FishProfiles.com Message Forums

sounds good to me but could be a little hash on a first timer being terned away by an aq worker for not having a licence to have a fish that he/she fancies

As nice as that idea sounds, it is far too complicated to be put to practical use.

on the other hand, those who do want to keep a healthy tank with active fish don't always know where to start.

when i started with fishkeeping, i was fed up with lots of BS from LFSes. i lost many fish because i didn't know what kind of homework i should do. after i lost about 10 fish in a month, i stopped counting on the "pros" and looked for knowledge by myself.
i just might have lost interest by repetitive failing, and dump the empty tank somewhere at home.

would you believe one fairly reputable store sold me a tank without even saying I NEED A FILTER!

i think one important factor in making people listen more is telling them what is the potential life span of their fish.
i heard some people think that fish live for 2 months, so they take deaths for granted.

by making information more available you open up the hoby to starters. this knowledge shouldn't be enforced on them, but the benefits of it should be stressed and become obvious.

I agree with you code, i have seen this everytime i walk into my LFS's where the workers know me well and they give me that 'fed up' look as they are trying to educate and even help out customers. Some people just dont want to learn and take advice more as criticism.

Ah well such is the world, arrogance makes people blind

here is my two cents on this...

I have been working at Petco for 4 years as a fish specialist. I have dealt with all types of customers. In general, people dont like to hear "Your tank is too small for this fish", "no you can't buy this fish cuz you dont have the right tank for it". Most people think that if they have the money, they can purchase anything they want. I have seen people buy three oscars for their ten gallons tank, 20 goldfish in a 15 gallon tanks, etc... ..... I lost count how many times customers complaint to my manager because i wouldn't sell the fish to them after i explain to them all the requirements.

And I dont believe when people say they will upgrade their tank in the near future anymore. And most of the times their definition of "bigger tank" means from 10 gallons to 20 gallons for two oscars.XC Usually within a few weeks, they bring back the dead fish and complaint why their fish die on them. I have been working there for over 4 years, and i have talked with less than 30 customers actually know how to take care their fish. Most people on this forum always complaint how their lfs has no knowledge on anything about fish but they have no idea 99.99 percents of the customers walk into a fish store without doing their homework, have no clue what they want, and dont believe what we tell them.

I have to agree with ID10t, all lfs should have clearly labelled tanks. One of my local stores has a colour coding system which indicates size (small, medium, large), temperament (aggressive, peaceful etc), and basic water conditions. It doesnt go into too much detail but it's a lot better than nothing at all.

Better idea - requre the sellers to clearly identify each fish, and provide *accurate* data as to its needs, etc. sorta like the profiles here do.

Nothing gets on my nerves more, than going to a LFS and seeing some rookie fish keeper buying a arowana or other baby fish (who are so cute when there small babies) and not knowing there gonna need a little more than 10 gal. ive been know in the past to tell the people buying the fish they better reconcider cause they dont know what they have in store for them.
thats all i have to say about that!]:|

www.responsiblethrashers.com

Exactly my point above nc

why should it be the shops fault if people dont look into what they are buying? i own an aquatic shop in the uk and even though we do go to extremes to inform customers and help with selecting the right fish for their set up the customer is, at the end of the day responsible for what they buy. if you do go to a shop and either get bad info or overhear bad information being given then go to another shop the next time. this is the only way to adjust poor attitude and yes i do agree that some shops arent as good as others and no im not defending them because i own a shop however the blame for `impulse` buying fish (which to me means any fish that you do not know the correct way to look after or what size it will grow ) is at the end of the day the customers responsibility

If you have harsh rule like that less owners will be willing to open up shops...as well as no body wants to work in a fish shop anymore. I personally work in an aquarium, and if it is required to do tests every 6 months (probably at my own cost as well), I call it quit straight away..its not like employee in fish shops get a lot of pay to worth all that trouble. Plus, many people just come in and say "I want this fish"...sounds like they already know what they are getting. Then should the employee question every customer whether they know what are doing? Many people get annoyed with that...sometimes I get responds like "yea, I am not that simple"....So I do not see a point in asking them whether they know what they are really buying.

In my opinion this has no positive effect but only negative. It will only make out great hobby shrink.

And here is my key point. Isn't going into this hobby also means studying about this hobby? And that's where the fun part is really. So I think it is the hobbist's own responsibility in at least knowing basic information of what fish they are getting. Asking before buying is one way...if u some how encounter some employee who doesn't really know about it but pretending to know (or even worse stupid enough not to look it up in a book on spot)..insult them, but don't blame them.

I'm glad that some of you liked my suggestion. I was trying to come up with an idea that might work. If people could see an actual picture of the fish to scale of the size it will eventually get, perhaps reality will set in.
Since most fish that are sold are still babies (can pack more of them into the display tank that way), many people don't realize that they will not stay that size.
I was at a fish store not long ago; a couple looking for fish for a ten gallon, almost bought three pleco cat fish. I demonstrated, stretching out my hands, how big the fish would get, and they bought cories (my suggestion)instead. It was not their fault, they just didn't know. The employee was fixing to sell them the plecos if I had not interviened.
I agree that it really is a problem. That is why, I thought a chart of some kind might help educate the public.
There will still be those who will throw reason to the wind, and buy the fish anyway, but it won't be because they didn't know any better.

No No,

Because tank problems occur not only when fish are too large but for many other reasons as well, here is what we are going to do:

1) Every employee and owner of a fish store will have to get an associates degree in Applied Fish Science.

2) All fish stores etc. are converted into non-profit centers.

3) Everybody who wants to buy a fish will have to take a 100 question multiple choice test right at the store or online. This test has a validity of 6 months.

4) We implement a government institution called Fish-Homeland-Security. They have the right to come to your house, inspect your tank, have you take a spot test (verbal and/or written), and take you with them for re-education in case your fish living conditions are suspicious.

] ] ] ]

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LFS are about sales, apart from the odd few their main aim is sales - and you cant blame them. Its a dog-eat-dog world and unfortunately its up to the individual to make a change.

Just like autovehicle stores, they can sell illegal parts for cars but buying it and adding it to your car is illegal, i know buying fish isnt illegal but you catch my drift...

I dont believe that this is the answer to the problem. I have suggested making it harder for people to get the larger fish such as pacus and red tail catfish. The only way to fix the problem is to educate people. Education is the key.

I see a growing problem with people buying fish that will out grow their tanks

MY SUGGESTION

when u buy a tank you should get a certificate from the shop u bought it from sort of like a licence and when buying fish you must produce this certificate to show that you have the "right tools for the job" if not you cannot buy the fish no arguments

I personaly think this would cut back on

1. fish dieing of poor living conditions
2. fish having to be returned to LFS
3. Save people lots of money (admitidly not everyone is
aware of how big some fish will grow and what size
tanks they need, they should do tho!)

the list of benefits of this is endless really!!!

can anyone see any harm in this or does anyone agree this would be a good idea?

I know some of you guys work in fish shops it would be great to hear your opinions

thanks

That's a very good idea, but most shop employees don't know nothing about fish & the only thing they want is....... sell, sell sell.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I agree something has to be done about it, but it is a very complicated matter. whats to stop someone saying their fish died so they have to buy more? or what if they breed?

looks like we'll have to start getting death certificates for our fish!

That is the best Idea ive heard!!! Maybe scientists could make a standard way to tell? like isnt it inch for 2 gallons of something?

Maybe some sort of "rule" could make it standard?
lol
Jess

"Could similar signs be made with pictures of fish standing on their tail fins with lines showing how big they get, and "if you buy me, you can't put me in anything smaller than a -- list tank size.""

Now that is a realy good idea