Lfs Betta Rant

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I was browsing for a bigger tank for my sorority at the weekend; I went to a local garden centre; they have a GREAT selection of tail types and colours of betta. They had a huge sorority tank; beautiful colours; blue, turquoise; red, Cambodian, butterfly Cambodian…all double tails (the whole tank was double tails). I’d have loved to get one or two once I get the bigger tank set up….however…there were at least 3 dead ones on the floor and one covered in fungus. I HATE the shop (although I buy most of my supplies there as they are just across the road from where I work). I did buy a feisty male betta from there earlier in the year; he was navy blue; with a silver face and clear fins; lovely OHM tail; got him in my tank; he just lost all interest and died (I think he had fungus); I thought I’ll try another one from there; lovely yellow Dalmatian; 12 hours later he had the exact same symptoms as the first one so I took him back to the shop and my boyfriend has told me NO more fish from that shop….I also had guppies from there; which succumbed to something as well (before the betta’s). It’s just really annoying since they have the best selection yet they are so bad with their care. A while ago I was looking at their tanks and counted 8 dead neon tetras in ONE tank. I know fish will die after being in transit and after settling in etc but surely you think they’d scoop them out…oh no. I think we’ve frequently counted at least 20 dead fish in their tanks. I have two shops one really local and the other not very local; they seem to have the healthiest stock of fish; or at least if they don’t they scoop the dead ones out – it’s not too hard to do is it; check at the beginning of the day and scoop. It just makes the stock look healthier, cleaner and better cleaned. The two shops that have the healthiest stock are both small shops, not chains and ran by a “family”. Surely it wouldn’t kill the chains to get a net in once a day and remove the dead ones. Pets at Home are better than this garden centre! One of the two shops probably has the best selection of fish around as well. Trouble is it’s quite a drive from home to get to.

Rant over!

 

[Curiosity101]

Well...

Have you tried speaking to the management. Explain how you've always had issues with fish from here, that you have a healthy well matured set-up. You test your water weekly and do regular large water changes. etc etc (you get the jist). And just try to explain that you want to shop here, but you think it'd really help if they upped the level of care.

If you can't do it in person (I'm not very good at talking to people I don't know well about this kinda stuff... I think I tend to sound preachy unless you actually know me lol). So I'd draft up and e-mail, and/or a letter.
N if that didn't work I'd try again over the phone.

 

[fluffycabbage]

I'd certainly say something! In fact i was in pets at home last week and there were 3 or 4 dead fish of different varieties in there. i told the staff but they didnt seem bothered Needless to say i wouldnt ever by fish from there. Well i dont anyway, just the local family run one, much better quality

 

[BethK]

might be worth trying to contact someone like trading standards or something along the lines. I know it sounds silly but if they are advertising fish and selling infected fish, cause for concern

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

That might be a good idea Beth; and Curiosity that sounds like a good idea.

I mean I know everywhere will have dead fish and get some problems but come on a net walked around once a day before people come in wouldn't be too much for the staff surely!

 

[karlhague]

I'd certainly say something! In fact i was in pets at home last week and there were 3 or 4 dead fish of different varieties in there. i told the staff but they didnt seem bothered Needless to say i wouldnt ever by fish from there. Well i dont anyway, just the local family run one, much better quality

Hi there I was in my local pets at home Yesterday, I started asking Questions, although i got pretty crappy answers, all Their Stock seemed happy, The Bettas although in small sectioned of Tanks Seemed energetic and healthy, Nice colours too.

However All Big chains and big shop care about is making the quickest money.

We have 3 within about 15miles that are run by the same company, One we wont go near, fish always die, 2nd has a crap stock, and the 3rd is absolutlety perfect, never had a problem with any fish from the 3rd shop.

They all use the same supplier, so I dont really understand why 2 out of 3 are totaly crap?