Common Plecs £3.95 Or 3 For £8.95.

[Aqua Andy]

Hi,

I've noticed that quite a few LFS are offering for sale fish that will eventually grow to sizes allot bigger than that when they are purchased with multiple purchase discounts.

Three common Plec's would eventually need a huge tank that most fish keepers don't and wouldn't entertain having. But at 2-3" in length at the LFS they look like an option for most tanks.

The only place that I have seen any information around the tanks about the fish for sale i.e. temperament / compatibility, fully grown size, environment requirements etc is Pets at Home.

I was at a LFS yesterday and there were a couple buying fish like children in a sweet shop.

"four of those and ten of those .......".

They eventually bought around twenty to thirty fish, not all compatible and in there ideal group sizes and they will probably go into a small un-cycled tank.

I don't believe it's the customers fault. The LFS should be made to qualify each customer and check what they intend to do is correct. Obviously opinions and advice will differ from person to person, LFS to LFS.

I can't believe how poorly regulated fish and indeed all pet keeping is.

To think that I went to a pet store for advice when starting this hobby as I though that it would be the best place to start!

Thank God for this forum and the internet. Maybe these will force change?


A ranting Andy.

 

[BWBettas]

heya andy, i normally go in KOI-JOY either gorleston or lowestoft? have you ever been in them living quite close to them? anyways *COUGH*Sudbury Football Scum*COUGH*

 

[Aqua Andy]

*COUGH*Sudbury Football Scum*COUGH*

Scum ehh

Off topic:

I'm a West Ham Fan but I have been to see AFC Sudbury a few times including the FA Vase final at Upton Park.

AFC Sudbury have made the final of the FA Vase three times. I don't believe Lowestoft Town have ever made the final?

FA Vase Historical Stats

 

[morgan]

When I was looking for a Pleco in May I looked in three lfs and they all had plecs for £3.95. They were labelled and sold as Bristlenose Plecos. My "Bristlenose" is 9" now! Fortunately for the Pleco I have the means and am willing to buy a larger tank just for his benefit! I had done my research and decided a Bristlenose would be an ideal size for my tank. Just shows the best laid plans and all that......

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

There are far too many common and sailfin plecs sold for their own good, but they are the cheapest and most readily available plec for lfs's to buy and stock so that is why there are so many around. Transporting fish and getting them in the lfs tank ready for sale is not only a costly process but also a real life and death situation for the fish involved, this is where the lfs's lose the biggest quantitys of fish on average and thus profit.
You want to stock plecs, do you put all your eggs in one basket so to speak and order a couple of rare and expensive plecs and hope they make it or buy tons of cheap plecs which won't cost so much if they die? This is what lfs's have to ask themselves and most go for option 2, the probelm being that it is the large growing plecs that tend to be the cheap ones and the little ones that are expensive..

I do think with the arival of the internet in so many peoples homes though today hat people will start to have to face the fish keeping myths and facts by looking for the answers on the internet, most of the info lfs staff share with customers is the same poor "advice" people were giving out in the 70's and 80's- thing is theres a big difference in knowlege between then and now, people need to start upgrading their "facts"...Which i think is actually gradually happening now thankfully.

 

[Inchworm]

I do think with the arival of the internet in so many peoples homes though today hat people will start to have to face the fish keeping myths and facts by looking for the answers on the internet, most of the info lfs staff share with customers is the same poor "advice" people were giving out in the 70's and 80's- thing is theres a big difference in knowlege between then and now, people need to start upgrading their "facts"...Which i think is actually gradually happening now thankfully.

Here's a link to an old thread that has pictures that can be printed and handed out like business cards whenever you see people who might benefit from this forum and the help of experienced fishkeepers.


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...9&hl=cards&st=0

 

[IMCL85]

my LFS having a special on black ghost knife and pleco right now tank raise black ghost goes for 6.99 each and small common pleco at 2 for 1.99 each. Not a fans of either one of this fish grow too big and very ugly.

 

[Aqua Andy]

Here's a link to an old thread that has pictures that can be printed and handed out like business cards whenever you see people who might benefit from this forum and the help of experienced fishkeepers.


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...9&hl=cards&st=0

Great thread thanks.

You'd be brave handing them out in a LFS or LPS though! I don't think it would go down to well.

Apart from Littlefishie has anyone else distributed any?


Andy

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Aqua Andy

Sure. It's all in how you do it. For example, don't make a big issue about how bad the advise at the lfs is, just tell people that this is a friendly place where they can learn a lot more about their fish. Whatever makes people able to keep their fish healthy and happy promotes their business in the long run.