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How do LFS train their employees about aquatics. Is it hands on or do they gain knowlege throught reading litature provided by the store? (if its reading i'd like to read what they are... im a person who likes to have knowlege on things)

Last edited by Mustang00 at 07-May-2005 15:23

Last edited by Mustang00 at 07-May-2005 15:24

Hi Mustang00,
Your best place to start is here,FP, has some of the best free advice, information, which is most relavent to fishkeeping. The rest of it, you need to do hands on, reading a book will only give one side of it. Practical hands on experience is the way to go. Roll up the sleeves and get in there. The more you do the better it gets. Good luck. Muss

I think you should research a lot before, so you know all about cycling, filters, heaters, air pumps, and some common species of fish. When I was 11 before I got my first fish, I read lots and lots of books, and read articles from the internet, so I new about lots of different things. Now I now lots and lots about all different kinds of fish, and mechanical things too like filters.

well i think it is a circle. there is an older member who will teach the other new members about the fish.

I got no training or orientation whatsoever. In fact, at my interview, the only question asked of me was "When can you work?". Sharp learning curve, eh?

The best thing to do is research, research, reasearch. Do that before you even apply to a store, and things will go more smoothly. The other employees (or perhaps a manager) should be willing to tell you about the specific tasks that need to be done at the store. They'll also be able to help you if you don't know something about a particular fish. You should try to minimize asking about fish, and make sure that you know it all beforehand. They'll be more impressed with you that way, and more willing to give out raises.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Same as SirBooks with my LFS. You either know what you're talking about or you don't get hired. It's actually sort of expected that you know a lot about fish, or you wouldn't be applying to work at a fish store.

There are exceptions though. Yesterday a guy came in saying that he wanted to get a job at our LFS. He seemed nice enough, but we soon realized that he knew absolutely nothing about fish. I was talking to him and he asked while pointing to a sea anenome, "Can I put one of these with my betta?". And he was totally serious. We got him an application to be polite, but needless to say we won't be hiring him. What good is an employee if they can't even answer a simple question for a customer? That's just the way it goes.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

It makes me bad when I go to the lfs and I know more than the employees and yet they won't hire me.

haha funny Cory.. rofl..you should have told him no but they get along good with african clawed albino frogs..in a fish bowl.

The goober at one of my LFS's had a clown pleco. I couldn't remember the max size of it but I asked him how big would he get. He said "get 3 they only get as big as your aquarium". I chuckled to my self and bought a rubber nose LOL.

At my LFS one of the workers is the daughter of the owner. She knows absolutely nothing. You can always tell when she has been feeding the tank as there is big flakes lying around. But on the other hand, another worker, is probably the most experienced person I know in fish keeping. (She is only about 20 too.)

2 of the aquariums I have been to, told me to come back when I was 15 and they would give me a job! One guy said I knew about as much as their employies!

It's better to read some books & do research, before trying for a job. I think that it's vital to know alot of things about fish, or else you wouldn't be employed.


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