Grrrrr, So Disapointed By Lfs

[BettaBum873]

Yesterday I went to a local lfs, a decent one where I usually buy my community fish. They're the only one around that sells blue rams and i was dying to get one. So I go in yesterday all set to buy my new blue ram and I was completely apalled by what I saw sad.gif every single blue ram was covered in ich, 2 of the swordtail tanks were infested with ick, and all of the platy tanks (5 of them) the cory tank had about 5 living out of over 20. Most of the tanks were horribly overstocked even by lfs standards. In a 10 gallon they had 6 full grown haplochromis venutus and 2 prehistoric catfish, that had no room to move! There were fancy guppies in with tiger barbs and full grown angels!!! the female bettas were ALL dead and in with some kind of shark about 8" long. I took a look at the male bettas and almost cried, they were all miserable in about 2 inches of filthy water. One male (who looked white) was laying at the bottom gasping for air, the cups had not air holes. I picked him up and proceeded to the front conter and completely reemed them for their treatment of the fish. Told them I would not do business with them again until they cleaned up and demanded that they let me take the poor betta boy free of charge. I think the guy behind the counter thought I was going to hit him, lol. He said he'd just started there and didn't know anything about fish when he asked his boss about the dead and sick fish the boss said "oh they're just fine don't worry about it" The kid let me have the betta and gave me the managers office and personal phone numbers. So I called the manager and left some very angry voicemails, I haven't gotten a response yet but I'm going back tomorrow to see if anythings changed. If it hasn't the manager will here from me again, and everyday until they clean up their act! OOO it just makes me so mad!! ok done ranting

 

[Dorkhedeos]

Told them I would not do business with them again until they cleaned up and demanded that they let me take the poor betta boy free of charge.

lucky, if you say that to any lfs around my area, they will probably just say if you dont like it, dont come here or ban you from their shop

 

[Saedcantas]

The key to your post is this sentence "a decent one where I usually buy my community fish" Now if this shop had always been as atrocious as it now sounds, then fair dos give it a verbal thrashing. But it sounds to me like someone might have left, or someone in charge is away or something else that has caused a temporary disaster!

Every shop gets ich sometimes and every shop has a terrible outbreak at least sometimes, it's just how it is. Granted if nothing changes then by all means stay angry, but constructive critisism will be the greatest thing you can give to help those fish right now

 

[BettaBum873]

Things have been steadily going downhill for a bit now. I think they may have a new owner or manager or something. None of the old staff work there anymore. Its all new people. So IDK. I'm going to go back in a few days

 

[linda1503]

Let us know how the poor betta goes on.

 

[qwikimpss]

As previously said, from time to time any LFS will have disease. I just hope your new Betta is ok, good of you to rescue him like that!

 

[bunjiweb]

If they have disease then they should be taking their fish off sale. SIMPLE AS.

If they are selling diseased fish, or even worse tell you they are fine then they need their head adjusting, their face re-arranging and someone who is pro-active (like yourself) to let them realise that they can't neglect their fish and still have happy customers.

If they don't improve their act then you could try a very blunt approach - tell everyone else not to go there, find a new shop you DO like and trumpet to everyone locally that the old fish shop is not worth visiting etc.

Ben

 

[kubora666]

yeah at my lfs my brother was going to buy a knife fish 3" but they wouldnt sel him one or anything in that tank because one fish had afew whitespot and they didnt want to infect the customers tanks,
i think thats very thoughtfull and the staff at this palce are very knowledgable and wont sell you anything that gets to big, i ma good customer along with my dad and brother so they know me and they dont give me the whole it may need a new tank story or whatever because they know im an expirienced aqaurist

btw blue rams get whitespot easier then any otehr fish ive found.

 

[Womby]

could you get the RSPCA(australian) or Animal welfare or something to come and take action becouse that is bull**** and i spose i am just lucky to have my lfs (4 of them) to be good

 

[phlawed]

could you get the RSPCA(australian) or Animal welfare or something to come and take action becouse that is bull**** and i spose i am just lucky to have my lfs (4 of them) to be good

a good lfs will take diseased fish off the market....i know my local lfs owner and was wanting some rainbows but refused to sell becuase he said they were still being treated for finrot. Well i bought a red irian rainbow out of a different tank and got home and noticed fin rot on it as well, but he is offering a full trade in value or money back in exchange. so it just depends on the owner really. Getting in good with the lfs owner is always a good idea.

 

[dgwebster]

got to admit im getting to know a LFS (well not so L) rather well and try to pop in at least twice a month, even if just to look around and speak to the people. Getting to know them rather well though im still being asked what size of tank it is whenever i buy anything

That shop does look like its had a change of hands and went right down hill. A local store here is "raved about" by many people, but the state of the tanks and the fish is unbelievable. Thankfully there is very little disease looking around the tanks, but many of them of increbily dirty, far too small (and a few of them have been there a long time, not like a short term stay in a small tank) and well I could go on and on.

I rescued my Betta and 2 ADF's from there and they are looking very healthy now. Should be ready to add my other ADFs to their tank next week.

Good for you though at getting onto them.