Salutations fellow fishkeepers!

[Dane]

Hi all!


I'm a conservation biology masters student at UCT, and just finished my honours in zoology. I'm fairly new to fishkeeping. I've had a 62x32x32 freshwater (lightly) planted tank running for about a year now, nice and stable and has brought me lots of joy. Its got 5 harlequins, 5 Neons and a raphael catfish. I've Just expanded with a second smaller tank (46x22x21) that I got virtually for free, and I can tell I'm hooked on fishkeeping! :-) I've always done a manic amount of research before I've bought anything and its really saved me from any real drama.

I've been buying all my stuff from Sam's aquarium, and also wanted to know if there are any other large or recommended fish stores in Cape Town that I can add to my repetoir of weekly visits ;-)

Thanks much in advance, looking forward to chatting on the forums,
Dane

(ps: I'm also on fishlore if anyone else is a member there too)

[Zoom]

Hi Dane,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm actually from Jhb, but from past threads and conversations, it sounds as if a lot of the CT people AVOID Sams like the plague, and get a lot of fish from a place called Panarama. (I wouldn't have a CLUE where it is tho!)

[Dane]

Thanks very much zoom! :-) I'll give panarama a squiz!

[guido.coza]

Thanks very much zoom! :-) I'll give panarama a squiz!
Hi Dane and welcome to TASA
Sams is not THAAAAAT bad :bigsmile:you just have to know what you want and don't listen to any of the Sam clan. But panorama is a good place to stop from time to time aspecially that you seem to like reptiels as well.

[Dane]

Hi Guido & thanks!
Yes I agree.. They do get some great stock in that you would never find at a LFS, and their hardware prices are often very reasonable. But definately take their stocking advice with several pinches of salt..

[slayer]

Hi and welcome.

[Gaawie]

Hi Dane, I'm a fellow young Capetonian fishkeeper, and have only really bought from Sams and Panorama (which is called Panorama Pets, by the way). Another place that has been talked about is Pet Adventure in Kenilworth, although I've never been there myself.

The hardware prices at Panorama I found are cheaper for most things. It swings either way for pricing of fish, I THINK I've found that Panorama is a bit cheaper, maybe that's just my prejudice though. They do also have some unusual fish there, anything that I've wanted from Sams I've seen at Panorama. (Good example, from what I remember: Polypterus Senegelasius at sams=R125, Panorama=R55) You can do a bit of research if you are really fussed.

Tanks at Sams are cheaper as they make them themselves, but if you are going to go huge, it might be better to buy from Panorama, as those are made by a tankbuilding place, and seem to be much better.. The stands from Panorama are about 20cm lower, but +- R50 cheaper.

Panorama do have to have LARGER individual fish of the same species that you would find at Sams, although they do stock the little uns as well.

Apparently Sams uses a lot of antibiotics in the tanks, and a lot of the guys on the forum refuse to go near there. I have had a few fish die from there, but that is going to happen from any place, especially if you don't select the individual fish, something which I very stupidly didn't do on most of the times that a fish has died. Still, it is very irritating and frustrating....

You should weigh it up. If you are in the Southern Suburbs, it may be better for you to go to Sams for most things, as the petrol could be the cost difference. However, it is well worth going to Panorama Pets to see what they've got. I've seen stuff there that Sams hasn't had...

Hope this helps, cheers.

[corylyle1]

Welcome to Tasa!!

From my experience all the fish I have bought from Pet Adventure have got sick and died within a few weeks.

I go to Sams very often. Their hardware prices and qualty is good and most of their livestock is good too. The only thing I don't get from there anymore is plants as they usually don't last long.

[Dane]

Hi Slayer, Gaawie, corylyle1

Thanks much for the info - this is exactly what I was looking for :-) I'll definitely make a plan to check out panorama pets soon. Unforunately I am in Hout bay or Kirstenhof most of the time - so Sams is definitely the most convenient tho!

Nice meeting everyone ;-)

[Henk Hugo]

Greeeeeeeeeeetings,

Sams, Pet Adventure, Northern and one of the shops in Strand all belongs to sam and his family.

Best is to go to Panorama Pet shop

[Gareth]

Hi and welcome to the forum and because no one has asked for pics of your tanks I will....lol we love pics so please post some of your tanks

[Dane]

Hahaha, I'll get some pics up soon as I have some time :-) Nothing too impressive to look at but sure thing.