Lfs Store Advice

[tmh0921]

I have several tanks, and am familiar with the proper cycling process (I am now, wasn't when I started years ago). Anyway, I just bought a new tank and it came with a "water test kit". Now, to me a test kit is something like the API Master Kit...this was a vial with a stopper. No test agents or color charts. So, for fun, I asked the girl at the big LFS chain I bought the tank at how this was a test kit. She responded that once I have the tank set up, filled, heated, and have the filter running a few days that I can bring them a water sample to test, then I can start adding fish! Seriously?

Ok, so for anyone just starting out...THIS IS NOT GOOD ADVICE. You have to cycle your tank before adding fish, which means more than just running the heater and filter for a couple of days. PLEASE learn about cycling and get your own test kit...following this advice is just going to result in heartache and dead fish. <steps off soapbox>

 

[CezzaXV]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this.

 

[chickennuggets123]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

What i have found (with the odd exception) is that the smaller the 'Pet Store' then the smaller the sales' staff knowledge. The best advice, cleanest tanks, best stocked and best looked after fish tend to be the smaller fish stores, not stores that have seperate areas for seperate pets, where the staff move around on a rota system.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

My LFS handed me a bottle of Nutrafin Cycle and said "This will keep it safe for the fish." Many dead fish later...

Then I researched and since I already had some surviving fish (which I still have them to this day...such tough little survivors) I did a fish-in cycle.

I have found that the LFS around me aren't very good fishkeepers. I went in to look for a bristlenose and they had at least three dead fish per tank.....I walked out.

 

[Steph P]

It is so rubbish, although I did read up you do rely on the 'experts'! I have now ordered my test kit! Being a beginner is crappy there is so much to learn and you feel like a fool when you get stuff wrong!

Well one day I shall get there and in the mean time read up as much as I can

 

[Dieses Madchen]

It is so rubbish, although I did read up you do rely on the 'experts'! I have now ordered my test kit! Being a beginner is crappy there is so much to learn and you feel like a fool when you get stuff wrong!

Well one day I shall get there and in the mean time read up as much as I can

The beauty of this forum is there are a lot of experienced members that are willing to lend some knowledge. They saved my fish from me lol.

 

[Zirallan]

One of my local fish stores has bettas in with black skirt tetras and other long finned, flashy fish. I suppose it's better than the cups for the bettas but I always feel bad for the other fish in the tanks because they're always chewed up and that's got to be stressful. The tanks are always clean and I rarely see any dead fish but the combinations of fish in their tanks do really make me wonder sometimes..

 

[james_fish]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

Don't do that.

Mods and admins recieve 'complaints of slander and legal proceedings'


James.

 

[Malawi MaD]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

Don't do that.

Mods and admins recieve 'complaints of slander and legal proceedings'


James.

You saying that the people who work at pets & home complain to the mods of this forum?? If so i though everyone is entitled to their own opinion?

 

[yuki71]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

Don't do that.

Mods and admins recieve 'complaints of slander and legal proceedings'


James.

i had the same happen yesterday
went in looking for a bottle of "prime " and was told wait 3 days you'll be fine
i'll gladly take you to the store

 

[james_fish]

No I believe you, it's just best not to post it up on the forum like that for the reasons stated in my previous post.

James.

 

[Binge]

I am lucky enough in columbus to have like 50 fish stores to choose from. After learning a bit in the last 6 months each store seems to have 1-3 employees that know whats going on the rest are just punching a clock. So I try to find that person in each store when I go in. For example I was in one the other day and asked an employee I had not yet met why there was no driftwood in with the plecos. His answer was "Why would we do that?". Or the biggest store in our area is "Aquarium Adventure" I actually love this store they have very healthy strong plants and well cared for fish. Of thier very large staff I have met 4 people that I feel comfortable asking advice. The rest seem to mean well but have no idea what I am talking about when I ask them questions.

From what I have seen fish keeping is a much more complicated hobby then most people realize. Unless you love and immerse yourself in the hobby you will lack a lot of the knowledge needed to advise others. The average pet store employee realy cant afford to immerse themselves in the hobby so there is a lot of things they will not know. The best advice I can give anyone is do a lot of research. Do not beleive the firt thing you read on the internet either, check 4 or 5 sites and compare. If I have trouble finding what I want to know or have a vague question I ask here. I was lucky enough to find this site early on and it has been a wonderfull resource.

In the end only experience can teach anyone though.

 

[Tolak]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

Don't do that.

Mods and admins recieve 'complaints of slander and legal proceedings'


James.

You saying that the people who work at pets & home complain to the mods of this forum?? If so i though everyone is entitled to their own opinion?

The legal department of P@H as well as other shops are employees of the corporation as well. They are the ones who contact mods, admins, and the forum owner. If in their opinion it's slander they can file legal proceedings if the slanderous material is not removed. Legal proceedings and the defense of such costs money. Even if a case is won it can tie up tens of thousands of dollars in legal defense. At times recovering these funds is iffy.

Rather than tie up the life savings of the forum owner we remove topics & posts that may be seen as slanderous, or otherwise compromise the forum and/or owner legally or financially.

 

[Malawi MaD]

The people at Pets At Home say to just throw fish in after you've had it running for 3 days.
I thought they were experts.

Don't do that.

Mods and admins recieve 'complaints of slander and legal proceedings'


James.

You saying that the people who work at pets & home complain to the mods of this forum?? If so i though everyone is entitled to their own opinion?

The legal department of P@H as well as other shops are employees of the corporation as well. They are the ones who contact mods, admins, and the forum owner. If in their opinion it's slander they can file legal proceedings if the slanderous material is not removed. Legal proceedings and the defense of such costs money. Even if a case is won it can tie up tens of thousands of dollars in legal defense. At times recovering these funds is iffy.

Rather than tie up the life savings of the forum owner we remove topics & posts that may be seen as slanderous, or otherwise compromise the forum and/or owner legally or financially.

Ahh i see, didn't realise they could do that. Yeah removing them sounds like the best thing to do then.