Couldn't sleep

[smb7676]

my 10 gal is cycled and I have some algea in there so I called my LFS to see if they had any zebra or common ottos. They didn't but I had some things I had to go get so I thought I'd stop at this other pet store that really is a reptile place but has some where in the neighborhood of 75-90 tanks. I HAD HEARD THEY WERE A GOOD STORE!!!!! They are NOT.
There were dead fish in many of the tanks. And a ton of fish missing tails fins or with side sores. There were 5 grown puffers in a ten gal just beating the hell out of each other. Fish eating fish. One whole tank of Roseline sharks had dropsy. They also had a marine puffer that was so ill it would just roll and bounce across the tank in the current and if another fish came near it it would try to swim away and bash itself into the tank. I was almost in tears when I pointed the puffer out and the guy said that was puffer behavior. it had no tail fin and ratty rotted side fins. Some dad was buying mollies for his son when the son pointed out a dead fish one rubbing on the gravel and one without an eye and the dad just said what one do you want?!!!! I left and was in tears and had really bad dreams alll night about all those suffering fish. It was worse than WALMART .
IT sucks. I wanted to buy a bunch of fish and save them but it wouldn't help and with out a ton of cycled hospital tanks I would make very little differance to the ones I brought home.
Thanks I feel a bit better I just hope I sleep better tonight maybe I'll go to my LFS and see some happy fishy and get him there is a bit of room in the big tank.

 

[colegamby]

i went to a place like that here where i live. This guy must have bought an old warehouse and filled it with homemade tanks. The fish were in terrible condition. Most had fins eaten off he had huge amazing oscars 3 to a 20 gallon. it smelled of fish so bad in there. it really is a shame people do this type of thing to fish.

 

[BettaMomma]

Next time you're in the store and you have the courage, say something - or ask to speak to a manager. Start pointing out the things that are wrong, and once they get the hint that customers are noticing that a LOT of things are wrong, they do take notice.

Whether or not they choose to do anything about it is a completely different story.

And, if you don't have the courage to say something while you're there, go home and call.

OR.. get on here and pm me or just post. I have called and complained about one thing or another to several stores on behalf of folks that weren't comfortable with confronting store owners or managers. I'm not scared of them - and I am particularly fond of sticking up for the little voiceless wonders of this world.

by the way - that goes for any store, not just the one you were in.
What was the store you were in, and where was it... by the way???

 

[smb7676]

speak to a manager

And, if you don't have the courage to say something while you're there, go home and call.

What was the store you were in, and where was it... by the way???

(When I left it was closing time)So I called yesterday to speak to the manager and got good old Rick the conversation went like this and I swear I'm not embellishing this.

I call and have a firm but nice tone ( I figured pissed off B**** would get me nowhere)

I get Rick
I say I had some "complaints about their fish tanks"

"Our tanks what one "

"Well actuall I have a list, I'll start with the puffers"
cut off

"Puffers are fin nippers what would you like us to do?"

"ok what about your Roseline sharks, or your tetra"
cut off again
"Straight up our tanks are fine, fish die, they get stressed out"
"Do you have hospital tanks"
cut off
" F**K off"
"What "
"F**K off you don't know S**T"
"OK well I guess if I don't know anything I just call ever news channel and paper, Better buisness b and agence I can find that will listen as well as tell everyone I find not to EVER EVER SHOP AT YOUR STORE"
covers phone not real well
"This lady on the phone says she is going to ( quotes what I said ) You want me to tell her to get f***ed and hang up or what?"
John comes on owner
I Go over story again and he says to me
" I won't try to change your mind I can see at this point your very upset"
I calm down a bit and say " I wasn't until I was told to get F***ed by your manager so not only do you have horrable tanks but you have no clue how to hire a manager!!!! so trust me my mind is made up and I'll be sure everyone I can find knows about it"
" Sorry you had a bad time but our fish are happy"
"uygh good bye"
I was fuming I could not belive it !!!!!
Pets Plus in Lockport, NY will never get any money from my pocket even if they did a 180 and put one fish per 20 gal full of plants. And the fish carried little signs saying "Don't buy us we love it here" I have no tolarance for bad customer service. I didn't exspect them to love me but I really did not excpect to be freaked out on. I could see it if I had started that way but I didn't.

 

[sgstvoy]

Fortunately LFSs here have a WAY better standard of living for fishes, though that couldn't be said the same for some of the more novice salesman at a reputable LFS. I saw a swordtail without an eye once! Was so cute but scary at the same time.

 

[guppygirl]

I would call a paper about it. Get them to do a big story on it, and if the lfs doesn't get it, post a clipping on their desk or something. That should make them shape up pretty quickly.

 

[sgstvoy]

The conditions you describe, IMHO, is tantamount to animal curelty. Call the papers, write to them. Try to see if they are cerified (all LFS in Singapore need certification).

To keep fishes in such deplorable conditions, how sad..

 

[guppygirl]

you could also call the PETA to report animal cruelty.
And if you do contact a paper, contact more than just one.

 

[abstract]

i know it's quite a drive from lockport (almost 100 miles and I'm sure buffalo is much closer and i KNOW they have some great shops), but if you're ever in the rocheseter area you should really check out PetWorld Aqua Shoppe on Ridge Road in Greece....they have nothing special, but provide the most amazing customer service, are extremely knowledgeable, and can help you get your hands on anything you could ever need within only a couple weeks max...

it's good to hear that you had enough courage to call and complain - sometimes there is nothing you can do - if they cant respect YOU as a customer (and a human), how could they possibly respect the fish they care for?

on a side note, and completely unrelated to fish (sorry) - i just saw this article on CNN...what do you have to say BettaMomma? i know you love your fish, how could they do something like this to cats?? http/www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/04/12...s.ap/index.html

 

[BettaMomma]

That will NEVER pass here in Madison.
I can just see it - if it would pass (which I would NEVER) but if it would, someone will go out and shoot little fluffy from next door, then the next door neighbor will get pissed and go back and shoot their neighbor, etc. etc.

It is the stupidest idea I have EVER heard.

uugh.

 

[abstract]

It is the stupidest idea I have EVER heard.

i completely agree...and all because wild cats are supposedly killing too many birds...what better way to stop killing with more senseless killing