These people...

[PheonixKingZ]

Today at my LFS, when I was getting fish, there were these people there also getting fish. Total newbie beginner fish keepers, that couldn’t tell an Arowana from a pleco. (Seriously, I had to tell them that it was a baby Arowana, that would soon be 2ft long and 4 pounds heavy)

Anyway, they were just buying fish that appealed to them. From overhearing their conversation, it seemed they had a 55g tank.

They got 1 (yes 1) glass catfish, 2 platties, 3 Molly’s, 2 neon tetras, 1 pleco (common, yes I did warn them) and a couple of Kuhlii loaches.

I also warned them that the fish they were getting were all not compatible and that the hardness requirements were different for each.

They, foolishly, did not listen. Makes me sad to think those fish will be dead in a week, especially that poor glass catfish. Those need to be in groups of 8 or more and are super skittish.

Anyway, there is nothing I can do...

 

[Jamesthecat]

It’s difficult , when people start the hobby they have no idea about compatibility or care. But where does the duty of care lie?

Should the LFS step in and say go away and research it?
When i started in the 90’s there was no internet for research and it was a real pain as the LFS would sell you a shark if they could.

I think the customer should do their bit but the LFS should step in if the livestock is at risk,

I remember a guy at my LFS who had this huge catfish thing - it was nearly 5 ft In a 6 ft tank. Someone called the RSPCA and they took it away and I think it ended up being put down.

But they didn’t know and he didn’t get chance to say he was having this monster 12 ft tank built just for the catfish

 

[thuctoanvietnamese]

Some people are very stubborn.They just think "oh,they won't die.If them die we'll just buy new one"

 

[Jamesthecat]

To some people fish are more of a materialistic hobby - like I fly drones , I love it but i wrote off a good £250 last week when I crashed into a building. I didn’t cry just bought new gear.
I wonder if i fish were fluffy and followed u round would they be so cavalier?

 

[Fishmanic]

PK...maybe you should apply for a job at your LFS
Jamesthecat:
Don't take up a career or a hobby as an airplane pilot

 

[thuctoanvietnamese]

PK...maybe you should apply for a job at your LFS
Jamesthecat:
Don't take up a career or a hobby as an airplane pilot

Normally you will make the boss annoyed because you advised customer to buy less fish

 

[Jamesthecat]

I think the best anyone should do is research what the fish needs and provide it then try to replicate the natural environment as closely as possible.

I put this fella in yesterday and I haven’t had the tv on since and I’ve been dreaming around so as not to scare him till he settles in,

 

[Jamesthecat]

Normally you will make the boss annoyed because you advised customer to buy less fish

That’s it, the best LFS would prefer to lose a sale than sell to someone not prepared.

I used to have a couple of marine tanks (Fowlr) with a snowflake eel and that’s it. When I bought him the amount of people buying clownfish because of finding nemo and the LFS just sold them to anyone

best I saw was a 15 inch nano cube with 2 clownfish and a juvenile yellow tang

 

[thuctoanvietnamese]

That’s it, the best LFS would prefer to lose a sale than sell to someone not prepared.

I used to have a couple of marine tanks (Fowlr) with a snowflake eel and that’s it. When I bought him the amount of people buying clownfish because of finding nemo and the LFS just sold them to anyone

best I saw was a 15 inch nano cube with 2 clownfish and a juvenile yellow tang

I think people who opened a fish store but not for profit are the best.Some open fish store due to their hobby

 

[Jamesthecat]

You get more money from a lifelong customer than someone who buys say that catfish and then loses it.

I go to the same LFS for 25 years, they helped me out to start off in the hobby and now I’m putting 2 grand tank orders with them ..

 

[Jamesthecat]

And it’s time for me and the puppy to curl up

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

Most of the sales people at our LFS are teenagers, but there is one - at petco that really knows his stuff. The others don't seem to care. And all those parents buying a betta for a 1 gallon tank makes me sick - they shouldn't even sell it. Perhaps if prices increased on fish people would think a little harder about what they are buying - but so many are less than $5 for a little life (that's likely to have a short life). I should talk, I bought a bunch of Dwarf Gourami online from a fish store I've bought from several times. I've had them less than a month and have lost 2 out of 10. Pretty bummed out about it. I'm aware of the Dwarf gourami "virus" that used to be so common - hopefully that's not it. But I've always had Gourami and found that most of them at least live a year if not several. I don't have perfect water stats for them (my water is a bit to hard) but they aren't ridiculously far off from optimum. I suspect it is causing a shorter lifespan-but NOT 30 days. All my others I've had 2-3 yrs of those, one is still going strong.

I'm finding my 50 gallon tank full of rainbow fish is the most low maintenance of all my tanks. Put in an oversized heater and filter and the fish just seem to always be having a blast playing in bubbler and chasing each other around - great beautiful fish that nobody talks about much around here. Perhaps because when they are young they don't show their colors yet. It's a subtle kind of beauty. They seem like mood rings to me - as their attitude changes so do their colors.

And I'll always love love love my Dojo's - funniest fish EVER. And even great big they don't take up that much space. Mine are all now close to 8" long with the exception of the male, I believe that is much smaller. I can watch them for hours play their little games. I now have six, all will let me hand feed them and handle them, just be careful since they have no scales - and I love all the little nips I get when I put my arm in the water (not a bit hostle - more playful).

Oh we have ONE LFS that's not a chain, and the guy running that one is a real bastard, leaves piranha in open aquarium where small children could get to them - and he loves to show off their feeding behavior - it's sick.

 

[Jamesthecat]

Ice come to learn you cant change the world , just do what you can.

so where I can give advice I will and I’ll put my money through the places I know are respectable.

people have to learn their own lessons sometimes and a mistake may lead them to do more research and not make it again

my 7ft tank and the equipment is going through this tiny little LFS and he really appreciates it, he le ts me round the back to see the stock early and picks up cool L number plecs for me.

He’s even sorted out a dealer to get me a really nice pup stingray for jan 21. But ive been researching it and building the entire tank just for that one animal. Not everyone wants to or enjoys the research side that sometimes you need to do

 

[PheonixKingZ]

PK...maybe you should apply for a job at your LFS
Jamesthecat:
Don't take up a career or a hobby as an airplane pilot

I am going to try to this summer! I already feel like they like me. I sometimes help with advice like today. Unlike most LFS’s, they are nice, know what they are doing, and keep good care of their stock.

I would rather work there than at my current job throughout the summer...

And I'll always love love love my Dojo's - funniest fish EVER.

OH MY, I love Dojo’s, don’t have a big enough tank for some though...

It’s difficult , when people start the hobby they have no idea about compatibility or care. But where does the duty of care lie?

Should the LFS step in and say go away and research it?
When i started in the 90’s there was no internet for research and it was a real pain as the LFS would sell you a shark if they could.

I think the customer should do their bit but the LFS should step in if the livestock is at risk,

I remember a guy at my LFS who had this huge catfish thing - it was nearly 5 ft In a 6 ft tank. Someone called the RSPCA and they took it away and I think it ended up being put down.

But they didn’t know and he didn’t get chance to say he was having this monster 12 ft tank built just for the catfish

The worker (co owner) tried to tell them. All he can do is warn them he kept saying “I suggest” which is pretty much all he can do. He can’t refuse to sell them to them, that’s bad business.

 

[Utar]

There are many that getting a tank with fish(s) is nothing more than just a passing whim. Then when the fish die, they shurg their shoulders, put the tank out in the garage and think, guess we will have better luck with a parakeet.