Pet stores & newbie owners

[ladynaoko]

I was in a lps earlier getting some more stuff for my fish and I decided to go and have a look at what fish they had (since they usually have a lot a variety there).

I was looking at the platies and these three kids were stood next to me talking about the fish tank they got and showing their mother what fish they wanted. One of the kids said to their mum that they had their tank in the shop and pointed it out. Out of curiosity I looked over and it was one of those full setup tanks...quite a small one (less than 2ft...I think it must have been around 15G or less) so naturally I thought they would get some neons or something small like that for it. Boy was I wrong.

The mother told one of the assistants that she wanted some fish. The guy didn't bother asking what she wanted and just grabbed what he was told to.... 3 Angel fish, 4 red-tailed black sharks, 12 neons, 3 or 4 silver sharks and a pleco. I kept my mouth shut and she paid for the fish but I was just a little bit ticked off about it all.. especially since the guy never asked how big their tank was, what fish they had already etc etc. From what I heard these were their first fish in the tank so somebodies gonna have a lot of unhappy fish on their hands.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Did you say anything?

I see things happening often but at least my lfs ask what size the tank is/inhabitants/how long set up. Thing is even with this info they still sometimes offer bad advice and they are bad with plecs. The only plecs they have are commons and gibbys and these IMO get bigger than most people would want.

 

[ladynaoko]

I was actually scared to...that woman was really mouthy. Except when she was talking to the guy every other word from her mouth was too explicit for me to type here.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Well I can't say anything as I swear a fair bit

There's nothing you could do, I don't usually say anything either unless I believe it will be really bad. I have some so called incompatible fish (like 4 kribs) and I feel they are ok, you just have to know what you are doing that little bit more.

BTW, how are your fish getting on? Did you move some to a friend's tank?

 

[ladynaoko]

my fish are doing great

I've moved my platies into the 21.5G now and they seem to be doing alright
Next week (if all goes well) I'll be putting my pleco in (and my neighbour can get his tank back at last!)

 

[Brattina88]

I was actually scared to...that woman was really mouthy. Except when she was talking to the guy every other word from her mouth was too explicit for me to type here.

Unfortunatly this is all too common. I often have to pick my battles when confronting people. I used to be this shy person who was too afriad to say anything to anybody, but I often speak up now. I pull parents aside and warn them before they have to explain the whole death thing to there children. Some people, though, I wouldn't dare.

 

[Olive]

wow! given her mouth ..........maybe the workers had her there before and she was a problem. mabye she wouldn't listen before .........................or maybe they were all just morons. poor fishies........

 

[Olive]

Well I can't say anything as I swear a fair bit

me too...............but I don't swear around kids or at the fish store .............I bet you don't either............

 

[tsr770]

Funny I read this....

Just earlier today, I was in a Pet Supplies Plus (Large chain store) and stopped one of their employees from selling a guy neons, a common pleco, and the kicker one... An Oscar to live together in his new 10 gallon octogon tank he had in his cart! I spent about 10 minutes informing 3 or 4 people that congreated there about the cycleing process, compatability of fish, etc... He didn't even think his tank would need a heater as it was going to be in his heated basement! He left with the tank setup, a couple hygro sunset plants, and a bottle of chlor-out.

 

[Olive]

Funny I read this....

Just earlier today, I was in a Pet Supplies Plus (Large chain store) and stopped one of their employees from selling a guy neons, a common pleco, and the kicker one... An Oscar to live together in his new 10 gallon octogon tank he had in his cart! I spent about 10 minutes informing 3 or 4 people that congreated there about the cycleing process, compatability of fish, etc... He didn't even think his tank would need a heater as it was going to be in his heated basement! He left with the tank setup, a couple hygro sunset plants, and a bottle of chlor-out.

Good thing you were there! Could you imagine the carnage and death that would have occured?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

A tad off topic, but this reminds me of something that happened a few weeks ago. I was in a petsmart looking at the fish (with no intentions to buy any) and couldn't help overhearing an employee talking to a customer who was looking to get a betta. They weren't CRAZY into fishkeeping but had previously had a betta for a few years and wanted another one. They told the lady they had dechlor and food, but somehow the employee got her to buy more food, different dechlor, and 2 kinds of medicines! THE FISH ISN'T SICK! The employee said that the fish are suceptible to a disease and will most likely get these two diseases... I dont know about you but I don't buy any fish from a place that promises me their fish will get sick shortly after buying them!

 

[Olive]

I dont know about you but I don't buy any fish from a place that promises me their fish will get sick shortly after buying them!

I hear that!


I was at petsmart the other day as well...........looking at tanks........when I overheard a guy *almost* yelling at the employee there. From what he said, another employee had told him to dump the WHOLE bottle of Aquasafe in their 15 gallon tank to decholrinate and slime coat............(the big bottle). He had been there 5 times before with problems (sounds as if they didn't know to tell him about cycling maybe?) and he had bought things like ammo-lock, stress zyme, you name it. Anyway, he was mad 'cause all of the fish died after the tank got all cloudy.........he was trying to get all of his money back and oh man I felt sorry for him. I really don't think it was all their fault or all his fault............just a big mess. I wanted to sit him down and help him but he was so mad I didn't know if I could talk to him or not.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hmmm I dunno

In my opinon and experience it's very important to have meds to hand and perhaps bettas are prone to the disease the meds treated. For instnace I think it would be very wise to buy ich meds if buying clown loaches or hatchetfish.

 

[Fish Buddy]

In my opinon and experience it's very important to have meds to hand and perhaps bettas are prone to the disease the meds treated. For instnace I think it would be very wise to buy ich meds if buying clown loaches or hatchetfish.

I believe it is always better to be prepared for disaster than to grope around afterward. In the case of fish, diseases can get out of hand pretty fast. And, by the way, Petsmart has a 100% garantee on all pet supplies. The person could always return their decoration or meds. (even if it is used!)

 

[Olive]

I think it would be very wise to buy ich meds if buying clown loaches or hatchetfish

true...................wish I had known that when I bought my two cute little clowns back in Dec. that brought the scariest ick infestation known to man and beast to my tank!