experiences with taking fish back to LFS?

[scuba_jez]

hey i got an albino cory for my tiny tank and he will grow up to 3 inches which is too big for the tank. I need to either give him away or return him.

If you live in south Sydney Australia he is all yours!

what have your experiences been with returning fish? do u get a refund or do they just say 'too bad you paid for him' - im a uni student v. pov should i take a sample of my perfect water ( ) to show the fish store that he's 100 % A OK?

he said that albino's dont need to be in schools and i should have put my foot down then and there at the shop coz i did my research about cory cats but i didnt say anything since im only new to tropical fish keeping

i really love the fish and wish i could keep him! hes so hypo and cute! my dwarf gourami and the abino sometimes follow eachother around its so sweet. if i could get some more dwarf corys maybe i could keep him?

sorry lots of questions without much organisation, pretty much

1. What are LFS like when u return fish?
2. Should i take a water sample to show that the water is good?
3. Can i keep a albino on his own and add more dwarf corys? the bloke at the pet shop seemed to think so

 

[rdd1952]

I have never had to return a fish but I think the experience really depends on the store. True fish stores would probably take them back gradly either with a refund (full or partial) or instore credit. Pet stores, particularly chains may be less likely to accept them back.

I had read on another forum about a bad experience at Walmart in the states. Apparenty they readily took the fish back and issued a credit. When the person went back a couple hours later and didn't see it in a tank he asked and was told that they couldn't put it back in the tanks because of the possibility of it being diseased so they flush it down the toilet. If you know anything about Walmart and the terrible conditions in their stores, you would know the irony in that. Anyway, I would ask what they do with returned fish before you give it back to them.

As for the albino cory, he probably won't ever get to a full 3". Most only get to about 2". They do however still need to be in schools as you already know.

 

[Fish_Mike]

Well, i have returned fish before, and some stores give you credit, others don't. Most of the time they won't mind taking it, they'll just be like 'oh, too bad you couldn't keep him, he's really nice' because they understand you would like to keep him, but it's tough for you. I returned a blackbelt once, and they actually got really excited and where like 'oh wow, a blackbelt' (not sarcastically).

Edit: I returned mine to big als and i actaully saw them put my fish into their aquariums, and i still visit whenever i need to buy some stuff, and i still see my blackbelt there, and looking happy

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

I have returned fish to Petco twice and as long as you
have your receipt you should be fine. They also gave me
cash back and it was no hassle at all.

 

[fawnmodel]

I've returned fish for various reasons. Most regular places I know will also take a fish back sick or dead if you have a receipt, within a month. Usually they want a water sample too. They will give you a fish or money in return, or credit of course.

Then again, two of my friends also own petstores so I buy from them mostly. They will take my fish I have had longer, for example, fish that are terrible bullies and kill my other fish. Usually they will exchange me for a younger, different breed. For example, I had one of my redtail sharks killing any and all the fish in any tank. We had him since a baby and he was all grown up. They took him back and put him in a tank with BIG sharks, hehe. We also went and visited him for a few weeks until be sold. They also sold my snakes and firebellied toads when we bred. they are going to take my molly babies when they grow bigger if we decide to raise up some more, too.

Lots of places will not take a fish that was not theirs to start with for fear of contaminating their tanks.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

I took my clown loaches and 2 spot gorumai and got 50% of their current vaule back in store credit. I guess it jsut depends on the store.

I thought the albino was too bif for your tank already, so i doubt adding more fish even if they are dwarf cories will do you any favours

 

[scuba_jez]

I thought the albino was too bif for your tank already, so i doubt adding more fish even if they are dwarf cories will do you any favours

[snapback]877844[/snapback]​

its a 28 litre tank and there is a 1cm/litre rule isnt there?

so the dwarf gourami will get to 7 cm (currently 4cm), the albino will get to 7 cm (currently 2cm), doesnt that mean i could put two more catfish in and still be ok?

i suppose i'll have to take him back. its a shame though. maybe i'll get some tetra's or small (1 inch or so) schooling fish