Convincing Idiots!

[sXeLifer]

So my mum and dad bought one of those fluval edge tanks and have stocked it based on "advice" from a LFS theyhave got:
2x white gouramis both quite big.
2x Glass cats
2x platy's
2x common plecos......
and 2x dwarf gouramis, neons.

I have been moaning and lecturing them since they bought this tank and stocked it but im just not getting through to them, i even gave them a 65L bowfront to use them and they haven't even bothered using it. It really annoys me that they dont seem to care, esp about one of the gouramis as he can be at the top of the tank and his feelers almost touch the substrate, hes crammed in there!

Please give me some advice on convincing them, every time i visit them the situation seems to be looking worse and worse.

Cheers
Dan

 

[Danbarb]

It's really sad that they are overstocking like this, as soon as I realised I was overstocked I took some fish back to the LFS. It's rather cruel!

They might have to learn the hard way once fish die, which is not a nice way to go for the fish. Perhaps offer to setup their fish in the bigger tank for them? Or show them some pictures of a bigger tank that is planted and how much nicer it can look. A bit of convincing!

It's ridiculous they got this sort of advice from a LFS, some of them just want to sell fish rather than responsibly sell them.

Perhaps try showing them some of the forums on here that have other people that have had overstocking issues... And explain to them what can happen when fish can get stressed and that if they get a disease in there, the other fish might catch it and they'll lose the lot.

I suppose they might change if they get emotionally attached to the fish, but I hate irresponsible people that shove 10 fish in a fishbowl and think that is OK. No offense but you get what I mean.

I feel for you dude, I've seen some weird stocking arrangements before with loads of fish crammed in, and people that want fish JUST for ornamental purposes are foolish in my eyes. Yes, they're fun and attractive, but it's decent and proper to see happy fish!!

 

[sXeLifer]

See the problem is that every timei talk about fish diseases and problems they can get with the fish fighting, they just roll their eyes at me as if to say "oh dan, you nerd" which i am but doesnt that prove that i know my stuff? I've shown them my tank and even offered to take a couple of the fish to my tank 70 miles away but to no avail. I hate seeing fish die because of this idiocy and lies that the LFS has been telling. The fish are beautiful but I think it's unfair to allow them to be killed by them being clueless.

 

[Verminator89]

Best bet get them on here and show them a few posts. Not just from this thread, but other similarly related topics where-by fish stocking is a problem. A collection of nerds is better than one right

I know the feeling of people rolling their eyes. I'm known at work for my avid enthusiasm for everything aquatic, and the gf's side of the family think i'm borderline phycotic.

It's a shame when people can be so naive, and its 10 times worse when its family!

 

[Littlemonkey]

LOL. I thought I was the only one. Why don't you offer to get and set up the bow front for them. Or bite the bullet and be blunt and just tell them how cruel they are being. But give them a hug afterwards to show you are saying it because you care.

 

[Ben M]

I no how you feel, I had the same problem last year with my family. My brother was dead set on getting a biorb and putting half a dozen goldfish in it. It took months to talk him around, and he now has a juwel lido 120 tropical community.

I think the best thing you can do is to show your parents the forum, and try to get them to join, or at least read some related topics. You could also show pictures of how big the fish could grow (e.g the common plecos and the gouramis which I'm guessing are kissing gouramis?). Make sure you don't give up; keep trying, that's what made my brother change his mind.

cheers

 

[Danbarb]

Totally agree with everything said!

My mother is fed up with me talking about fish now! She is like why do you keep talking about what you are doing next etc etc etc. I don't think she realises how addictive fishkeeping is!

I hope they do listen to you, but yeah the best thing to do would be to show them what you can do with a bigger tank... and offer to set it up definitely. Otherwise, they probably won't bother! I hope though that people that do have bad experiences with overstocking on LFS advise go back and complain! Because at least hopefully it will teach them that good customer service and satisfaction is better than making a quick buck!

 

[Ben M]

good customer service and satisfaction is better than making a quick buck!

The problem is, the people in the shops are just as stubborn as some of our relatives. They are convinced that they are right. When I was in a LFS once I pointed out some non aquatic plants to my grandma, and the store owner said 'they are aquatic, they grow in ponds in Asia', but he wouldn't listen when I told him that they are marginal/marsh plants, and can't live fully submersed. He still sells them.

cheers

 

[Rogue4Fish]

Why don't you show them picture of how big the fish get and point out they physically won't fit in the tank once their grown!

Oh, and point out they'll probably die before that anyway.

 

[Lolly123]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your parents being quite stubborn about their tank. As you said, they obviously are believing the rubbish they are being told and as a result those fish will suffer.

If I were you, I'd go round there with some fish bags and all the accessories you need, net the ones that are most unsuitable, bag them up and take them home to your aquarium or even rehome them somewhere else, with or without your parents permission. Now I know that this seems quite harsh and may cause a little wave of disagreement/tension, but if you do stand by and let those fish suffer, with even a possibility of death, I think you are going to feel extra bad because you seem like a very compassionate person. You can always say that you are going to take them, because its cruel, you obviously know more than them and you can replace the ones you took with something suitable. To be honest, I don't see that you have any other choice, they obviously won't listen to an experiences fish keeper or even compromise so maybe you have to put your foot down.

After all, they might be pi**ed at first, but you are their son, and i'm sure you've done worse than take a few fish away from them. They can't stay miffed for too long and in the long run you'd have done everything you can to stop those poor little fishy souls from suffering quite horribly.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I got this when I rescued my new Betta from a 1 litre box last week. I got told by my sister's friend (who has a BF who thinks he knows about fish) that there was no need for me to do because Bettas don't need filters and are perfectly happy in little boxes.

I asked her why ammonia etc can posion other fish but not Bettas to which I'm still waiting for an answer.