Does Family Dollar Sell Fish Food? A Thrifty Shopper’s Guide to Feeding Pet Fish on a Budget

As a pet fish owner on a tight budget, I’m always looking for ways to save money on supplies like fish food. My local Family Dollar store offers incredibly low prices on many everyday essentials. But with their focus on human consumables, I wasn’t sure if they carried pet fish products.

On a recent trip, I decided to find out firsthand – does Family Dollar sell fish food? And if so, how does their selection and pricing compare to pet stores? As a bargain hunter, I was hopeful I could discover some wallet-friendly options to feed my scaled swimmy friends

Scoping Out the Pet Section

Wandering the aisles of my neighborhood Family Dollar, I located the pet section in the back corner. Unfortunately, the offerings were pretty limited compared to a dedicated pet store.

There was no fish food in sight. But I did spot a few dog and cat food brands along with some pet toys and treats. Nothing geared specifically toward aquatic pets though. Looked like I’d have to expand my search beyond this single location.

Checking the Family Dollar Website

Not ready to give up just yet, I turned to the Family Dollar website to dig deeper. Navigating to the Pet Supplies page revealed a few promising tidbits.

While fish food itself was nowhere to be found, the small animal food section did list options for hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and birds. This gave me hope that certain locations may carry food for other small pets like fish.

The site also mentioned that product selection varies by store. So fish food likely wouldn’t be available chainwide. But if some locations did stock it, the prices would certainly beat big box pet stores.

Now I just needed to identify specific Family Dollar spots stalking fish food so I could test my theory…

Calling Around to Local Stores

Since website searches weren’t getting me far, I decided some old-fashioned phone calls were in order. I looked up a half dozen Family Dollar stores in my area and started dialing.

Most employees I spoke with sounded confused by my fish food questions. But finally, I got lucky on call #5. An extremely helpful staff member informed me their location DID sell a small selection of fish flakes and pellets!

Armed with this insider intel, I raced over to investigate further and confirm if Family Dollar really could be a budget fish owner’s new best friend.

Scoping Out the Fish Food Selection

Walking the aisles of this unique Family Dollar location, I finally landed in the pet section and spotted…fish food! While only a few varieties were represented, it was certainly better than nothing.

On the shelves, I found:

• TetraMin Flakes – A popular, affordable staple fish food.

• Tetra Color Tropical Granules – Small pellets to enhance fish color.

• Wardley Shrimp Pellets – Decent protein content for adult fish.

The selection was clearly limited compared to a dedicated fish store. But with pellets and flakes for just $1-3 and far lower than pet store prices, the savings were substantial.

I did notice the brands carried were mostly lower-quality options full of fillers and plant-based proteins. Higher-end foods with prime ingredients were nowhere to be found.

While selection was limited, I was thrilled that Family Dollar did in fact carry these basics, confirming itself as a viable option for us budget fish folks.

Comparing Prices to Find the Best Deals

Before taking the plunge and buying fish food from Family Dollar, I wanted to compare their prices against local pet stores. Were the savings really significant enough to justify the lack of selection?

Here’s how the pricing stacked up on comparable products:

• TetraMin Flakes

  • Family Dollar – $1

  • PetSmart – $6.99

  • Petco – $7.99

• Wardley Shrimp Pellets

  • Family Dollar – $3

  • PetSmart – $8.49

  • Petco – $9.49

• Tetra Color Tropical Granules

  • Family Dollar – $2

  • PetSmart – $7.99

  • Petco – $8.99

As the comparison makes clear, Family Dollar’s prices are a fraction of competitor pet stores – we’re talking nearly 90% cheaper in some cases!

Even with the bare bones selection, these rock-bottom prices make Family Dollar worthwhile for cash-strapped fish fanatics.

Tips for Buying Fish Food at Family Dollar

If you’re looking to save on fish food at Family Dollar, keep these shopping tips in mind:

• Call ahead – Verify your local store carries fish products before making the trip.

• Check expiration dates – Turn cans/containers over and inspect closely. Don’t buy anything that’s expired or close.

• Buy in bulk – Larger containers are more economical than single serve packets.

• Look for free shipping – Online orders over $40 ship free, allowing you to stock up easily.

• Supplement with other brands – For nutritional diversity, alternate with higher-quality foods from pet stores.

• Don’t forget water conditioners! – Grab water treatment products like Stress Coat while there.

Alternative Cheap Fish Food Sources

If your Family Dollar comes up empty, here are some other options for finding discounted fish food:

Big box stores – Check Walmart, Target, etc for cheaper alternatives to pet shops.

Amazon – Subscribe and save on deliveries of bulk packages of fish food.

Garage sales – Ask neighbors, check Facebook Marketplace, or browse garage sales for used fish supplies.

Clipping coupons – Cut out coupons for pet store sales or sign up for loyalty programs for discounts.

Make your own – Blend together fish-safe veggies, fruits, proteins or gels for homemade fish food.

While Family Dollar seems hit or miss for stocking fish products, when you find one that does, the deals can’t be beat! With a little creativity and some bargain hunting skills, feeding fish on a budget is totally doable.

It does require some extra work and accepting lower quality foods. But for those dedicated to providing for their scaly pets while sticking to a tight budget, options like Family Dollar are a lifesaver!

At just a dollar or two for essentials like flakes or pellets, you really can’t go wrong if you find them in stock. Just be sure to call around first before making a wasted trip. And supplement with higher-end foods when possible for nutritional diversity.