Shops With Exceptionally Caring Attitude for Packing Critters

[GaspingGurami]

The reason I posted this is not to advertise for the shop/s mentioned and I certainly have no commercial interest in the establishments other than I am a satisfied customer.

This thread I've split from "Packing of fishes" where I observed that some LFS were packing fauna we bought with water that is dissimilar to the water the fauna were kept in. This resulted in distressing the poor things and hastening its expiry.

Here are some tenets to qualify my listings:
1) I do not have any financial interest in the listed shops
2) I have personal experience in the mentioned shop, not something a friend recommended. or heard from others
3) I will state a real example of the Exceptional Caring Attitude (ECA)
4) Mentioning is to honor the LFS for going through extra effort in caring for its "Sold" critters.
5) Also, to thank and encourage these shops for the special service they rendered, which we as customers often neglect to mention to the LFS, as we're too excited to take the fishies home to remember our common courteousy.

Here's my commended LFS with ECA in alphabetical order:
Biotope
Gentle handling of critters when catching them from the tank
Packs using the same water as the tank which the critters come from
Supplies a tuft of moss for his shrimps to hang on to
Uses rounded corner bags, previously, he tapes up the corners
Give a good dose of O2 by squeezing off all the air before inflating the bag.

Ecoculture
Skilful catching of critters from the tank
Packs using the same water as the tank critters come from
Supplies a leaf for shrimps to hang on to
Uses rounded corner bags
Packs fish into individual bags, even if it is only one small fish and one snail from different tanks, I get 2 bags inflated with O2.

Nature Aquarium
Packs using the same water as the tank critters come from
Supplies a piece of filter wool for shrimps to hang on to
Bags are always inflated and tight with O2,
Always provides a page from a chinese magazine for the fishies reading enjoyment??

[kemp]

Definitely will vote for NA! Excellent care for all the critters for people who buy from them.
Providing a magazine in the bag, it's definitely ideal for the critters. I even bought a puffer from them for just $1. Service is still as excellent

Nature Aquarium
Packs using the same water as the tank critters come from
Supplies a piece of filter wool for shrimps to hang on to
Bags are always inflated and tight with O2,
Always provides a page from a chinese magazine for the fishies reading enjoyment??

[juggler]

NA gets my vote too. The newpaper or magazine, I am sure you all know, is to hide the outside environment so as to calm the fish during transport and movement.

[kemp]

ya. Be it if you are buying from Mr Chan or any of his helpers, they'll always provide the same good service and cares for our critters.

NA gets my vote too. The newpaper or magazine, I am sure you all know, is to hide the outside environment so as to calm the fish during transport and movement.

[gregorsamsa]

ya. Be it if you are buying from Mr Chan or any of his helpers, they'll always provide the same good service and cares for our critters.

ehhh....

Mr Chan has no helpers... all of them are his direct family members...

but i agree with the using of the magazine pages.


what about LFS that mixes species of fish in the same tank? would you consider that in to your consideration?

[kemp]

ya i also guess so but don't want to confirm anything without any proof.
for what i recall, NA will always pack different species differently

ehhh....

Mr Chan has no helpers... all of them are his direct family members...

but i agree with the using of the magazine pages.


what about LFS that mixes species of fish in the same tank? would you consider that in to your consideration?

[semota]

ya i also guess so but don't want to confirm anything without any proof.
for what i recall, NA will always pack different species differently

Hahha, confirm lah...I heard them calling papa, mama, oih (wife) haa...at each other....they are good people...the old auntie always chit chat with me and mr chan teaches me quite a bit...nice people!

[Jungle-mania]

In this case, I like to add that the LFS in Loyang Point does the same thing for the shrimps, He packs the shrimps with moss.

[Wzierbovsky]

My contribution: I find Aquatic Concepts at Thomson pretty careful in the packing too. My wife and I just picked up 3 Peppered corys after dinner. Water was drawn directly from the tank, and during the packaging of oxygen into the bag and tying up the bag with the rubber band, the shop owner was pretty gentle. The bags themselves were double-tied with two rubber bands.

I noticed he also adjusted the volume of water in the bag to ensure enough space for tank water to be added for acclimatisation

Here're some pictures of the packing:



There are advertisments on the plastic bag heh.



Rounded tip bags are used.



Bags even come with instructions on how the fishes should be introduced.

Not an advertisment for Aquatic Concepts BTW - but an excuse to take more pictures of my new additions for journal purposes. The fishes sold at the shop are slightly more expensive than elsewhere (they were going for $1.50 per piece), but we like the shop.

[|squee|]

I like that shop too Wzierbovsky! I bought my ember tetras there. His vivarium setup is really attractive. The bag's the best I've seen imho.

[celticfish]

i certainly wouldn't mind paying a little premium buying from such establishments!!

[Jungle-mania]

I agree with you. His plants are actually alittle on the pricy side, but the quality is unmatched, even against farms. Unfortunately, I find they are abit disheartened at times, because most of the people who go into the shop just look around and don't actually buy.

I once bought 2 plants from them and the guy seemed annoyed with my asking about whether the plants I am buying were CO2 hungry, he said all plants need CO2. Anyway, despite my annoyance by his answer, i bought the plants and he was very careful with it too.

I like his shop alot, but I sometimes think he should have moved into the shophouses along the road, probably cheaper on the rent and more hardcore customers will come around.

[valice]

My contribution: I find Aquatic Concepts at Thomson pretty careful in the packing too.

Where in Thomson is this shop? Will pop by when I am in the area...
How's the selection of plants available in the shop?

[Wzierbovsky]

The shop is on the second level with its back towards the front of the shopping centre. Basically, go into Thomson Plaza at the middle entrance, turn around and look upwards at the second floor.

IMO - the selection of plants are average range wise. They are pretty well-tended to though, and their display attractive.

[kemp]

geezz, i've frequented Thomson Plaza a few times and i didn't even realise that there was a LFS there
Maybe i should pop there when i go Thomson again.

The shop is on the second level with its back towards the front of the shopping centre. Basically, go into Thomson Plaza at the middle entrance, turn around and look upwards at the second floor.

IMO - the selection of plants are average range wise. They are pretty well-tended to though, and their display attractive.

[Jungle-mania]

His plant display tank is very nice, uses CO2 to feed his plants and has a puffer to hunt for snails and he takes the plant out by the roots, not by the leave. Very professional.