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can i just say.....

as nice as it is to see so many people willing to help out newbies set up a tank CORRECTLY isnt it sad that people have to come here to get quality advice? i'm not knocking this site... this site rocks! i wish i knew this site when i started out, wouldv saved me alot of heartache and $$! whats sad is that sites like this only reach the smallest percentage of aquarium buyers (especially new and unexperienced buyers who need it the most!) while others just think its simply a matter of buying a tank and putting however many pretty fish they desire in there.

there are so few LFS out there that are willing to explain to aquarists (especially beginners!) how to start and maintain a aquarium. iv NEVER seen a LFS explain how to cycle an aquarium to someone whos just bought a new setup. or ask people how big their tank is, and how many/what kind of fish they have in it before selling them more. they just scoop it, wrap it, and stick their hand out for the money! ]

the other day this guy came up to my brother while in the LFS (thinking we worked there) and asked why his 2male siamese fighting fish are killing eachother in his community tank!!

petshops give out info and FAQ sheets when you consider buying puppies/kittens etc, since when did it become "too difficult" for LFS to be helpful?

has anyone else experienced this aswell?

having said this i know there are also LFS out there that have some great (along with their not so great) staff... jus letting off a bit of steam! anyways thats my 2 cents worth!

Carlos

it happens all the time, i've only been asked twice about where things are going and in what setup... St George and South Windsor Koi Hatchery.

one thing you learn quickly is that to most people, fish are disposable pets.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

gud mornin calla, cant sleep either aye?

ya iv heard st.george was good, havent been their yet tho. kellyville pets, depending on who you get, have been pretty helpful to me too! i jus go there for the info tho coz its quite expensive!

the worst iv seen is in aquamart castle hill. nice setup but the service is pretty bad.

i gues LFS are like that because if they explained it all to everyone, m sure it would just go over the head of alot of people and they just wont bother wid a aquarium anymore and therefore business lost!

a big part of the problem here is money. the lfss just do not pay enough for quality help. i met one guy working at a mart who OWNED a fish shop for several years. his starting wage was $6.50. he was awesome, but the store was constantly understaffed and he could not spend much time with the customers. needless to say, he quit rather quickly. most of the other employees get a quick rundown on the fish they carry and are left on their own. they view their job as temporary at best.

i have found the best employees to be part-time fish enthusiasts working at a lfs for the store discount. these people are rare, but they do exist. one lfs here (out of maybe 12) is a standout in this regard.

i really enjoy all things aquatic, but i could never afford to work anywhere for minimum wage.

Don't forget the time it takes - I worked at an LFS over the summer, and explaining the cycle and what fish were good choices and why water changes are important and so on took quite a bit of time. Doing that for every single customer would mean hiring twice as many employees, so at some point you have to triage it. People who clearly know nothing get extra help; people who come in, know what they want, and aren't making bad choices (ID shark, two RTBS, etc), you just catch and sell the fish.

-Molly
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