Why do people buy fish

[BeccaBlain]

After browsing a wide variety of different forums... I just HAVE to ask:

Why do people by fish that they can't take care of? Is it so difficult to RTFM before you bring the babies home?

Now granted, we all make mistakes, but putting an oscar in a 10 gallon? Throwing bettas together without divider (males) on purpose (expecting them to eventually "get along", putting box fish with any other species...?

Five minutes of research, and the entire problem is prevented!

Maybe its not-so-common sense, but doesn't it make sense to *learn* about the fish you want to bring home before you snatch one up and bring him home?

Now granted, my knowledge on cycling and some other fine tune points could be a lot better, and my knowledge on every intricacy of fish care could definitely use sprucing up, but this seems something so trivial is unbelievable.

I've just heard about so many "I have to get rid of this fish for this reason" (usually space considerations or incompabilities) that it is quickly turning into a pet peeve.

Maybe someone should post a "Learn about your fish, people!" note on all the forums so people won't abuse their fish for no reason.

Arrrrrrg.

 

[luxum]

I agree with you completely, but i understand how it happens. People decide to get a fishtank on the spur of the moment. They go to the store and let the employees at the pet store guide their decisions. They don't realize until it's too late how many mistakes they are making. I did the same thing with my first tank, got the fish, ~then~ did the research, and i feel very guilty about the outcome. I've learned from my mistakes though, and now thoroughly research anything i add to my tank, and never buy livestock spontaneously when i'm not certain that my tank would be an appropriate home.

 

[BeccaBlain]

The only fish I ever bought spontaniously was Moe, my first Betta, and I spent my 5 minutes researching him before I brought him home. o_o My mistake with Moe was not having a proper temperature gadge in my apartment, and his water got too cold, but I rectified that situation immediately. (Fully./Partial water changes to maintain temp, and strategic house location..) o_o

I researched a week before I brought home Pearl and Moe's new house (and Pearl). (Of course you can't learn everything within a week, but still!)

5 whole minutes is all it takes to locate a forum and ask *_* Or locate a web page and read.. or.. goodness...

Pick up a book in the LFS and skim it...

I just don't understand how casual people can be with their fish. If my fish get hurt or frightened badly during a water change or something, I treat them with a bit of bloodworms as an apology, etc... Ugh.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I think that is true for any pet. The truth is, when people see something they like, they have to get it right away. I think it is human nature, foolish as it it, it happens. The best thing that 'smart' people can do is give the 'foolish' buyer good advice and tell them "to research the fish next time..."

 

[Nina7777]

I think that is true for any pet. The truth is, when people see something they like, they have to get it right away. I think it is human nature, foolish as it it, it happens. The best thing that 'smart' people can do is give the 'foolish' buyer good advice and tell them "to research the fish next time..."

well put fish buddy! I totally agree with you!

Not many people actually take the time or the energy to research their impulse buys untill it is too late!

 

[Sorrell]

...Throwing bettas together without divider (males) on purpose (expecting them to eventually "get along"...

Are you talking about my bettas here?

If so you severely misunderstood the situation

 

[Teelie]

Male Betta are by and large totally uncompatible with the obvious exceptions.

Anyhow it isn't a human nature thing, it's a nature thing. Humans are seperated from animals by one characteristic that we can delay satisfaction to get what we want. Unfortunately, some humans act like animals.

Who here hasn't made a mistake before though? Buying fish before you knew better? It might not be a bad one, but it still may have happened.

 

[clutterydrawer]

I have no idea why people do it. I can't imagine buying a fish having no idea of its temperament, adult size etc. what's the point buying a fish that you might have to give back, or see it die?

I was talking to my english teacher today and she was complaining that she had 3 goldfish and a plec in a 2.5g and that they were dying. i nearly cried. and i asked her if she knew how big they should get and she said "no, no one told me..."

 

[Tropjunky]

i know wot u mean i used to work at my lfs and some ppl come and say "why is my fish ill and why do new ones die?" well most of them don't have a filter and when i tell them that they say "u mean i got to have a filter? or they get sick well i had this fish months now and no problems till i put a buddy with him in his bowl!" i PI**ES me off when they do that and the only thing worse is when they get a cold water tank set up and tropical fish (they don't have a heater at home) well people will get something not do research and then complain about it going wrong.

like when someone i told to get a book first not tank and he came back 3 weeks l8r and refunded the lot.

 

[nightlife20]

im sorry but i have to have my two pounds worth here, i brought two hoplo cat fish fully knowing how big they will eventualy get, i know my tank wont be big enough as it grows but then i will have to take him back (when he gets past the 8inch mark)

now i know it may sound selfish, but atm i CAN provide for this fish and will continue to do so untill it gets to big, cant i have enjoyment out of this fish untill i can no longer provide for it?


i dont want to be stuck with guppies and live bearers because they will stick to that size, it could be worse tho, i could try an put him in a 5gal bowl with an airbrick.


(no offence to anyone reading this post)

 

[clutterydrawer]

im sorry but i have to have my two pounds worth here, i brought two hoplo cat fish fully knowing how big they will eventualy get, i know my tank wont be big enough as it grows but then i will have to take him back (when he gets past the 8inch mark)

now i know it may sound selfish, but atm i CAN provide for this fish and will continue to do so untill it gets to big, cant i have enjoyment out of this fish untill i can no longer provide for it?


i dont want to be stuck with guppies and live bearers because they will stick to that size, it could be worse tho, i could try an put him in a 5gal bowl with an airbrick.


(no offence to anyone reading this post)

yes but you KNOW the fish if going to get that big, you know you will have to rehouse him, you're not going to let him get stunted by sitting in a tiny tank when he's grown too big for it.

 

[endparenthesis]

Five minutes of research, and the entire problem is prevented!

Five minutes of research and half of the questions on this forum wouldn't need to be asked.

I don't know if that's a good thing or not for the forum itself... I suppose the more traffic the better... but you can tell a lot of posters would rather have all the answers handed to them (and the details even extracted from their heads telepathically) without lifting a finger than spend 5 minutes with google (which will bring you the answers faster). Strange.

But anyway, I gather a pet store is no more than a toy store to a lot of people.

 

[Gill]

I am Guilty of the Impulse Buy.

My eel is not what is was Labelled as. But he will be going to a nice new home as soon as i Find 1. He is still in the main tank, as he is very very fast and is very difficult to catch.

This morning I Removed the Rock/Caves Background I made, Just so i Can Catch Him. Once he is gone, I can restock the Tank with Neons.

 

[jaimoe]

But anyway, I gather a pet store is no more than a toy store to a lot of people.

I like to think I take good care of my toys, thank you very much!

 

[Sorrell]

If you do buy fish with the intent of returning them when they outgrow your tank, make sure that you lfs actually wants them back. The store that i was at got 2-3 dumper fish a day on average, most of which we would never sell. We had many display tanks, a room of tanks, and all employees had a houseful of fish that were no longer wanted. The worst part is that people thought they were doing us a huge favor bringing in their 14 in Oscars. Guess again. The truth is those dumped fish took up tank space, increased feeding costs, decreased the number of fish we were able to stock (no tanks to put them in), and many ended up having to be euthanized because we simply had no room. Maybe fish tores in other places are dying for your overgrowns, but every owner I've ever talked to at conventions, on fish store forums, and in day to day, has agreed that this is the most frustrating part of the job.

Also, I personally don't agree that you are caring for an animal properly if it is not provided with requirements needed for it's full size. Stunting doesn't just happen in 10 gallons...