The Fish Place — Local services in City of North Tonawanda

I came into the store today as my wife has been wanting to start a salt water fish tank for a long time. Today she finally said let's do it! We went to the location to scope out potential product we would need and potential fish we would like to purchase. I ask an employee with green hair questions about starting a tank. She was extremely helpful boasting that she had several salt water tanks and gave me the run down on what we would need to start. We left after that to contemplate how we would get all water and supplies home. So we worked out a way to transport water and all supplies we had planned to buy and headed to the store. I approached a young woman in a pink tank top, tall with glasses. Right off the bat after explaining what we would like to do and asking where to start she immediately had attitude and talked to me as if I was a toddler. I was patient and letting her lead with how to start the tank we wanted to start. I was questioned why I had buckets to which I replied to bring the water to my vehicle to fill my receptical we brought. That wasn't enough for her as she proceeded to question me more. I didn't mind much as it doesn't matter how I get the job done, it will get done. Then she says she will not sell myself a fish until our tank is ready I said okay let me inform my wife as she may want to hold off on the whole process until we are more prepared. I left the store to inform her, she agreed we could start the tank then return later. I entered the store again ready to purchase the water and salt. I was informed by the previous employee with green hair that I could use a filter to circulate the tank and dissolve the salt. Maybe that was incorrect of her to say, but from my understanding this was okay. As I returned in the tall employed wrote out a list of things she said I would need. On that list was a pump of sorts to circulate the tank, I asked do I really need that? As I was told earlier it wouldn't need it. She the looked at me and in a condescending voice with audible attitude stating " yeah what are you going to do stand there and stir it all night". I was upset by her tone and voice and attitude, so I said I'll take my business else where thank you any how, and left with haste. Very disappointed I remember coming here as a child and people were respectful to those who don't have the knowledge. When did we lose the ability to ask questions? Any how don't think I'll be returning anytime soon. Sorry bert and Ernie, good luck to you I have she isn't handling your...

I've been going to this place since I was little and am now 36 years old! I grew up local and moved over 40 miles away...All the way in Cattaraugus County and I will not go anywhere else! I think that in itself says a lot. They have a huge selection of freshwater and saltwater fish...categorized in four rooms-first room you walk into are your community freshwater fish. The second room is your aggressive and/or large freshwater fish. The third room is your saltwater fish. The fourth room is for your outside ponds. Just to name a few fish, they have a large variety of cichlids, hard to find plecos, brackish water fish, discus, freshwater stingrays, live corals, seahorses, sea urchins. They also have a huge selection of live plants and invertebrates. The staff there are extremely knowledgeable in the field. Every single tank has its own filtration system which means that if a fish is sick only that tank is sick (unlike most pet stores who only have one filtration system that all the tanks share... so if you see one sick fish then they're all sick). They even go as far as marking their sick tanks with an X on the glass. They also breed most if not all of their fish! They even supply other stores in the area with fish! On the other side of the store is all the supplies you'll ever need for a tank including but not limited to gravel, substrate, food, filtration systems, air pumps, Co2, medicines, natural rocks coral and driftwood...pretty much everything down to a brass barbed T-fitting... things that are hard to find anywhere else. They have the biggest supply of tanks I've ever seen in one store along with stands, hoods and lighting. It's absolutely the best fish store in all of WNY! And...

I'm not just an aquarium nerd, but a planted aquarium nerd. People like us go through life being tortured by crappy aquarium shops and pet store chains, wandering the vast expanse of the retail world, in search of those golden oases with good plants that don't come with blue green algae and snail hitchhikers. Fish Place is one such oasis. They have the best aquarium plant selection in Western New York. And I know it may seem odd considering the name, but they have fish too. Good ones, lots of them. And I don't mean lots of a few good fish, I mean lots of a lot of good fish. In fact, I'll say this is also the best selection of aquarium fish in Western New York. The only place that ever came close was Markheim on Sheridan Drive, but they sold out to Tim Hortons and closed. And on top of the excellent fish and plant selection, they have a great selection of tanks, supplies, and gadgetry, and outstanding customer service. The owner is almost always there, and it's obvious that having a good business is important to him. The people that he hires aren't a bunch of knuckleheads; they know what they're talking about. These people all love the hobby and the business, and keep their own tanks, and it shows. It's a joy to go there and browse anytime I do so, even if that's all I do and don't buy anything. In a way, it's kind of like going to an art gallery to blow off steam after a crappy day at work. To the owner, I don't believe I've ever learned your name, but thanks man, if you ever closed, it would really suck. You have a great business there. A great business that has been around for a long, long time. Keep up the good work. There are people like me out here that really...