Saw One Of The Most Horrible Things Today

[Dark Wolf]

I went into a so called specialist fish shop today and was disgusted to see over crowded tanks to the extreme. Here are the 3 worst in my opinion

22 tiger barbs in roughly a 15 gallon tank
A stingray in no more than a 15 gallon tank

And the worst.....An arowana in a 10 gallon tank

I was appalled, really appalled

 

[JamieBailie]

Just remember that those fish won't be in there for long before they're sold. Larger tanks make it harder to catch the fish.
22 fish in a 15 gallon dosen't sound that overstocked to me, Baring in mind its a fish shop. My LFS 'overstock' their tanks way way more than what you have described. Sounds about normal to me!

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Just remember that those fish won't be in there for long before they're sold. Larger tanks make it harder to catch the fish.

Agreed. I think as long as it's short term, it shouldn't do any damage. Give the store a break...

 

[demonmagus]

I've seen a small aro in a 10g. In wharf aquatics they have a pretty big aro in a corner tank (tiny corner, 20gs I bet) which has been there for ages - poor thing

 

[joecoral]

was it a standalone tank or part of a system? i wouldn't call 22 barbs in a 15g overstocked tho

 

[Dark Wolf]

Well the tiger's seemed quite close to each other, most were over 2 inches long, but i suppose it is is easier to catch them.

But sorry i fail to agree that it's ok to keep a fish that must have had trouble even turning around in it's tanklet alone swim, no matter how short a time it is.

 

[syntax_error]

Just remember that those fish won't be in there for long before they're sold. Larger tanks make it harder to catch the fish.
22 fish in a 15 gallon dosen't sound that overstocked to me, Baring in mind its a fish shop. My LFS 'overstock' their tanks way way more than what you have described. Sounds about normal to me!

Agreed. I think as long as it's short term, it shouldn't do any damage. Give the store a break...

Wont it stunt the fish? How long do they stay in these conditions?

 

[JamieBailie]

Just remember that those fish won't be in there for long before they're sold. Larger tanks make it harder to catch the fish.
22 fish in a 15 gallon dosen't sound that overstocked to me, Baring in mind its a fish shop. My LFS 'overstock' their tanks way way more than what you have described. Sounds about normal to me!

Agreed. I think as long as it's short term, it shouldn't do any damage. Give the store a break...

Wont it stunt the fish? How long do they stay in these conditions?

Untill they are sold, The day they get the fish into the shop it will obviously be more crowded than a week later when they have sold some. They normally only do this with fish that sell well.

 

[Scatta]

A lot of the time, people fail to realise that these small tanks are not stand alone aquariums, but part of a larger body of water that re-circulates around 300ltrs. So, even though the tanks may be cramped, the water quality is not compromised by a huge degree. Also, as other people have said, the fish only remain in the shop for a few weeks before a new batch is brought in to re-stock the tanks.

 

[joecoral]

A lot of the time, people fail to realise that these small tanks are not stand alone aquariums, but part of a larger body of water that re-circulates around 300ltrs. So, even though the tanks may be cramped, the water quality is not compromised by a huge degree. Also, as other people have said, the fish only remain in the shop for a few weeks before a new batch is brought in to re-stock the tanks.

Exactly. The tanks we have in work are either 1' cube or 2'x1'x1' or some larger 3'x1'x'1, but all are connected in a system comprising approx. 700 US gallons so water quality is not compromised in the slightest

 

[jarcher1390]

Just remember that those fish won't be in there for long before they're sold. Larger tanks make it harder to catch the fish.
22 fish in a 15 gallon dosen't sound that overstocked to me, Baring in mind its a fish shop. My LFS 'overstock' their tanks way way more than what you have described. Sounds about normal to me!

Agreed. I think as long as it's short term, it shouldn't do any damage. Give the store a break...

Wont it stunt the fish? How long do they stay in these conditions?

Untill they are sold, The day they get the fish into the shop it will obviously be more crowded than a week later when they have sold some. They normally only do this with fish that sell well.

I have to agree with jamiebailie
preside if they did not stock there tanks like that they wouldn't make much of a profit therefore going bankrupt and we would have no where to buy fish,
i do think larger fish like arowanas that need a lot of swimming space should have slightly larger tanks just for them.