Auratus
Why am I browsing a fish forum at 2am?
In my tfh magazine they have many ads for those little 1-2 gallon aquariums. In the MiniBow 5 ad I just saw, they advetise 10 guppies and 11 white clouds in one tank. I also see like 5 goldfish in little 2 gallons too. You all know that this isn't exceptable but many beginners see what's on the box and think that's what you do.
I went to petsmart and these girls had a 5 gallon aquarium. They were preparing to buy 5 male swordtails and 2 plecos. I asked them what size their tank was and they said oh that one over there. less than 5 gallons. I politly explained that that isn't good for the fish and so they told the employee, just get what she says. OMG! I was picking out someone elses fish! Lol, they just let me do it. They liked the fancy guppies so I convinced them to get 3 male fancy guppies and 2 otos. They liked another one so they ended up getting 4 fancy guppies. Well, it's better than what they were going to buy. They were older than me too so it was kind of hard talking to them. I thought at first they were being like smart @$$es but they really wanted my help!!!!!! I thought it was so cool! I also convinced them to get one of those mini heaters too! But they told me they were just getting exactly what was shown on the box of the tank they bought. Ughhh, the companies need to stop doing that. And most of the time those fish aren't even in the tank. They are added with a computer!
So that's my story!
I went to petsmart and these girls had a 5 gallon aquarium. They were preparing to buy 5 male swordtails and 2 plecos. I asked them what size their tank was and they said oh that one over there. less than 5 gallons. I politly explained that that isn't good for the fish and so they told the employee, just get what she says. OMG! I was picking out someone elses fish! Lol, they just let me do it. They liked the fancy guppies so I convinced them to get 3 male fancy guppies and 2 otos. They liked another one so they ended up getting 4 fancy guppies. Well, it's better than what they were going to buy. They were older than me too so it was kind of hard talking to them. I thought at first they were being like smart @$$es but they really wanted my help!!!!!! I thought it was so cool! I also convinced them to get one of those mini heaters too! But they told me they were just getting exactly what was shown on the box of the tank they bought. Ughhh, the companies need to stop doing that. And most of the time those fish aren't even in the tank. They are added with a computer!
So that's my story!
,angels with tetras etc,etc. It was horrible. The beginner would honestly think that was appropriate 
) All but three died, and the thing wasn't even cycled for half an hour! 
They should have a disclaimer that tells people the maximum capacity for the tanks. I learned my lesson the hard way; I don't want more fish to die b/c of this...
) There was this young girl and her mom also in the betta lounge looking. The girl said 'look mom, just like the one we have'. Then she wondered if she could get another one and put it in the same tank. Right there I had to intervene. I think I spent 30 minutes answering all their questions. From caretaking to books to what I knew about breeding - just the basics and how much room they might need - to bloodworms to how we both keep a betta in a quart-sized tank and how to decorate it to accent the surroundings. They ended up buying bloodworms, blue gravel, pink gravel, and a couple of little plastic plants. It felt so weird having an answer for each of their questions. But I'm glad they liked the idea of using the little tank as a room accessory. 
Then they all started dying. I kept taking them back to the store for replacements, and they kept giving them to me. No one even TRIED to explain the husbandry to me, or figure out why I kept bringing back dead fish.
