mscichlid
Founder
Best is relative and personal. Here is what is left that Maryland has to offer: (not necessarily in any particular order) I may have forgotten one or two...
Tropical Fish World in Gaithersburg
House of Tropicals in Glen Burnie
Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring
Aquarium Depot in Baltimore County
Rick's in Frederick
Showcase in Silver Spring
Exotic Aquatics in Towson
Tropical Fish World in Gaithersburg
House of Tropicals in Glen Burnie
Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring
Aquarium Depot in Baltimore County
Rick's in Frederick
Showcase in Silver Spring
Exotic Aquatics in Towson
lonlangione
Members
I have always found that each of these shops has their own niche in all areas. I hope you all realize that what you have in ALL of your shops is the fact that the ones listed by Francine are all family owned. We don't have that in our area anymore. Hobbyists in Pennsylvania consider it a real treat to come to your area to visit these shops. Treasure them all.
Written by a former shop owner.
Lonny
Written by a former shop owner.
Lonny
danger_chicken
Swim Fishy Swim!
^ That's how I feel about TFP
SubMariner
Master Jedi & Past VP
Pristine Aquariums in VA
Congressional Aquarium in Rockville
Aquarium One in Rockville too
Congressional Aquarium in Rockville
Aquarium One in Rockville too
DonkeyFish
Members
To help round out the shops on this side of the Potomac (again in no particular order):
Pristine Aquariums is in Alexandria (to be more precise
)
SuperPetz in Annandale
Wally's Aquariums in Alexandria (if they haven't shut down already)
Centreville Aquarium (in, uh, Centreville)
Pristine Aquariums is in Alexandria (to be more precise
)SuperPetz in Annandale
Wally's Aquariums in Alexandria (if they haven't shut down already)
Centreville Aquarium (in, uh, Centreville)
Tony
Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Man, you guys are good. Read through all the posts and checked off pretty much all of them in my head.
Only other one I can think of that isn't Petco/smart around here is Marine Scene out the Dulles Tollroad, but it's all reef stuff.
Other than Pristine, I have been to every store in Maryland that Francine and Richard mentioned (thanks to Richard and Mike on a few). They are worth checking out for different reasons.
Lonny, you're right, we really are very lucky to have so many great stores in the DC area. Seriously, if anyone hasn't been those stores, they're missing out.
Only other one I can think of that isn't Petco/smart around here is Marine Scene out the Dulles Tollroad, but it's all reef stuff.
Other than Pristine, I have been to every store in Maryland that Francine and Richard mentioned (thanks to Richard and Mike on a few). They are worth checking out for different reasons.
Lonny, you're right, we really are very lucky to have so many great stores in the DC area. Seriously, if anyone hasn't been those stores, they're missing out.
i haven't to any store in DC area besides the the Scales(closed).....anyone of them worth the drive?
p/s Tony
I also know a guy that sells frags in Baltimore area..he has a lot frags with good pricing too. Let me know if you are interested
I personally like having TFP as my local store. The money I save on supplies with them allows me to spend more at society functions like auctions, which is where I get most of my fish anyway. When I had my store back in the early 90s, I sometimes bought stuff from TFP to sell in my store because the wholesale prices were higher than their retail. I still go to mom & pop shops in the Philly area occasionally, and when back in the 'burgh Eric will sometimes go hopping with me to show me the good places. But without TFP to get my food and supplies, I probably don't go to these other places at all.
That is not to mention that TFP supports the hobby very well-I've seen their gift certificates very far away from their doors in club auctions and raffles. I do wish they would have stayed on with the Kingfish though.
Joel
Jumbie
Members
I got to almost all the fish stores that were just listed above to help support, each store has something that the other doesn't.
longstocking
Members
I honestly only go to one...
House of Tropicals. I get odds and ends there.... but mostly black worms. I like talking to Charles (Chuckie)....
House of Tropicals. I get odds and ends there.... but mostly black worms. I like talking to Charles (Chuckie)....
YSS
Members
Love House of Tropical, but haven't been there in over a year now. :-(
dogofwar
CCA Members
Siena and I are going to drop by hot on the way home from the Natl aquarium in bmore, where we are now
