OK so, little bit of background. My LFS is part of a UK chain (I won't drop names but it isn't P@H, its a chain aquatics store, definitely nothing to do with Maidenhead.............), and the one I use is great. It isn't huge but they have very nice healthy fish, staff who give solid advice - it sometimes differs to here, but it's mostly very similar. The boss is especially knowledgeable, and he has not differed to any advice here.
So I was out for a drive this evening and saw a store belonging to this chain and it was a really big one so I thought I'd go have a peek. Absolutely huge, and an amazing array of fish, ranging from fully grown ones to absolutely tiny fry. So I was having a nosey and I overhear the boss (he was telling other staff what to do next etc. what to price etc etc) and I hear some questionable advice. I put this down to mishearing. He then comes and asks if I'm alright, and we get chatting and he has a poke about my tank, stocking etc. I know I'm not buying fish for months, and I already know what I'm going to finish my stocking list with... But I explain its a 65l tank currently with 7 cherry barbs etc etc etc and then he goes full salesman.
I'll write what he said in speech marks, and butt in with my thoughts at the time with hyphens... it'll be obvious
"OK so, the tank isn't huge but it could be great. In one this size you could have say 15 to 20" - OK looking good here. He's gonna say 15-20 inches. - "fish total." - facepalm - " So you've got room for another 13 fish" - this is gonna be good - " would you aim for any bottom feeders?" - I say yes. Aiming for cories. - "OK Cool. Well let me show you these guys first. They're great. They're only small, but they like being in a group so you'll need atleast 4." - ok cool i'm gonna get shown some funky cories - "So these guys are called yo-yo loaches. As I say, they're only little, and you could easily fit 4 if not more along with your cherry barbs. " - facepalm again. I even point out the sign where it says Maximum Size: 15cm. Minimum tank 120l - "Yes but they aren't fully grown all their life. Ok so, loaches like to hide so you should still aim to get 4 or 5 cories, and then maybe 4 of these Croaking gouramis".
THIS WAS THE MANAGER OF THE STORE.
I couldn't believe it. If he'd tried to push for maybe a couple of croaking gouramis on top of the cories I could ALMOST understand it... but like, my final stocking is going to have no room for any further bioload at all. Its going to be pushing it I think. This man is giving this advice to people new to the hobby and who haven't had the luck of stumbling across forums like this...
So, what can you guys top this with?
So I was out for a drive this evening and saw a store belonging to this chain and it was a really big one so I thought I'd go have a peek. Absolutely huge, and an amazing array of fish, ranging from fully grown ones to absolutely tiny fry. So I was having a nosey and I overhear the boss (he was telling other staff what to do next etc. what to price etc etc) and I hear some questionable advice. I put this down to mishearing. He then comes and asks if I'm alright, and we get chatting and he has a poke about my tank, stocking etc. I know I'm not buying fish for months, and I already know what I'm going to finish my stocking list with... But I explain its a 65l tank currently with 7 cherry barbs etc etc etc and then he goes full salesman.
I'll write what he said in speech marks, and butt in with my thoughts at the time with hyphens... it'll be obvious
"OK so, the tank isn't huge but it could be great. In one this size you could have say 15 to 20" - OK looking good here. He's gonna say 15-20 inches. - "fish total." - facepalm - " So you've got room for another 13 fish" - this is gonna be good - " would you aim for any bottom feeders?" - I say yes. Aiming for cories. - "OK Cool. Well let me show you these guys first. They're great. They're only small, but they like being in a group so you'll need atleast 4." - ok cool i'm gonna get shown some funky cories - "So these guys are called yo-yo loaches. As I say, they're only little, and you could easily fit 4 if not more along with your cherry barbs. " - facepalm again. I even point out the sign where it says Maximum Size: 15cm. Minimum tank 120l - "Yes but they aren't fully grown all their life. Ok so, loaches like to hide so you should still aim to get 4 or 5 cories, and then maybe 4 of these Croaking gouramis".
THIS WAS THE MANAGER OF THE STORE.
I couldn't believe it. If he'd tried to push for maybe a couple of croaking gouramis on top of the cories I could ALMOST understand it... but like, my final stocking is going to have no room for any further bioload at all. Its going to be pushing it I think. This man is giving this advice to people new to the hobby and who haven't had the luck of stumbling across forums like this...
So, what can you guys top this with?
fridge?
