Bad Exp

[Lisa_brown87]

Just thought I'd let you know, the other day I went to my LFS. The guy in there stunk of drink and was shaking. The girl was not helpful at all and very sharp and blunt, it was quite belittling. They had about twenty tanks and in atleats three of them there were dead fish that looked like they had been dead a while. They had a tank with terrapins in it and there were some small (about 1.5 ins) fish in there with them and one of the terrapins was eating one of the lil fishies....live I was told about all the different fish they had and was told one of my options was an irridesent shark and some of the larger species of plec. I asked "Don't they get quite large?" And the guy said "Yeh. but they are easy to 'get rid of' when they reach that size" Needless to say, I shan't be buying anything from that shop!

Yesterday someone on here recommended a fish shop in central London and I was going that way any way so popped in. I was amazed. It was the oppersite to my LFS. The people were friendly, stock looked great, good range, etc. I shall be buying my stock from there

 

[raptorrex]

Just thought I'd let you know, the other day I went to my LFS. The guy in there stunk of drink and was shaking. The girl was not helpful at all and very sharp and blunt, it was quite belittling. They had about twenty tanks and in atleats three of them there were dead fish that looked like they had been dead a while. They had a tank with terrapins in it and there were some small (about 1.5 ins) fish in there with them and one of the terrapins was eating one of the lil fishies....live I was told about all the different fish they had and was told one of my options was an irridesent shark and some of the larger species of plec. I asked "Don't they get quite large?" And the guy said "Yeh. but they are easy to 'get rid of' when they reach that size" Needless to say, I shan't be buying anything from that shop!

Yesterday someone on here recommended a fish shop in central London and I was going that way any way so popped in. I was amazed. It was the oppersite to my LFS. The people were friendly, stock looked great, good range, etc. I shall be buying my stock from there

a sad but oft repeated story. thing is, providing they, roughly, comply with the law, their main job is it shift fish and accessories. in truth the more that die, the more they can sell. I am sure this comment will upset some people connected with LFS, but if you look at it, if the advice and stocking advice given by LFS were to be of a real high quality, it would make it very difficult to make any profit at all. as the truth is, most people wishing to buy a fish, should be turned away until their tank, stock or experience could allow them to keep these fish properly. not a good way to make profit!

 

[LolaLouie]

Hi,

Just reading your thread, I recommended that shop to you.. I'm really glad you liked it. The manager there is great and although the shop is small they have nice well kept fish and vary their stock.

If you find that place doesn't have the fish you want 1) he may order in and 2) maidenhead aquatics are usually very good and are everywhere around London.

Good luck!

 

[chicklette]

That really is a bad experience. I can’t believe he said that the ID sharks were really easy to get rid of. If someone who was just starting in the hobby listened to all the wrong advice would not be good.

Sounds like maybe you should complain. The tanks seemed to be dreadful with dead fish in there. It happened often and some places just think fish are just fish and who cared in they are swimming in filth.

 

[oddism]

Im lucky my LFS is pretty good, in-fact top notch. They clean there tanks every week, water is crystal clear, all fish look very healthy.

Sucks you find fish shops like the one the OP said

 

[Lisa_brown87]

I think I'm very lucky to have found this forums before I started up my tank. As a general rule, I'm not really one to rush into anything before researching it and it really did pay off this time. I can just imagine the amount of people going into that shop to start thier own tank and being completely misled.

Thanks LolaLouie, I was sooo impressed yesterday. I'm going back on Tuesday with my other half to share the exp with him I can't wait...any excuse to get back there. Hehe.

They had pretty much everything I wanted in there. It was a lovely young guy I spoke to who seemed to have all the time in the world for me.

Maidenhead aquatics...funny you should mention them. that's near to where my aunt lives and she gets all her bits from there and highly recommends it. The only thing with them is it's a bit of a trek to get my fishie friends home living in London. I'd be really nervous.

Lis
x

 

[JimShorts]

I was in PetCo the other day just seeing what they had, and someone was looking for fish for their new 10 gallon. She was looking at ID sharks, and asked the worker if they'd be good for her tank, and he said that they would do just fine for a new fish keeper in a 10 gallon. I was standing right by them, and I went *cough* "three feet long" *cough*. The worker was like "what are you talking about? they don't get anywhere near that long." So I walked over to their book section, found ID sharks in a book on tropical fish, and showed it to the lady and the worker. Of course, the employee said that the information in the book was incorrect and that they only got to a maximum size of 4-5". After he said this, the lady that was asking about the ID sharks turned to me, said "thank you," and turned and walked out the door.

I could tell that the worker was a bit irritated with me.

 

[Lisa_brown87]

I was in PetCo the other day just seeing what they had, and someone was looking for fish for their new 10 gallon. She was looking at ID sharks, and asked the worker if they'd be good for her tank, and he said that they would do just fine for a new fish keeper in a 10 gallon. I was standing right by them, and I went *cough* "three feet long" *cough*. The worker was like "what are you talking about? they don't get anywhere near that long." So I walked over to their book section, found ID sharks in a book on tropical fish, and showed it to the lady and the worker. Of course, the employee said that the information in the book was incorrect and that they only got to a maximum size of 4-5". After he said this, the lady that was asking about the ID sharks turned to me, said "thank you," and turned and walked out the door.

I could tell that the worker was a bit irritated with me.

That's awesome. The world needs mroe people like you!

 

[freyathemermaid]

Hi

just to add a good experience, at the weekend visited a branch of Maidenhead Aquatics

in a Wyvale garden centre in Derby area, the took time to explain products, fish with no hard sell

a fish keeper himself and give impartial advice and things to think about, even though the store was busy

being saturday, when interupted by staff he redirected them to another senior member of staff,

it was good to know he was willing to spend time with a Newbie and from what i've picked up here

knew what he was on about and was enthuiastic about fish

as i left he hand me and every other customers with his card and to to feel free to ring with any questions


FTM

 

[raptorrex]

I was in PetCo the other day just seeing what they had, and someone was looking for fish for their new 10 gallon. She was looking at ID sharks, and asked the worker if they'd be good for her tank, and he said that they would do just fine for a new fish keeper in a 10 gallon. I was standing right by them, and I went *cough* "three feet long" *cough*. The worker was like "what are you talking about? they don't get anywhere near that long." So I walked over to their book section, found ID sharks in a book on tropical fish, and showed it to the lady and the worker. Of course, the employee said that the information in the book was incorrect and that they only got to a maximum size of 4-5". After he said this, the lady that was asking about the ID sharks turned to me, said "thank you," and turned and walked out the door.

I could tell that the worker was a bit irritated with me.

nice one

 

[ibbledibble]

Maidenhead aquatics...funny you should mention them. that's near to where my aunt lives and she gets all her bits from there and highly recommends it. The only thing with them is it's a bit of a trek to get my fishie friends home living in London. I'd be really nervous.

Lis
x

whereabouts in london do you live? as there are 10 different maidenhead aquatics in the london area

St Albans, Enfield, Mill Hill, Wembley, Hillingdon, Osterley, Syon Park, Shepperton, Morden, and Weybridge

here

 

[Lisa_brown87]

Maidenhead aquatics...funny you should mention them. that's near to where my aunt lives and she gets all her bits from there and highly recommends it. The only thing with them is it's a bit of a trek to get my fishie friends home living in London. I'd be really nervous.

Lis
x

whereabouts in london do you live? as there are 10 different maidenhead aquatics in the london area

St Albans, Enfield, Mill Hill, Wembley, Hillingdon, Osterley, Syon Park, Shepperton, Morden, and Weybridge

here

Lol oh right, well actually it the maidenhead aquatics in Wyvale. not in London but close to my aunt's house who I was visiting at the time.

Lis
x