Local fish store, bad advice

[sombunya]

So I stopped in a LFS to drop off a few Crays that I saved from the trash can.

A lady is in there is buying a new filter for her 10 gallon tank because the tank is always cloudy. The owner of the Fish Store (actually a pet store) sells her a Tetra filter rated for a 10 gallon tank. She is also telling this lady to clean the filter once a week. "Soon your water will be nice and clear" she says.

I talked to the customer. She has a few Goldfish in it. Then I see the fish store owner give her a bag with about five 3" feeder Goldfish in it. Overstocked?

Without getting into anyone's face I tried to tell the customer about tank cycling etc. Sher seemed receptive. I asked her if she had internet service and she said her son did. I told her to search for fish forums, and then gave her my email addy and said to have her son email me. I wrote it on my business card so it would not look like I was a crack pot. (I work for the City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Water and Power)

It was obvious the store owner knew nothing about fish care. When I knew nothing about fish care she sold me a 20 gallon tank with a tiny filter for five Bluegill.

It's a shame this crap goes on. I hope those people contact me.

[misterking]

I have three LFS nearby, and only one would I trust to give an honest opinion backed up by experience. The thing is most fish stores don't care about the fish they sell, just the profit they get at the end of the day, so a lot of people, including small children, end up with a tiny tank and stupid amounts of fish you probably wouldn't even want to put in something twice the size.

The LFS I go to actually has a policy that they won't sell any fish or live stock (except plants) to people under 18 unless accompanied with an adult, regardless of experience. Only problem is that suddenly, during a 6 month break from the hobby for me, I went back in recently to find the prices have shot up in there. You used to be able to buy 2inch discus for around £10 (not sure how that translates into dollars, around $17?), which has now gone up to around £30 ($52). So I'm having to buy elsewhere, but I still wouldn't go anywhere else for general advice and experience (apart from on here of course !).

But yeah, I hope they contact you!

[Surprise_Clown_Loach]

Ever walk into an autoparts store and the person behind the counter knew less about cars than you?

[LtGtR2]

Funny thing is though this same situation happened to me, but as they were talking i was standing beside them waiting for the guy help me get my fish. I GUESS i was making funny faces when the employee was suggesting things because the guy turned to me and asked "what do you think?". I almost laughed but said if your going to start a fish tank i would not by a 1 gallon tank, i told him about cycling and how harmful the process can be to fish if they are added right away. Told him he would end up coming back here like 5x to get more fish, probably just like the employee wants. Like you i said researching the hobby fist is a great idea. What i wanted to say was if your not into the hobby too you'll end up letting the fish just swim around in a bowl of water to die. After spending 50+ dollars the fish would live only a painful one week, if that.

I believe this is true in almost all Petco's, Wal-mart's, and other Huge chain pet stores. Where i tend to find more useful information is at a store called SeaWorld, they have a freshwater specialist and a saltwater specialist standing by there fish tanks at all times to help you with what ever you need and don't really beat around the bush. As well as other employees willing to help.

Speaking of SeaWorld i wanted to go get some pre-soaked driftwood from them soon =P.

[Rayneuki]

I find it funny all of ya'll saying that petco has some of the worst fish advice. I've found the opposite to be true about my petco. It's the #1 store here for buying fish... There's Bob's Tropical's, sure, and they're the ones who I've got a few deals with (how I got my loaches, we're still trying to figure out what exactly they are).

But for most of my fish, most advice, and everything... I go to my local Petco. I've had TONS of fish die from my LFS (bob's) but Petco... Only about one fish has died... And it was a rather thin Otto.

I'm friends with one of the fish department girls there, I give her info that she's never heard before... But both of us (Quiet, I end up going to look at fish alot) end up telling customers that No, that cute little oscar won't fit in that five gallon tank....

I love my Petco <3 All their fish are healthy, of course they have the in-tank deaths, and the occasional misinformation (especialy with the CAE... I just recently let them know and they were like "So THAT's who the murderer is O.O") but overall they are a great place... Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the tanks have been running in there since... Ohhh... about thirty years ago. :]

[mistercoffee]

My Petco said 2 Red Tails would work great in a 10 gallon... with a pleco.

Enough said. :-)

[LtGtR2]

Like i said its not always the store its the people you find in them and the dedication to there job but for the MOST part... local fish stores like petco and walmart do not give the best advice, its luck of the draw... like clown loach said, Ever walk into an autoparts store and the person behind the counter knew less about cars than you? this is not always true but some times it is.

[TAL]

When buiying fish at Petco, only once was I asked how big my tank was.... It would seem an instant question when about to advise someone. So, it does depend on the person helping you and not just the name on the building.

[sombunya]

Originally Posted by Surprise_Clown_Loach

Ever walk into an autoparts store and the person behind the counter knew less about cars than you?

It has happened, more than once. But not at the same store because I don't give them a second chance.

I went into a stereo shop once, bound and determined to buy an extra amplifier and speakers for my car stereo. The guy sold me a pair of $100 speakers instead. Saved me a bundle and they integrated into my system much better than what I had in mind.

It's too bad things happen like the story I originally posted here. It happens all the time of course, but it's still too bad. I hope that person contacts me.

[LtGtR2]

Hopefully they will contact you! but i think long story short is that some people in today's society think there jobs are a joke and they don't care about anything but the money they get paid at the end of the day. So in reality everyone gives out faulty advice just to get the customer in and out so they don't have to deal with it and still get paid!