Lessons Learned - Don't Take Fish Back to Walmart

[webcat5]

You've never made a beginner mistake... ever?

And I tried to fix the situation...

It's NOT the fact that you made a newbie mistake, it's the fact that you asked for advice, then told everyone to mind thier own business!

As far as I understand The-Raven got the fish after, or he would not have ignored everyone.

 

[OohFeeshy]

At least he admitted he ignored advice. Besides, even if he took it back straight away, there is no reason to think the same thing wouldn't have happened.

 

[The-Raven]

You've never made a beginner mistake... ever?

And I tried to fix the situation...

It's NOT the fact that you made a newbie mistake, it's the fact that you asked for advice, then told everyone to mind thier own business!

As far as I understand The-Raven got the fish after, or he would not have ignored everyone.

Because everyone in my thread said it'll be too big, it'll be miserable, etc etc.

But then I found another thread... http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=80119&hl= ... where someone said 'a loach will not survive in a 55gal' and it was then just two pages of people telling that person he's a moron because loaches take years and years to even grow to 4 inches blah blah.

So I went against the advice of the TWO people in my thread saying not to - and took the advice of the dozen or so people in that thread saying it won't get big for years.

 

[webcat5]

Well, what is done, is done. There is nothing that can change that fact. As long as a lesson was learned.

As for the TWO people, in your post you said "after telling YOU ALL to mind your own business" (sounds like more than two to me)

 

[CathyG]

I am sorry to hear this, The-Raven, this is sad news indeed. I would persue it, if I were you...

Webcat, I don't know why you are being so aggressive.

The only issue I could see was putting a Clown in a non-cycled tank, a newbie error. The bottom line is, the Clown may well have survived the experience, even if his long term health was compromised, but the actual outcome was much more permanent.

 

[cometcattle]

I read about 3 - 4 posts a day regarding Walmart's horrible fish department, yet people continue to buy Walmart's fish.
(not directed solely at The-Raven)

The Raven - if you ever need to return a fish, most LFS will accept donations. You'll be out the cash, but who cares as long as the fish is taken care of.

 

[sharky&george]

here here i agree with that, we all make mistakes. Least know for future

 

[FrAnK3333]

Raven thank you for taking the loach back. Im sorry if I sounded mean but the loach needs a bigger home. Though most lfs do appect fish and will buy them off you. Its horrible what they did.

 

[rdd1952]

I read about 3 - 4 posts a day regarding Walmart's horrible fish department, yet people continue to buy Walmart's fish.

I think WM gets a lot of their business from the uninforned/newbies. I had a very heated discussion with the manager of the pet dept. of the WM near me. I said that no one that is in the hobby would ever buy a fish out of his tank (true since there were at least 4 to 6 dead fish in every tank not to mention the diseases clearly present). He said that they weren't trying to sell to fish keepers but to the public. They're target customers are people that are just like I (and all of you) was when I started. People who know nothing about cycling, compatiblility, etc. but just looking for a tank and some fish. Walmart (most of them at least) don't have employees that are knowledgable enough to tell people what they need to know but instead just sell them what ever they want to buy.

 

[Redbled]

I haven't bought fish at wal-mart in years, but still go by there every time I go to the place. What gets on my nerves is when these wal-mart experts try to instruct me on the basics of fishkeeping. I never know whether I'd rather laugh or stick them in one of the tanks themselves, maybe a betta cup.

 

[rdd1952]

I don't even go to Walmart any more. I hated to go there before I ever got into fish keeping, just went for their cheap prices on a few items. Once I got into the hobby and saw their tanks, I swore I would never set foot in one of their stores again.

 

[Redbled]

Not much option unfortuanately if you live in small town USA. Have to drive an hour to find better stores.

 

[rdd1952]

I understand. I am lucky that I have 11 LFSs (some better than others)within about 20 miles of my house and 5 within 10 minutes of where I work (3 WM in those areas too but I dont count them). Walmart's not going to miss my money but I sleep better at night.

 

[bunjiweb]

Well, what is done, is done. There is nothing that can change that fact. As long as a lesson was learned.

As for the TWO people, in your post you said "after telling YOU ALL to mind your own business" (sounds like more than two to me)

I feel your attitude leaves alot to be desired, you seem very up yourself, yet i bet you have made plenty of noob errors and i bet your tanks aren't perfect and i bet your life is BORING!

Ben

 

[xanthianacid]

I am so glad that Australian shops haven't been Americanised too much!
We don't have WalMart, but we have Kmart, Target etc but they don't sell live animals. We get commercialised hypermarkets dedicated to animals, and the people in them 'appear' to know what they are talking about and will take animals/fishies back within a week or something.
Usually the LFS/LPs are just that, purely dedicated to being LFS/LPS - and as such you can decide if they are any good or not and go somewhere else. I am lucky to live between 3 pretty good ones, even if I don't like certain peoples attitudes or they way they house their betta's etc. They are still specialising in fish and they do know what they are talking about, and will freely let you know certain things.
But after all that, they are still after your money so it's better to get advice from places like this, dare I say it info from good books and off the internet. I figure if enough sites agree on certain info then it is likely to be right. I won't purely go on the advice of the shops because well they still just have money signs in their line of sight and it's in their best interest to make you spend more than you need to.

I'm sorry The-Raven, that you lost a friend. Trust your initial instincts after you've spent time really learning and thinking about your choices. Its usually right.