Disgusted with Pet Store

[jvis0606]

I passed by a Petco and Petsmart yesterday, and have stopped into a Petland on occasion, to see what fish I might want to add next and I am so disgusted by what I have seen there! Each tank was filled with disease, it was horrendous. Why would pet stores keep their tanks like that? Blantant fin rot and pointed scales and fungus in one tank, even one dead fish floating about, and no one there cared. I am scared to ever buy another fish again!

When they first receive the fish, is that the best time to get them? I hear they get new shipments on Wednesdays. Do they ever change the water or treat the fish they get? How do pet shops work??

 

[chew-able]

Unfortunately this tends to be the case with big chain pet shops that have fish as just one section in the store. The people who work there tend to have little or no experiance in fish and thus there is no wonder the tanks are in such a state.

Now I know there are exceptions to this rule and one of them is just down the road from me. There is a bloke called john who runs the fish section who knows more than most people. But he'll be the first person to tell you......if you can buy fish from a dedicated aquatic store you'll get better quality.

Chew

 

[White Whale]

Which Petco/Petlands did you visit? I may be able to tell you about each one of them.

 

[Ben]

just makes me sad to hear about these places

 

[skimpy]

I agree, I use a dedicated aquatic store and they are fantastic. They keep a record of the fish you have bought, won't let you too many than would be good for your tank or that might grow too big for your tank and won't sell anyone fish unless they bring a sample of their water for testing.

This shop closes on Monday and Tuesday for maintenance and cleaning. Although the shop closes two days a week, (putting fish before profit) they have an answerphone and if you leave an urgent message or have a problem they will call you straight back.

I wish more shops were like this.

I know we can't advertise but if i had my way I would tell everyone to go there.

 

[MrMashashin]

omg were you in batavia illinois?

 

[lagrant]

Our nearest petsmarts terrible to, they always have tanks with dead fish, it's awfull to see, and the tanks are really messy to, they really should leave it to people who know what they are doing. The rules should be far more strict on places that sell livestock!

 

[chew-able]

The problem is......to be a pet store they have to have a licence in the UK and to get a licence they have to pass an inspection from their local coucil pet store inspector. And as things go.....generally they are interested in the well being of fury things and not our wet friends.

It doesn't stop their.....try reporting it to the RSPCA and they couldn't care alot either.

You only have to look at the fact that importing dyed fish is not illegal. Its well known in our aquatic circles that this process causes hurrific suffering for the fish. But no one in the general public cares so the RSPCA don't get involved so nothing is done about it. I'm considering a letter to Practical Fishkeeping as they are currently campaigning against this, suggesting we all sign a patition and try getting it banned at the import stage. If there is no market these poor creatures the process should stop. Oh and I'd put money on if someone was injecting puppies with dye they'd be in court within a week and all over the paper!!!!

OK......1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.......I've calmed now.......rant over!!!


Chew

 

[guppymonkey]

I wouldn't place blame on all chain pet stores. I think there is just as much abuse being done at small locally owned pet businesses. A main reason is laziness. Unless the store managers and employees are really dedicated the animals end up suffering. The petsmart near where I live hardly ever has problems with their fish. The main problem they has is that their water is on a flow through system so that all of the tanks have the same water. That makes it difficult when a disease starts to spread. But I have hardly ever seen dead fish in the tanks. It all depends on how the business is being run. Its not right to blame all petsmarts because of some bad ones.

 

[bunjiweb]

IF PFK produce a proper big potition that will be presented to members of parliament I will sign it.

I would also go to my local MP If I thought he would listen.

Fish cruelty is a horrible thing that most people dont care about because they arent cuddely creatures you can pick up and squeeze *sigh*

Ben

 

[Link]

Doesn't matter who they are, whether they are a large chain, a family run business or what, too many (not all though) are too interested in ££££ or $$$$.
If they can save some cash by overcrowding a tank or not feeding the fish they will.
My wife went for a job six years ago at the local Petsmart, now Pets at Home. She had spent most of her life keeping and breeding various animals and has a Btec 1st Diploma in Small Animal care. She did not get the job because...quote: She didn't have enough retail experience. That shows that they aint that bothered that you know how to look after an animal properly as long as you can sell it. Besides there will always be someone else in the shop that does know
You can go into most non-chain pets stores and get served by someone who is quite young, in their teens for example but they still know what they are doing. If you go in Pets at Home you normally get served by some muppet that cant even read, never mind advise you on your purchase. There may be people on here that work in Pets at Home and do a great job, which I aint denying. I'm just going by the stores that I've been in.
Maybe if people thought more about the animals and less about the ££££ or $$$$ the world would be a better place.

 

[Fish Buddy]

The whole world would be a better place if huge and even small corporations didn't think money was their top priority.
Anyway, to answer the question about the type of filter being used in pet stores (or at least the type of filter Petsmart has): They have a million dollar unit that runs water through a 'sponge' filter (more like floss) then through some thing else (Like carbon) then goes through numerous UV steralizers and then to the tanks. Hooked up to this filter is a sensor that senses if the filter is working properly because that is always a good thing.

 

[Link]

Yeah totally Except they forget that this means that all the tanks get the same water, same temp etc. The one near me has both Goldfish and Tropicals on one system meaning either the Tropicals are cold or the Goldfish are warm. No wonder the poor fish are diseased

 

[SailfinGirl]

If you go in Pets at Home you normally get served by some muppet that cant even read, never mind advise you on your purchase.

This made me so f****** angry! My sister works in Pets At Home. Is she a muppet that can't read or know what she's on about? I wonder why people bother go in these pet stores?

She didn't have enough retail experience. That shows that they aint that bothered that you know how to look after an animal properly as long as you can sell it.

I don't know if you've ever been in a pet store, but not only do you have to sell animals, you also have to be able to sell products, therefore you need to be able to use a till, face up and put out stock correctly. Selling the animals is a small part.

Also, I'm not too worried about fish cruelty because I don't consider fish to be as high a life form as mammals. Jmho.,

 

[Link]

I was only on about the stores near me. I'm sure your sister does a great job Maybe should have made that a bit clearer

I have two friends that work in Pets At Home and ones the area manager. You should hear some of the stories he's told me about staff, then you'd see what I mean.

I've worked in aquatic shops and pet shops for most of my working life and I've spent most of the time sorting out the problems that Pets at Home had caused in one way or another. Normally giving advice when they'd sold someone ill animals or animals that were incompatible in one way or another