Been To My Lfs This Morning.......

[oscar52]

..... noticed one of their display tanks, completely unplanted (unless you count plastic) with standard box/sponge filter, and another small power head filter, and also an air pump.

A 300 litre tank containing,
10 assorted veiltail orandas (none of which were particularly small)
2 green tench (around 8 - 10oz each)
and 1 small plec.

Im no expert (yet) but even i could see this was overstocked.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Lfs often overstock their tanks as the fish are often quickly sold on and all lfs have massive filtration (or should do). They shouldn't do it really, but it doesn't have the same consequences for them as it would do keeping the fish in a permanently overstocked tank.

My main issue with the shop would be that they are stocking green tench in a fish tank, which could make customers think that these fish are suited to tanks, which is anything but the truth. You only have to see this pic of a guy holding one to see how big some of these fish can get;

http/www.clawford.co.uk/coarse.htm#tenchg

They are shoaling fish and can easily grow to 15inches long, even 28inches long is not unheard of.

 

[b.c.f.c]

2bh tench can look rarther nice in a tank but are very unsuited to tank life and are mainly for big ponds or lakes etc.but i tend to notice that tench are not a very attractive fish in ponds and look very dull and go unnoticed in a big pond most the time IMO.
so rearly i dont see why they tend to put tanch for sale in fish stores as there real place is in a huge lake with plenty of room to swim freely and grow to their true size in a nice environment.

 

[oscar52]

Lfs often overstock their tanks as the fish are often quickly sold on and all lfs have massive filtration (or should do). They shouldn't do it really, but it doesn't have the same consequences for them as it would do keeping the fish in a permanently overstocked tank.

true, but as i said this was a display tank, none of fish were for sale.

but i agree that tench should never be put in tanks ..... and 15" is quite small for a tench..... although the bigger ones, most of their weight is in their gut.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Lfs often overstock their tanks as the fish are often quickly sold on and all lfs have massive filtration (or should do). They shouldn't do it really, but it doesn't have the same consequences for them as it would do keeping the fish in a permanently overstocked tank.

true, but as i said this was a display tank, none of fish were for sale.

but i agree that tench should never be put in tanks ..... and 15" is quite small for a tench..... although the bigger ones, most of their weight is in their gut.

Thats not good at all then if they are not for sale, but are instead permanent residents- one of my lfs has a similar thing going with overstocked display tanks, although thankfully they have been reducing the stocking a bit in them.
You should have a word with the owner of the shop, either that, or take your buisness elsewhere and make a note of it to others who may go there .