Any fish enthusiasts?

[pboersma]

Hey, I just moved to GR and still learning my way around. I'm setting up a nice freshwater fish tank now that I'm here and was trying to find some good places to shop around and was wondering if anyone could recommend some good shops? I found VIPets and they seem to have a good selection of fish, I'm really looking for some good decoration too and need some large pieces of driftwood. Anyone know of a place to look? If it were back home, I'd just go out to the woods and find some myself, but being unfamiliar with the area I wouldn't even know where to begin. Any help, or maybe some other forums that be a good place to check would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[snoogit]

If you're looking to go all natural, the best spot to look mght be the river, up north by Comstock park near 5th/3rd Ball Park (Head north on US 131, and get off at the West River Drive Exit) the Kent County Trail is in the area, and if I remember it runs parallel to the grand river up there, so that might be a good place to start. (Although don't ask me how legal this might be)

Depending on where you live, there is probably a wooded area somewhere near the area.

[Budgie Frisket]

My boys are fish enthusiasts.

[6th Gen local]

I've seen some nice displays of Fish stuff at the Chow Hound stores around town.

/This is not a paid advertisement

[torgo]

VIP pets is pretty good for fish, and the larger chains (i.e. petsmart) have a decent selection too. There is also a place in K-zoo, whose name escapes me, that is supposed to have an excellent selection of fish stuff. Lansing has a great place too, but that's a little far.

What kind of tank is it gonna be? tropical freshwater? Or are you thinking of stocking north american fish?

[Veloise]

Back when my family had an aquarium, we'd check out Fred's Tropical Fish of the Week. Available Weds in most stores.

HTH

[pboersma]

Thanks for the info so far guys. I know of a place in Kalamazoo, MVPets which is excellent, just too far of a drive to check out weekly. Deep Sea Aquarium in Kzoo is also decent. I'm setting up a tropical freshwater tank, I'm going to get several discus but so far only have a couple german blue rams and several cardinal tetras. I live right downtown, so I'm not really close to any wooded areas that I know, but I'll check out Comstock park and Chow Hound stores, thanks!

[Rizzo]

I'd be careful of ever introducing any native species plant or aquatic life into your tropical tank. I believe some local plant life excrete oils that can harm or kill your species.

[pboersma]

Yeah, I'm not going to put any live local plants in my tank... I just wanted a large piece of driftwood. I know how to clean it of most living organisms that might be on it still.

[Rizzo]

Large piece of driftwood? Go down to the fish ladder downtown and check out the dam. You can get some waders and find a lot of cool stuff down there along the bend and just below the dam. I believe there is VW Beetle size driftwood down there right now -- chop some good sizes off of it .