What Can We Do

[tetraqueen]

Should not lfs have warnings about how big a tank should be before we buy a certain fish to put in. I know we should do our own study. I am guilty myself.

I admit I am not the first and will not be the lastto have bought on Impulse.

We want that beautiful tank and love the fish but like mums with a new baby need more warning of what they could be like as they get older. We also need to be prepared.

Just a thought.


Food has to have labels Why not fish . ??

 

[Bloo]

You are right - they should, but they don't! Personally I don't understand it, as it's really not that hard to scribble a few basic details on a laminated card and have it on the tank.
I only ever came across one shop that did this, and it was Maidenhead Aquatics in Chichester (but I haven't been there for years, so not sure if it's still the same).
I've stopped the impulse buying thing completely now - and will always walk away and do my own research if they shop is not able to give me exact and clear information about a fish.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Pets@home do write out the eventual sizes of the fish- but rather negate the purpose by not selling tanks large enough for their largest fish.

 

[The-Wolf]

I always infom my customers about the potential size of fish, especially plecs, botias and catfish etc.

I would rather loose a sale than to comit a fish to a life of misery.

 

[rdd1952]

Unfortunately, many more fish are sold at pet stores such as Petsmart, Petco and even Walmart (which is not even a pet store) than at true fish stores. Most of them have very untrained employees that really don't know to tell people the fish and tank size aren't compatible. Petsmart does have the sizes of the fish on thier tanks but will still sell a goldfish and a 1 gallon bowl to someone. Until people start to consider fish as more than "just a fish" things probably won't change. And that's sad because I don't think fish will ever be though of any other way by the majority of the population. I guess there is hope though since our local paper just had an article a couple weeks ago about the sudden rise in the poularity of aquariums and fish.

 

[dgwebster]

I was disturbed recently as I have started to embark on the fish tank process. For example:

Pets at Home: Several tanks suffering cloudy water - on hand staff didnt even know what was being done about it. A few tanks had 2, sometimes 3 dead fish. And yes, they were definately dead.

A local pet store in a "cheap" shopping centre that deals in a number of home pets: Several tanks needing cleared, but the guys had some idea. Just disliked the place however as it was poorly organised and the fish were not that lively, despite having lots of space. Another reason I disliked this store was its hamsters - they had Roborovskis marked as "Russian Dwarves". Hmm. Also his information was flaky. Still, a knowledged person knowing what they want in equipment/food wise could use here at a push.

Another local fish store, House of Pisces: Specialise in fish, 30,000 fish in stock in 1000 tanks, extremely clean and lively stock. Packed with an unbelievable range of equipment and fish. Fantastic prices and even gave me a small discount, just for the sake of it to make money easier in his till. A superb knowledge and passionate staff. Only problem is, its a pain in the ass for me to get to and I just lugged 10kg of gravel and a few other supplies from there for about 1.5-2 hours home as me and the old vehical will not be back on the road for another fornight I know for a fact that in this store, they will advise and ask on your provisions for the fish before selling them.

The others probably wouldn't give a *&&^

 

[Vegan Peaches]

The Petco out here that I purcahse supplies from has cards that tell the "average" adult size of certain fish (common plecs at 12" ... ? lol) They are a little off for some fish, but they are better than nothing. They also have a sign near the koi that says "do not keep in a 10 gallon aquarium" ... I thought it was a joke at first, but aparently people do this 0.o

Anyways, the LFS that I get my fish from has more accurate cards that give adult sizes and min tank size required. I always found that kind of helpful, and this kind of basic info should be required.

 

[dgwebster]

It could be good to see stores carrying cards on all the fish profiles at the tanks with:

Common Adult Size (up to)
Min Tank Size rqd
Dietry Requirements
Temprament

To then have the owner/shop clerk double check with you during purchase would be better.

Whilst yes, we should research what we are buying, this kind of information is better - how many times have we all seen something that has "caught our eye" whilst in the shop?

At the same time as well, responsible people should ask if they do not know/have not researched and if the store clerk does not know either, do not buy and start to question that store too.

 

[tetraqueen]

Unfortunately, many more fish are sold at pet stores such as Petsmart, Petco and even Walmart (which is not even a pet store) than at true fish stores. Most of them have very untrained employees that really don't know to tell people the fish and tank size aren't compatible. Petsmart does have the sizes of the fish on thier tanks but will still sell a goldfish and a 1 gallon bowl to someone. Until people start to consider fish as more than "just a fish" things probably won't change. And that's sad because I don't think fish will ever be though of any other way by the majority of the population. I guess there is hope though since our local paper just had an article a couple weeks ago about the sudden rise in the poularity of aquariums and fish.

Thanks to all who replied. I hope I am never offended.

This is someone trying to do her best as a beginner and all your help is and I mean it is appreciated. Thanks is a small word but I do hope you know I think you are first class even to try and help.

 

[dgwebster]

Why not try to make a difference ourselves?

If you have a small local fish store (the multi-corps can do this themselves) off if they supply a list of fish that they stock, to provide laminated business cards for the tanks with the details of the fish?

Its time and cost for us, but we are doing something for the pets here.

On that note, slightly side tracked, I was looking on Ebay for some equipment and noted a filter "only used for 2 months". The bumf in the listing also mentioned "all our items come from a smoke and pet free home".

Are fish not pets? or did this seller just have an empty aquarium (like me at the moment?)

 

[OohFeeshy]

RE the Ebay thing, it seems most people selling tanks aren't all that bothered about fish as none mention keeping the media damp to preserve the bacteria

 

[dgwebster]

I've been thinking that myself.

I was wondering on the bacteria side, is it possible for bacteria to have new spawn that do not hatch till certain conditions? Similar to how it is possible for some fertilised eggs to be kept for a long time unless warmed up etc?

 

[paulthegreat]

It is a shame that all stores do not have a mature size listing on the tanks, all my lfs's have it and they all have good people that know what they are doing.

 

[kat and james]

quite a few of the lfs around us do give the eventual size of the fish along with the names of the fish. however this alone isn't enough either, i think they should also provide minimum tank size, as some larger fish do not need as much room as others!

kat

 

[Weaver]

My lfs has those little stickers that tell the size of the fish and have green/yellow/red dots showing levels of aggression
The owner told me today he has stopped keeping bala sharks because people are buying them despite his advice on tank size etc