ye, senseless owners annoy me greatly, but i can normally convinve them not to buy anything stupid. Having owrked part-time in the trade for over two years now, in a huge specialist store with about 450 tanks (do you know how long it takes to feed them all lol).
I have to say, although you don't tend to get much formal training, the key requirements where i work tends to be basic knowledge/experience and a willingness to learn. I'v been really lucky to learn from some of the best in the trade, and as a result we get people from all over the UK coming down to hertfordsshire to see us, furthest travelled custormers i'v served have been from wales.
i have to say, people pointing out all the deads gets annoying, especially when the fish is actually not dead! However, i don't mind the odd perosn lol
also, its great having knowledgable customers, at work, we're fortunate enough to have hundreds of rare fish, and all of the full timers are experts in one thing or another, and many hold distinctions such as president of the UK association of xxx genus, or degrees in amrine biology, or sole Uk breeder of XXX stingrays etc
in addition, everyone has at least one tank, and most have fish rooms, so i'v learnt loads from them, and am now firmly hooked. In addition, the discount is a great incentive to try something new, and i'm just (after 14 years of trops), going marine, which is a whole new learning curve.
However, to keep with the thread, the funniest person i'v ever had to serve was like:
THEM: we're good at keeping goldfish, our last one lived for two years
ME: they can live for up to 25 years normally, what sort of tasnk were they in?
Them: tank? like a truck or somethin?
ME: aquarium, fish bowl etc
Them: oh, its in a cooking bowl
ME: *cringe* O.k... i think u really need a proper aqaurium....
I have to say, although you don't tend to get much formal training, the key requirements where i work tends to be basic knowledge/experience and a willingness to learn. I'v been really lucky to learn from some of the best in the trade, and as a result we get people from all over the UK coming down to hertfordsshire to see us, furthest travelled custormers i'v served have been from wales.
i have to say, people pointing out all the deads gets annoying, especially when the fish is actually not dead! However, i don't mind the odd perosn lol
also, its great having knowledgable customers, at work, we're fortunate enough to have hundreds of rare fish, and all of the full timers are experts in one thing or another, and many hold distinctions such as president of the UK association of xxx genus, or degrees in amrine biology, or sole Uk breeder of XXX stingrays etc
in addition, everyone has at least one tank, and most have fish rooms, so i'v learnt loads from them, and am now firmly hooked. In addition, the discount is a great incentive to try something new, and i'm just (after 14 years of trops), going marine, which is a whole new learning curve.
However, to keep with the thread, the funniest person i'v ever had to serve was like:
THEM: we're good at keeping goldfish, our last one lived for two years
ME: they can live for up to 25 years normally, what sort of tasnk were they in?
Them: tank? like a truck or somethin?
ME: aquarium, fish bowl etc
Them: oh, its in a cooking bowl
ME: *cringe* O.k... i think u really need a proper aqaurium....
