For People In Killeen!!!!

[Babydoc]

If you want to get good saltwater fish but dont want to go to austin there is always underwater monsters. they are located directly across from killeen hight school. their phone number is 254-554-2726 the guys name is ryan. hes awesome.

heres the link its still under construction but still.

http://www.scct.us/UnderwaterMonsters.htm

[subsailor]

Edited since I guess I was little to hasty after one experience.

[captexas]

Yeah awesomely expensive. Sorry Doc but he gouges his prices because he knows he is the only local LFS. He is not a sponsor here and I am not trying to flame him but I would hate to pay 9.99 for a peppermint shrimp and 14.99 for an emerald crab. I would rather put money in my car and go to one of our sponsors where I know I get a good deal. Sometimes I have to go there to get stuff being the only LFS, but i don't enjoy it... No offense Doc, just my .02

Never been to this store, but . . . .
I don't know if I would call 9.99 "gouging" customers. I saw pepperment shrimp (small) for 8.99 here in SA on Sunday so it's not much of a price difference. Shrimp aren't cheap, no matter what kind, and they have actually gone up in price the last few years. If it's a smaller store, then he's not getting the better pricing that the bigger outfits would get. And remember store prices have shipping figured into them, online prices don't. I have a feeling you would spend less buying it at that store than paying for gas to and from Austin.

Of course if his prices are too high, they will have fewer customers and in the end they will either have to lower prices or close their doors. And closing their doors just means you have one less option when it comes to finding things you need. In a small town, a slightly higher priced store is better than no store at all. Just my two cents

[Fish4life]

buy local. support the local reef store. All SW stores have had to increase prices resulting from increased shipping costs (gasoline).

[drgnbttrfly]

When our Petco opens we can get some of our staple items cheap and it wont be an issue...it is always frustrating to walk into a store and find something dollars less than you just spent.

I bought sand and found that a large retailer *FINALLY* started carrying it locally and could offer it for eleven dollars less a bag. And yeah...I couldn't help but think...that is seventy bucks I wish I had back...but you know what...thats commerce.

I just try to research if I can. I never wanted to drive to Austin...but I am finding that for some things it is worth it. For items some stores don't carry for risk size or whatever...online is cheaper. And hey there is always trading and really being generous with one another.

Sub has a right to his opinion. Hopefully it may change...maybe it won't.

Underwater Monsters has a ton of customers. I am one of them. I just bought a beautiful blue hippo tang the size of my hand...only 60 bucks. She is very saucy.

Personally I have a store here in Killeen I sort of feel the same way about ...stinky...overpriced...unhealthy fish...nobody gets mad at me when I say anything...they laugh. So lay off...its just an opinion.

[jessinator752]

underwater monsters isn't the only local fish store in killeen. there is aqua pets and birds off of hallmark.

there is also one in cove called fins and flowers. she doesn't have much in saltwater, but she does have some nice community fish and anenomes.

and like drgnbttrfly said there is a petco going in at harker heights.

there is also the fish bowl and petco in temple, so there are a few nice stores close by.

[captexas]

I'm glad I live in a city that has plenty of LFS and I don't have to do my shopping at Petco. I'm not a PETA member or anything like that, but I avoid giving any business to them and would never consider them a "nice" store.

[drgnbttrfly]

The manager at that particular petco tries to do well by her fish...I suspect she may be a hobbiest. She keeps anemones until she is sure they are healthy enough to be sold etc. The one employee I consistantly deal with is very nice and tries hard to learn all she can about her job and everything they need etc. She is anxious to learn more and even was interested in having salt water fish herself. I was impressed there is not usually that kind of eagerness at the other chain store I buy supplies at...plus the dry goods they sell are better priced than where we can find them elsewhere here...so.

I don't know if I will be buying any tangs or anemones from there...well...not anytime soon...but I don't mind buying some macro algae...but I cant get it anywhere else unless its from another individual. That is so frustrating when you can't find what you are looking for. It isn't for lack of asking.