Looking for any and all info I can find on any stores in these area that carry marine fish/corals etc. and your opinions of them too if you don't mind posting them.
Uh .... are you thinking about buying corals in NY and then carrying them back to Canada with you? If so, you might want to check into the penalties for doing so without the proper CITES documentation.... not to be a downer but last I heard it was several thousand dollars in fines and up to 15 years!
Just know what it is that you're thinking of doing .... live rock, live sand, and pretty much all corals are listed on CITES Appendix I or II. Some fish and anemones might not be, so those might be OK to cross a border without permits, but you better research the exact species first, don't take my word for it.
Most reefers on both sides of the border are well aware of the regs, and the penalties. They tend to operate under a "don't ask, don't tell" policy with customs officials.
No, I didn't know of those two places. I just moved to the area from toronto a few months ago. I know of a few in toronto, but am hoping to find other ones within an hour or so's drive from here.
As far as crossing the border I did so about a year and a half ago. I set up my first saltwater tank in florida. When i moved to Toronto I called customs and they said as long as the corals/fish were not considered endangered then there was no problem. I asked again at the crossing and they said no problem. I moved the tank and all things inside in 2 coolers with a battery operated air pump on them. They didn't even ask to look when i came through.
I will check on the status before doing so though.
Thanks
Any other stores even into buffalo.
Thanks
Scott
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Can't help you on local fish stores but try to find them because corals and fish are 50% cheaper at most places in Canada.
Phone the Canadian Wildlife Federation for recent info on import of fish and coral. Most fish and coral available in the US are also OK in Canada.
Most soft coral are OK but many stony coral are not.
If they ask you simply say fish not live fish. They may send you to an agricultural inspector who will peer in the bag and admire them.
Make sure you have a detailed list (not a cash register receipt) saying what the fish is, how much and if it is captive raised.
I have never priced fish etc in New York, but I know in Florida the corals/fish were about 50% of what they are here. a nice hammer for 35 am here they are like 65-85 can
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come on guys and gals.. there have to be more sotres around than that.
Locally in Saint Catharines there is Henly pets.
There must be others
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A visiting friend from Toronto couldn't believe the difference in price between here and Ontario. I took him to one of the most expensive stores in the area, and he still said it was roughly 30-40% below what he normally saw in Toronto.
You might also check out Pets Plus in Lockport. There is also one in Niagara Falls (US side, called Niagara Falls Aquarium I believe), but I don't have any contact info, and haven't been there myself. If you venture further east to Rochester, you may also wish to check out Caribbean Forest in Irondequoit, NY (716) 342-5510 and Marine Oasis in Spencerport, NY (716) 352-8718.
And if you should be lucky enough to make it to any Sabres games, trades can be worked out at the HSBC Arena if I am in attendance.
RHF- Caribbean is a SW only LFS. Selection isn't bad, but on the pricey side imho. Stuff ranges from garden variety chromis on up to some nice FO-type triggers and lions. They tend to get in some oddball LPS on occasion, and carry softies and some SPS too. I only go out there a few times a year, even tho it's only 30 minutes away, as Marine Oasis is less than 5 miles from my apartment. Some locals have a beef with Caribbean's trade-in policy, but that's another story altogether...
Reef Gallery in Oakville. Ornamental Aquatics in Dundas. Strictly Fish in Georgetown. Of course if you don't mind spending more money for the same stuff you could try Big Als in Hamilton or Mississauga.
Just like to add a couple more ontario stores.
Oceans Alive in Mississauga
Aquarium Depot in Brampton
Dragon Aquarium in Mississauga
The Aquarium Place in Burlington (Getting a little better)
Thanks all. I never managed to find anything much west of the allen road.
I know of
VIPET on Saint Claire west of dufferin
The Pet Menagerie on Parliment south of bloor
Reefquarium on Markham north of steels
Of course the big al's, and PJ's
Concord pet on Hwy 7 east of keele
and thats about it
Oh and Henley pet here in Saint Catharines
RHF- I know what Mac has gone through in the past, because I have been there with him to trade stuff in. I'll let him reply for himself, but I'll speak to my own experience too. I brought in a 2 gallon bag packed with Caulerpa, and was told that they really had no use for it, and only really fed it to their fish in the store. I was grudgingly offered $2 for it. I would have tossed it anyway, so I took it. The Caulerpa was then dumped into their livesand tank. Other customers the next day informed me that a label was placed on the tank- Caulerpa $5/bunch.