She Touched My Tetra!

[AmberMc]

I went to the lfs a couple days ago and purchased 2 each of 3 different kinds of tetras. Black Skirts, Black Phantom, and Glowlight. After I had finished telling the worker my request, she got right to it and soon enough was ready, with net in hand. Then- She randomly swished the net through the tank, netting 5+ tetras and put them all in the plastic box hanging from the aquarium. Then she reached her hand in, numerous times, splashing water everywhere, and pulled out three of them with her hands. For the next kind of tetra, she netted a bunch of them, and then proceded to pick out two with her hand and put them in the plastic box. When I stopped her she said "What? We do this with all all of our feeder fish!" Is this normal?!

 

[J4MES]

No this is very stressfull for the fish, how are they doing in your tank?

J4MES

 

[AmberMc]

I had her re-net the ones that she handled- they all seem to be doing ok after a week in my tank. And I just love the little things... what personality.

 

[Amerce]

What does she mean feeder fish, yeah if they were on their last legs and you were going to feed them to a bigger fish then you don't care about their condition, but if you are going to have them as a decorative fish in your tank you want them healthy and intact.

She should not have been handling them like that, it stresses them out and could damage the fish.

Sounds like an amateur and I wouldn't have bought the fish from her.

Glad they are doing well for you though.

 

[AmberMc]

I debated walking out, but fish from there sell like hotcakes- and I didn't want to miss out on the tetras. I tried to explain to her that 10 cent feeder fish aren't the same as the tiny tetras I was shelling out 2 dollars for... I'm still not sure if she got it.

 

[mark7616]

Is your oscar in a 20g?

 

[AmberMc]

What? No... Guess that's a little unclear in my sig.

 

[Tolak]

Breeders sort fish by hand all the time, the trick is to cup your hand with a little water when moving the fish. As long as your hand is wet it causes less damage than a net.

 

[lawrie]

i had this happen to me when i bought my amano shrimp, the guy tried to pick them out with his hand. i asked him why he wasnt using a net, and he said ''its easier to catch them with your hands". i was like "yeah right, i dont care whats easier for you, use a net" he just went red in the face and got his wee net!

 

[AmberMc]

Breeders sort fish by hand all the time, the trick is to cup your hand with a little water when moving the fish. As long as your hand is wet it causes less damage than a net.

She was manipulating the net full of fish with her left hand, and then pinching them between her fingers and thumb of her right hand. This is the same girl I saw a couple days later spill an entire bag of feeder goldfish and start picking them off the floor and putting them into the net, instead of putting them directly in the tank. I'm hoping she doesn't last long.

 

[Tolak]

Pinching is the wrong way of doing it.