit up a big box store, or another lfs 20 minutes away (the lfs 20 minutes away isn't the best, which is why I almost perfer petsmart instead)

[firstname-lastname]

My LFS is about 5-10 minutes drive from home, but also a 30 minute round trip on the bus from work so I can go during lunch to grab things like ferts if I need. Super convenient

[BaRanchik]

The one closest to me is 3 minutes away, but they don't even take out dead or sick fish out of their aquariums so instead I drive to a one located 40 minutes drive away.

[Tanked]

I have 7 stores that sell fish within 20 minutes.  1 department store, 4 big box pet stores, 2 are LFSs.  The closest should/could be the perfect LFS but has so many things working against it that I don't consider shopping there.

[Patrick_G]

Technically Aquarium Coop is only 37 road miles from my house but with a ferry ride and Seattle traffic it’s close to two hours. Luckily the ADA store is on the way so I can visit both in one trip. 

[ErinV]

I have an amazing pet store just around the corner. They have a bit of everything but the owner is an avid fish person and is extremely knowledgeable. Goes out of the way to help with trouble shooting and fixing things like filters and lights. He has great fish stock, supplies and even a used section that he fully tests. He's plants are hit and miss for some reason but I have found a home based fish store about 15min from me and their plants are amazing in quality and price. They also have a nice fish stock. I do my best to spread the love to these to local Mom and Pop shops.

[Bettakeeper86]

Closest big box store is 15min. Closest LFS 30min w/out traffic, 1hr with traffic.

[Dirtydave]

1hr and 20 m8n.but pretty much don't go there unless I want to get$3.50 each store credit for my neos.There is of coarse a petsmart and petco but I buy most of my fish online.