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I got a job after like a month of looking for one. I now work at Petco. And I get to work with the fishies and tell people what kind of fish they can get and about the cycle and all that fun stuff. It's pretty fun now that the managers found out I'm a fish person and can do all that. And the resident fish guy (who has been keeping fish for about as long as I have and may know slightly more... except maybe about plants... muahaha) is really glad he actually has help now because I guess I'm the only very knowledgeable-about-fish person who has worked there besides him.

Also he told me lots of handy information... apparently the reason chain pet stores (like Petco) have a bad rap is because the shipments of fish that we get aren't very healthy. But it is good because we do have a 15-Day warranty and at least at the place I work at some pretty knowledgeable staff. (one manager and me and the other guy) So more or less even with anyplace else IMO. And I like having the chance to talk to someone on about the same level about fish and everything. I don't think I've ever known anyone IRL who has been so knowledgeable.

PS - if you've been wondering where I've been I've been enjoying my summer break

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the shipments of fish that we get aren't very healthy

so order someplace different?

:\ I think the corporate people decide where the fish come from unfortunately. Can't do anything about that. I wish I could.

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Coolios bet your realy happy about that so is that the only thing that you do ohh and how many water changes do petco do?

Talk to the manager?

No it's not the only thing I do - I get to make everything look nice in the store and clean cages and water reptiles and all sorts of cool stuff like that. But I like answering questions like the one a guy had today about why his new tank had an ammonia spike (talked to him about the cycle and how long it takes and everything)... and different people asking about compatibility and trying my best to sell people bettas and NOT goldfish for bowls. There is this one gal there who keeps selling goldies for bowls. I guess she thinks she knows what she's doing (apparently she has several marine tanks at home... which IMO doesn't mean she really knows that much about them... says she completely changes the filter media every two weeks...) I try to correct her and guide her toward better options when I can.

As for how many water changes - I don't know. I haven't done any water changes myself - I've only topped up the sumps. (well not really topped but filled to the line). I'm pretty sure the water (except in the feeder tanks... that's pretty gross) is fairly healthy though.

As for the manager... hmm... a. Mike probably already had and b. the managers are pretty scary... especially one - today she said the cash register worked when she was watching because it knew she had a minivan out back she would run it over with if it didn't work. I believed her. But then again she definitely cares about the animals... doesn't let people handle the chinchillas because it stresses them out too much etc.

Today was a pretty bad day. I had a terrible time chasiering and it was really busy and I had to rush to get there and I was so stressed out for the first hour or so I forgot to give two people their change and had to have that manager come and open the register... among other things. That one girl with the marine tanks at home is really under my skin too. Argh. At least I know she's not working the next time I am. Maybe I should come up with a nickname to refer to her in this thread. "Goldfish Queen" should suffice.

But overall I like my job. I've gotten more experience with reptiles in this last weekend then I have cumulatively over my entire life (mom never let me keep herps)! Including being bitten by a tokay gecko but he hardly even broke the skin)..

Okay I've rambled enough for one evening...

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Hey you know what's cool? The bettas recently got bigger cups! They're like 4x the size of normal. Very nice indeed.

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I noticed that at the Petco near here, too... bigger cups. *ponders* I've heard that from a few people, actually. Perhaps Petco as a whole decided to go for bigger cups? Yay for them.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I think they did

Well, blah. My "fish guy" friend told me he got a second job now. He sets up high end marine tanks with equipment in the thousand-dollar range. (like $3000-$4000 protein skimmers) Equipment I only dream of looking at... *sigh* well, maybe if I worked at Petco for a couple of years specializing in fish then I would have a chance at a job like that...

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