Don't go to Pets at home/Petsmart!!

[Redoscar12]

My petco and petsmart are really good around here

 

[Zak Ursulo]

This all suprises me also, my local petsmart is quite good. Ive never seen a floater/sinker in the tanks.. and they have even asked me what worked in curing a couple of my sick fish cuz they had a bug that was going around in the tanks.

 

[Jo]

i think it's great that your speaking here...it's a good place to spread ideas. keep it up

.

Thanks for the support, I@ve got a good mind to go back in tomorrow and comment on how badly they kept their fish, but I think that I'll be more co-herant writing a letter, so might try that...

I'm glad that some of you have had some good experiances with petsmart, I'm tempted to start an anti petsmart campaign tho (but fear of being sued stops me!)

 

[cassandra]

it's so sad when i go in a fish store and see fish unhappy or dead (which i see alot of) and if you think about it theres really nothing we fish lovers can do about it unless we buy a fish store ( big one ) and try to make all fish happy but only in are sweet dreams but writing a letter is a good idea im going to do that thanks

 

[Jo]

maybe if we all clubbed together we could...I'd happily give up work to run a fish store all day!!!

 

[cassandra]

yah me too

 

[gi4get]

i think your choosing to write a letter rather than speaking with someone is wise although i think it's still a good idea to go back to take another look at the tanks. in issues like this, we fish addict gotta stick together!

 

[SneakBetta]

My Petco is excellent!! My Petsmart is ok. They need to take care of their fish better.

 

[Chunandler]

Sorry but your totally wrong..petsmart have much better aquariums around here than any of the local stores...They have gravel, clean tanks, decorations, and a little lettuce for the good times. joy

 

[Jo]

Thats good Chunandler, you're lucky to have a good shop close to you, the one by me has potential and the customer base to be fantastic. It must differe from store to store and from country to country by the sound of it...

 

[StiX]

I think it really depends on the staff, if they employ someone who knows at least a fair amount about fish, then the fish may well be looked after better, but if they get someone who has never even kept fish before (which I think they often do?) then they arent going to be looked after anywhere near aswell. I'm not sure if these places get people to specifically look after their fish section, of if they just get people who look after all the livestock...

 

[Fuzzy]

U should talk to the manager about this. If that doesnt work u could spread the word, try to get people to buy them. If none of that works u could go to a little bit more drastic measurs, sue petsmart for miss treatment of animals.

 

[snowbirdmo62]

I am just disgusted, I went to a local well known pet store chain, and I just couldn't believe the laziness in keeping up the tanks, and the fish. There were numerous dead plecostamus's in the bottom, so bad that they looked like pieces of wood. my husband asked if it was a normal practice to leave dead fish in the tank, and their excuse was that they just got them in today.... blah, blah, blah..... She then stuck her hand in the tank and assumed that since the one was barely moving, it was okay! needless to say, they didn'y get any of my business, and I will never go back again. I am very picky on my fish, and it is obvious to me what is healthy, and what isn't. Anyway.... just my experience at a well known pet store.

 

[Phase2]

I have a good local supplier and I buy all my fish from there.....the guy there really knows his stuff ....but for equipment the shop is expensive....but it is part of a garden centre and really good stock and they will order particular fish if required.

 

[Inchworm]

i understand that many people use these pet supermarkets as they are cheaper than your local lfs (some of them are your nearest fish supplier), but the advice that they (in my experience) give out in your lfs is worth paying the (usually little) difference in price.
i personally would never use anyone but one or two trusted lfs's cos if we don't support them, we lose them. i have lost count of the number of people who have opened shops locally only to have them close a few months later due to lack of business (and we don't even have a petsmart etc. in the region).

Well, thank you, Aberdeen Aquarist. I've been saying this since I've joined this forum. You saved me from having to say it again!

It's difficult to get any small business off the ground and it must be even harder when you are selling fish that have to be fed and kept up. These shopkeepers deserve our respect and gratitude.

They are the ones that keep the hobby going by carrying the more unusual fish and by helping their customers by giving sound advice based on experience. They reward your patronage in many ways. If you want to special order a fish or piece of equipment they will do it. If your fish becomes ill, they have knowledge of the medications available and from conversations with their customers and their own experience, can suggest a good one from the many available.

With the exception of people who live in areas where there is just no other options, I don't know why anyone would buy fish from a chain store.