Something Fishy Pets — Local services in Fox Lake

WARNING: NEW OWNERS I had to update my previous review of Something Fishy. Unfortunately the owner who has run this local pet shop for my entire life is moving on to bigger and better things, leaving the business to seemingly inexperienced, financially driven new owners.

Immediately upon entering the store today, the atmosphere seemed very different from the warm, homey, animal-centric atmosphere prior to the new ownership. The animals are in bare minimum or sub-standard living conditions, commonly being subjected to unfair treatment in the name of driving business. It was not apparent that the new ownership have more than basic knowledge about caring for different kinds of animals. Ron and the previous staff were very attentive to the animal’s wellbeing, and were eager to share their knowledge with their customers. The new ownership is blatantly unprepared to care for these animals and tend to the needs of their species. While in store, a small child asked to touch a bird, of which is a no-go for small children due to bites and bird’s erogenous zones being in common petting locations. The owner was quick to try and find a bird for this child to pet.

There was also a man there in store with his personal cockatoos, who was obviously touching his birds in erogenous zones, likely sexually frustrating them and forming a human-bird relationship with them. It was deeply unsettling and disgusting as a bird owner.

As happy as I am for Ron in his next adventures, I am deeply saddened by the current state and impending trajectory of Something Fishy. The reptiles were moved to retail shelving with limited necessary environmental conditions, the mice and rats have been reported to be in filthy, unhealthy conditions, a conure was roaming free in the back among children’s toys with no supervision, and the blatant allowance of sexually frustrating birds, not to mention bringing in personal pet birds poses a high risk of transferring avian illnesses all points to the inexperienced and financially driven new ownership’s inability to prioritize the animals over business profit margins.

I have been visiting this store ever since I was a child, and have gotten several of my pets from here in my lifetime, however sadly I will not be returning. It was a depressing turn of events and a loss of an amazing business Ron and Wendy had cultivated. Best wishes to Ron, Wendy, and her son who were the best to visit while in store. Thank you for all the amazing childhood and adult memories and wonderful loving pets over...

As I am reading some negative reviews for this store, I am shocked. I have been a customer of Ron's for about 10 years now. I bought my very first tanks from him when I did not know anything about fish. I have found the only time I have had anything die, is when I did not listen to his advice. I will be honest to say, sometimes I think the things he says seem wrong but I can say with assurance.....I have never had him be wrong and off base. As with anything there are differing opinions for these hobbies but never has Ron or Amanda been so glaringly wrong that it made me ever question his knowledge. In fact, their knowledge appears to surpass anyone elses I can find.

I have never seen any animals abused or neglected like some people are saying. This store/building is OLD and its not Petsmart with a bazillion dallars to waste on upgrades. I have seen this store improve over the last year and I have seen a dramatic improvement in the employees knowledge. I test Petsmart and Best pets all the time because they are much closer and on my way home. But, their knowledge is not even half what Something Fishy has to offer and all they care about is sales. I had one of those stores try to sell me a FRESH water fish for my SALTWATER tank! This coming from someone that has a family memeber that works for Petsmart!!! I came in to Petsmart to compare prices on BIRD toys from them to Something fishy and they tried to sell me a dog?! REALLY? (And something fishy was $2 cheaper!!)

Something fishy is a great place to shop for my zoo. I am a dedicated customer and have been for many years and it sickens me to see ignorant people slandering people trying to run a business. If you don't like their business model ok, move on but to slander, and outright insult people is immature.

When my animals get sick, Ron guides me. When I have questions, Ron and Amanda are always willing to answer them or guide me TO the answer. Their prices are MORE than competative.

I will continue to be a customer because this is...

I am very upset. I started a saltwater tank and have been getting most of my saltwater fish from this store just because it is convenient. I will give to the staff that they do take time to explain pros and cons of any ideas you might ask and give suggestions as well from whatever idea you have. That being said., my second to the last purchase was major mistake. I first purchased a yellow kole tang, fish settle very nice, with the normal hiding and eating at night., and then visited their store the following day and saw a powder brown tang. Knowing that I am new to the hobby, didn't realize that the fish is skinny. only after reading malnourished fish online I realized he was a skinny fish to begin with. To add that the kole tang keeps on chasing him at night for the past two days. Guess what happened? the Powder brown broke down with ich the 2nd-3rd day...Was not eating and of course infected my tank. Spoke with the staff at the store and I was told that "ich might already be in my tank" ummm Maybe true... (which I doubt cause none of my fish showed sign of scratching or white spots) cause my LS and 80% of my LR and 95% of my fish is from them except for my Dragonet which has a slime that is difficult for ich to contaminate.... Never the less. I should not have been left hanging. I lost the powder brown and now treating my tank. Never again for me coming to this store. And to think I mentioned on the 2-3rd day that both tangs are stressing things out, in the tank...... It boils down to my feeling since I sincerely know that their problem got dumped on me. $75 for the powder brown which is highway robbery and all the fish I bought was high priced in comparison to other LFS and online(now that I am reviewing all my purchase). It is alright then I really don't mind because of convenience... what I care about is leaving me hanging with regards to the problem cause by poor care from LFS. #Shop at your own risk....