Thanks for the free food, Hikari....BUT

[Buglet]

I signed up about a week ago to recieve the free Hikari food samples and they arrived today. I got 2 sample packets of the Goldfish Bio-Gold and a 20g container of the Hikari Flake for goldfish.

I think it is great that Hikari sent the free samples. I do think their food is great and my betta only eats the Hikari Betta Bio-Gold.

However, along with the samples they included some promotional material, including an 8x10 full color photo that states,

"Stop Losing Your Loved Ones!" and goes on to talk about the health benefits for your fish when you feed them Hikari food.

What I take issue with is the photo itself. It features a young girl, maybe aged 10-11, looking into a very small goldfish bowl with not one, but TWO golfish (they look to be comets). No filtration or aeration on the bowl.

It gets worse. In the background, there is another tank, likely 5 or 6 gallons, with at least SEVEN fancy goldfish/comet goldfish in it.

What they heck are they thinking?? I can't believe that a company that purports to care so much about the health of fish is promoting these inhumane conditions as being normal/acceptable!!

YIKES!!!

 

[abe]

Yeah I see that w/ a lot of fish things. Aquarium sets, food, etc. I don't get it either

I got my free sample today too! It was like Christmas, I got a .7 ounce can of food, betta bio gold (of course mr picky wont eat it), tetra food, guppy food, and sinking wafers. woo hoo!

 

[Teelie]

Promotional reasons. They pack the aquariums or bowls with fish to give the resembalance of a healthy, vibrant, full of life look even though it's not the best thing to keep fish in.

I wouldn't take it too seriously.

 

[MrMashashin]

not fair. You guys got the betta bio gold and I didn't. I got the micro pellets, algae wafers, and fancy guppy food. Lol i idn't know fancy guppies needed their own food. Oh yea, I got the tropical flakes also. I tell ya, my plecs were going mad over those wafers. I tried to scare the big mommy away from the first pellet and she swam off with it! Quit funny.

 

[Buglet]

Thanks for your responses, abe and Teelie.

Teelie, *I* don't take it seriously--because I know better than to look to an ad or the side of a box as a guide for how to stock my tank. Unfotunately, many children (and parents alike) *don't* know better. The stereotype of being able to keep a goldfish in a bowl has continued to be perpetuated again and again...on TV, in print ads, etc. I find it pretty deplorable, especially for a company whose goal is to promote healthy fish.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

of course, i go on to see if i can get me free fish food and it's for USA residents only

 

[heresmike]

of course, i go on to see if i can get me free fish food and it's for USA residents only

Just one of the reasons it doesn't suck to live in the US.

 

[fuman_chica]

Just one of the reasons it doesn't suck to live in the US.

One of the many reasons!!

 

[shrks1fan]

LOL, I haven't even looked at the literature that was included, it's still laying on the floor where I opened the envelope. I guess I'll pick it up, look at it and throw it away now, the living room could stand to be cleaned

Linda

P.S. OK, looked over the literature. Dang, that's alot of money in literature there, thick paper stock, color printing, sheesh. Either they are doing quite well financially or they're about to go bankrupt for over advertising, Lol.

Another point as to why they show so many fish being in the picture is if they only put 1 fish in the tank then most people wouldn't even see it. Most people when looking at advertisements will only give a fraction of a second look if nothing catches their eye, so it needs to be obvious to catch that eye. It's all marketing and knowing the psycology of the human being.

 

[steppy104]

speaking of....thats not very fair! lol. i only get the flakes and 3 little sample things. my bf got the flakes and 5 or 6 samples! grr....maybe it's cuz i had fun listing fish....ones that we didn't even have. lol.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Yeah steppy, my gram let me use her address, so now I have more free food. Funny thing is, I got cichlid and discus samples... he he, maybe I should have thought harder on what I put down as her fish....

 

[snowyangel]

Send me a link, i want free food samples! I already use hikari frozen bloodworms and the fish love it. Oh n/m I just checked the site. Americans only

 

[abe]

Yeah steppy, my gram let me use her address, so now I have more free food. Funny thing is, I got cichlid and discus samples... he he, maybe I should have thought harder on what I put down as her fish....

Hehe, I already have my mum, my cousin, and my boyfriend signed up for free food now

 

[blakwidoe]

I got micro pellets ,flake food <big container>,algae wafers,fancy guppie food, sinking pellets,carnivorous fish food I was sooo shocked

 

[Sorrell]

I was thrilled with my samples! I got betta bio-gold, cichlid pellets, discus pellets, spirulina tropical flakes, another tropical pellet, and algae wafers. It's like they read down my signature and sent accordingly.