Advice on cruelty to fish

[Betta*b*Happy!]

Hi all,

I was at a LFS yesterday and was appauled at the way they are keeping fish and the advice they were giving.

They had bettas in tiny tiny bowls no bigger than 1.5 inch round and they have been there weeks.

They have a 2.5 foot catfish in a 4 foot tank.

They have several large tanks where the fish can't swim more than 3 inch without bumping into another.

And while i was there i heard the store boy saying to a customer who had brought some water from his cycling tank in 'OK so these results mean you have a little bit of ammonia and nitrite in your tank, you've had it running for just over a week so you can start putting fish in now'.

I was in tears as I left.

Is there no-one i can report them to? Fish are alive too!

 

[The-Wolf]

yes there is something you can do
contact your local council, they are the ones that issue the license for the pet shop and they are the ones that can enforce improvements, should they deem it is required.

 

[Betta*b*Happy!]

Thankyou wolf your advice is much appreciated.

Are there any Advising bodies that produce guidelines as to how fish should be kept so i can obtain some more information. Not everyone see's a problem with keeping fish in tiny tanks.

 

[rixy]

i hate fish shops like that.all of us are always learning,and we need advice.lfs should be the place to go.report the shop.hope they get closed down.

 

[emma12321]

Contact environmental health. This wasn't a certain shop in Barnborough was it? They have had that red tail in that tank for years poor thing can barely move. I have complained about the bettas on many occasions and have stopped going now.

Emma

 

[bunjiweb]

Also check to see if they are a member of OATA etc.

If they have a petshop liscense they are already in breech of it, because the petshop liscense states that the staff will endevour to send the pet to the best possible environment it possibly can.

If they can't even do this themselves then theres something very wrong..

You have to understand that fish in fish shops will be cramped, but if it is truly terrible conditions, and the staff are either lying our utterly idiotic, then they need to be sorted out...

Find out if they are part of the OATA, if they are then they need reporting to OATA. If they aren't then report them to your local council, who will inspect them to see if they are still able to hold a valid pet shop liscense.

Ben

 

[Betta*b*Happy!]

See the thing is i know that fish in fish shops will be overstocked and i can accept this knowing that they will usually be going on to a better future. But the guys in the big tank and the cat fish are 'pets' of the shop and not for sale.

I'll definatly be looking into it.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[xxSarahxx]

I had a similar problem - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=103455&hl=
It's worth talking to the manager and say that you are considering reporting them. Before this though take some pictures of the fish so you have evidence. See what they say and then take it from there.
It is difficult as the pacu in this thread was also a 'pet' for the store and it was just not right. Apalling in fact.
Keep us updated on what you do and what happens with it all. Good luck. Fight for them, someone has to!

 

[The-Wolf]

Find out if they are part of the OATA, if they are then they need reporting to OATA. If they aren't then report them to your local council, who will inspect them to see if they are still able to hold a valid pet shop liscense.
Ben

[snapback]880796[/snapback]​

good one Ben, I forgot about OATA

here are oatas details
Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association
Wessex House
40 Station Road
Westbury
Wiltshire
BA13 3JN

Tel: 0870 043 4013
Website: www.ornamentalfish.org/

 

[OohFeeshy]

I also find loud comments helpful.Take a friend with you, comment in very loud (but not OTT) voices on how awful it is. Photos might help too, its no good them doing an inspection if they clean it up for them, is it?

 

[Weeze]

I also have had similar experiences, especially with one well known pet chainstore. They seem to latch on to inexperienced novices like myself (only started in March ahh!) and sell anything e.g I have a four inch sailfin plec in a 96l tank. Had no idea how big he will eventually get. Sales asst. was very vague when asked. Also been sold red serpae tetras from a local shop. They lasted two days in the tank before i returned them as everything in the tank had chunks biten out out of them. They obviously couldnt get rid of them because of their nippiness until gulible, little old me came in. It is really hard when you are new to this as it can be so complicated knowing suitability of fish. You rely on these people to give you the correct advise. I have even had to point out dead and ill looking fish in tanks on a number of occaisions in the afore mentioned pet shop, with the response, "Yeah , Yeah, i'll sort it out later". I think you need a real passion for fish when you work in these places, to have a care about fish welfare so that you can give peple the correct advise, not just make a good profit.
Luckily enough i have found a good local aquatics centre who have always given me good honest advise and healthy fish, have also wiped the local library out of tropical fish books. Also found this ace website!