My experience with PetCo

[flautist]

I went to PetCo last night to get a new plant and some freeze-dried blood worms for a treat for my betta. I was also toying around with the idea of getting sand for him instead of gravel. All they had on the shelf, though, were 10 pound bags. I don't need that much, because I have a 1 gallon tank. So, I asked one of the workers if they had something smaller. She said no. I asked her if she thought Wal-Mart would have some, and she said she was sure they had sand that children play in, and that should be fine to use!

Then, I pulled a zinger on her. I told her, "I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job or anything, but all the Bettas are in pretty dirty water, and I think one or two of them might be getting fin rot, and two or three others look like their dying, because they aren't moving from the bottom of their cup, even when you pick it up." Her whole demeanor changed. She got very short with me, and was no longer smiling. She just said, "Well, the guy who takes care of the bettas is working tonight, so it will get done." I was just thinking, "THE guy? There's only one person that has the capability of changing their water? What if he calls off? What if he's just part time and only works three times a week?"

So, I was thinking about putting together much of the information I have learned here and giving it to their manager. What do you guys think about that? Would it be okay for me to use the information available here?

I really don't think it will change anything, but the way I see it, it can't hurt anything. My fiance wants to get a law degree, and he says that if he does, he is going to sue PetCo, PetSmart, and Wal-Mart for cruelty to animals. Anyone want to help with that?

 

[Teelie]

The woman was right on play sand although pool filter sand is a better choice, and they can't just pull people off assignments or tasks to change the water on the Betta. It's a business, they don't have leisure time and they don't have more employees than absolutely necessary.

She was wrong to get short, but then you don't understand her job either, or how a business like that works. Fish are merchandise to a company, they're only good for selling and not much else. You can try showing the manager information but it likely won't change anything. Most of the time they're dispassionate and uncaring about such details.

 

[flautist]

The woman was right on play sand although pool filter sand is a better choice, and they can't just pull people off assignments or tasks to change the water on the Betta. It's a business, they don't have leisure time and they don't have more employees than absolutely necessary.

She was wrong to get short, but then you don't understand her job either, or how a business like that works. Fish are merchandise to a company, they're only good for selling and not much else. You can try showing the manager information but it likely won't change anything. Most of the time they're dispassionate and uncaring about such details.

But it wasn't just one betta, it was ALL the Bettas, and at least half of them were showing signs of sickness, with three of them very obviosly sick. If all I was looking for was a decoration for my office, I wouldn't have bought any of them.

Also, just because they see the fish as merchandise doesn't mean they are not animals, and there are laws against animal cruelty. I think keeping a betta in a dirty, tiny cup and not paying attention to it when it's obviosly sick is cruelty.

 

[jkun17]

I know exactly what you mean, flautist.

One time I told them that a betta they put with the mollies was biting at their fins. So they "Fish Guy" took him out... and put him with the guppies.

Where do they find these people?

 

[Teelie]

They find people who need a job more than someone who knows about fish. That's another thing a lot of you don't realize. If they hired an expert on fish, they'd have to pay more money for the demand of someone who is specialized (by nature, specialists in a field get paid more money), which is why they hire whoever offers to work.

Besides which, even though they are animals and there are cruelty laws, the laws aren't so clear on the mistreatment of fish, especially in that circumstance and the fact there are so many fish is precisely why their water is not changed often.

 

[flautist]

They find people who need a job more than someone who knows about fish. That's another thing a lot of you don't realize. If they hired an expert on fish, they'd have to pay more money for the demand of someone who is specialized (by nature, specialists in a field get paid more money), which is why they hire whoever offers to work.

Besides which, even though they are animals and there are cruelty laws, the laws aren't so clear on the mistreatment of fish, especially in that circumstance and the fact there are so many fish is precisely why their water is not changed often.

It doesn't take an expert to know that bettas need something bigger than those tiny little cups. Also, if they would put the Bettas even in HALF gallon bowls, it would take up a bit more room, but they wouldn't have to change the water quite so often, thus saving them time and energy. The bettas would be much less prone to sickness, too.

Also, as for the laws, the laws used to not be so clear on people, either, but that didn't make it any less wrong to mistreat them. And if they have so many fish that they can't change their water properly, the solution is simple: either hire more people or don't stock so many fish.