Disappointed by Big Al's

[Undawada]

Ugh. I went to Big Al's recently, and as I was looking over the fish I found a tank full of "Jellybean Tetras"... There was even a sticker on the glass where they usually give information about the species that said "Painted Fish". Why would they advertise that fact? Isn't the purpose of painting fish to trick inexperienced hobbyists?

I never would have thought Big Al's would carry painted fish, but there you have it. In retrospect I probably should have brought it up with the manager, but I was shocked and just left.

I used to have respect for that store...

 

[mandi]

Aw that disapoints me. I've never been to a Big Al's store (none around where I live) but I have ordered from them online in the past. Guess I shouldn't do that any more.

 

[yvez9]

aren't big al's store franchises?

Don't blame one big al's owner for lousy work on the entire company. If anything, you should write an e-mail to the head office to let them know. The Big Al's in Montreal doesn't have dyed fish, or I have never seen them anyway....

 

[StarOrbs]

Aw that disapoints me. I've never been to a Big Al's store (none around where I live) but I have ordered from them online in the past. Guess I shouldn't do that any more.

I personally think they shouldn't "paint" fish but still even if they have the cheapest price I'm still going to buy from them. Unless of course they don't have the lowest price.

 

[Undawada]

As an update, my conscience got the better of me and I sent an email:

I encourage anyone who has shopped there and is upset by this to do the same.
The email address is:
asaul@aquariumservices.com

This is what I wrote:

I am an experienced fishkeeper who lives in Ottawa. I regularly buy my food, dechlorinator, test kits, fish, new equipment and other supplies from your location on Innes Rd.

I have even reccomended many new hobbyists to your store. It is for these reasons I was quite disturbed to find a tank full of "Jellybean Tetras" in your store. Painted or dyed fish are not desirible by the consumer, as they are prone to disease and early death. The specimens who survive long enough will lose their colour anyway.

An article published in Practical Fishkeeping regarding the issue : http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=72

Dyes Induline, Nigrosine, and Benzinide dyes, commonly used in printers, are also used in the dyeing of fish. These dyes are carcinogenic and lower the life expentancy of fish exposed to them.
A study on these dyes : http/www.gpmu.org.uk/hs/hsbladcanc.html

Dyeing fish is cruel. Dyeing fish does not benefit the consumer. Dyeing fish does not benefit the vendor, as it drives knowledgeable fishkeepers away from your store. More and more people will learn about this despicable practice until it is outcast from reputable stores.

I will not shop at your store if it continues to carry dyed fish, as there are several alternative stores that do not. I have shared this discovery on internet fishkeeping message boards, and told my fellow hobbyists. Many of these people are your customers, either at your stores or online. Their sentiments and disgust echo my own.

Please, please, please recover your store's reputation and don't order any more painted fish.

Sincerely,
[name edited]

 

[freddyk]

Big Al's is a multi million dollar corporation that could not care less what we write, because for every one of us ther are a thousand other people who could also not care less.

Big Al's is devoted to quantity over quality, and low prices - the wallmart of fish. They have no scruples, and this has been the same for any I've been in. If it sells, they sell it, period.

I actually found a congo tetra blind in one eye, alone in a tank with other non-conspecifics. I told them I'd take it off their hands, seeing as I have a nice shoal it could fit right into. They wouldn't give it away, told me it would sell within a few days. Two weeks later it's still there. I asked if they'd changed their mind but no, they'd rather let it die in that tank then give anything away, and though I'd like to save the fish I refuse to pay for damaged goods. Anyway, just a story on how much they care. They also assured me, many years ago, that two Oscar cichlids would do just fine in a 30 gallon tank. But then, that's nothing new.

Anyway, at least here in Toronto Big Als has knocked every independent out of business, and for any town that still has independents I really really encourage you to support them before it's too late. Yes they cost more, but money isn't everything. Cheers

 

[Undawada]

I've always supported what I thought were reputable local companies.

I've learned quite a bit lately. I thought Big Al's was a local chain (Ottawa and Toronto) but after looking at their website I see that's not the case.

 

[cometcattle]

The sad thing, IMO, is that people continue to buy dyed fish.

 

[yvez9]

a local store in montreal called Aquarius has been in business for many years now.

Most employees are very nice although some of them are quite arrogant, overall service and prices are good. The place is always crowded with people and they carry lots of different fish.

Most of their tanks are running off a huge filter but some have their own sponge filters or power filters, depending on the size of the tank. The Discus are kept in a Discus tank. Lots of plants and wood, they are never overstocked in the tank. They take impressive care of their fish for a store. They have a quite good selection of stock, though Big Al's has way more hardware then they do. The fish quality is way better at Aquarius. I must say the service at Big Al's is very good and their fish quality is pretty good too.

However, I always g to the Nature Pet Centre near my place. the guy in the fish section is very nice and knowledgeable and their prices are good.

 

[Undawada]

I got a reply to my email I sent yesterday.

Hi, [name removed] here-I used to be the fishroom manager of the
Misssisauga location for many years, and am now in charge of the livestock
depts at 3 Toronto-area stores.We have been receiving more and more
complaints about dyed fish and also hybridising-both practises very
prevelant in Asia for some time now.I intend to bring up the topic at our
next fishroom managers meeting this spring,and thank you for the links. I'm
not sure if you are aware that the majority of our locations (including the
two Ottawa stores) are franchises,and I'm not certain whether the franchise
agreement has anything in it that would force an owner to stop carrying a
certain fish species;but I will also check into this.Have you brought your
concerns to the fishroom manager and owner there? That would honestly be
your best course of action.If you haven't I would be happy to forward your
email to them.I cannot guarantee you at this point that we will be able to
change anything;but I do give you my word that your input is valued,and that
the subject will be given serious consideration.

Regards,
[name removed]

I emailled him back, hopefully something gets done. At least someone answered

 

[littlefishie]

At least when they answered, they seemed to care.

I complained once in a fish store and they were like 'Well, don't buy it then.'

Pssh.

 

[gale]

Wow that's about as good an answer as you can expect. All of the stores around me (within an hour-I haven't ventured any further than that) sell dyed fish.

 

[yvez9]

stores around here don't sell dyed fish, or i have never seen any. It's that the guy responded with a genuine letter, not just an automated answering service

 

[wer34]

I think u see the opposite of what big als what doing. see the big als near my place will sometimes get mystery fish in with there orders if the supplier has anything extra to try to sell, and i have seen this done at my big als, they have gotten mystery dyed fish before and they actually stated the fish were dyed on the tank so that the people who were buying the fish knew that that had been done. so maybe they had that on the tank for that reason? thats just my 2cents

 

[desley]

I think if we can all spread the word that painted fish should NOT be purchased .. then places like Big Al will not stock "unsaleable" items. The rule is to never buy them and if they are stuck with the stock .. they will not order more and hopefully if the cycle continues .. the painted fish will cease to exist.