The ''fish only grows as big as it's tank'' myth

[lilmolly]

I know the myth about fish only growing as big as their tank is a myth. When I worked in a petstore I have a hard time explaining that to people and having them believe me. I was approached many times by people wanting a ''cut little irredesent shark'' When I asked them what size tank they had, they usually told me anywhere from 5-55gallons. When I told them their tanks were to small for these fish they just said ''Oh, but they only get as big as their tank, so it's okay'' I told them that that was a myth and they will still grow but they with get deformed. Then some of them would say, ''but I have had fish that people told me would get big (usually the oscar as the example they used), I put it in a 10gallon and it didn't get that big or have deformations.'' What I was thinking in my head was I know your fish did have deformations but you probably didn't know it. But working at a petstore you can't say that to a customer.

 

[mwm]

uhh. Thank you

 

[fufanu360]

some people are so stubborn, i cant stand inexperienced fish keepers when they dont take any info, they just do what they want!

 

[Dwarfs]

I hate those know-it-alls who say stuff like the fish growing to the size of it's tank Then they just refuse to listen to good advise like stubborn 2 year olds

 

[Teelie]

What I was thinking in my head was I know your fish did have deformations but you probably didn't know it. But working at a petstore you can't say that to a customer.

Unfortunately, too many people here don't care about that and still berate stores as if the employees had a choice.

 

[Fishy411]

At the LFs nearest my house it is the other way around with me being treated like a two year od. Just because i am only a teen they assume i know nothing. I found a new LFS and so far they have been great and their tanks are all Very clean. THey also do sw.

 

[Teelie]

Shops are like people; there are all kinds.

 

[mrOverstocknewbie]

That "fish only grows as big as it's tank" myth is widespread it drives me crazy!! I've heard it come from so many people, even people that should know better.

Try as we might I don't think we'll be able to totally squash it.

 

[Raechal]

I applied at petsmart the other day but I didn't get the job because they transferred someone from cashier to fish. So while I was waiting for them to load my 120 gallon into my mom's van I couldn't help but to look at all the possible fish I could stuff into it. So I was just looking at the live plants near the bettas. (They keep the bettas on top of the case where the live plants are in tiny cups) I couldn't help to over hear a conversation between the girl who got transferred to cashier to fish dept and a customer. Here is how it went:

Customer: My betta's tail looks like it is ripped and kind of falling apart. Is there anything I can do?

Employee: When a betta's tail is all spread apart like that, that means they are healthy.

Customer: Well...My betta doesn't look like he is very healthy???

Employee: Well we might have gotten a bad batch in.

Customer: Oh...okay...thanks...

I was going to help the lady out, but she walked out the door before I could find where she went. I was too busy staring at the beautiful albino oscar they had. And that would fit PERFECTLY in my new tank once it was cycled.

Sorry to be off topic so much, but I thank you for actually advising the customer that they shouldn't be purchasing a fish they can't take proper care of. *claps for you* most people would just shrug and sell them the fish.

 

[Synirr]

Sometimes you just wish it were socially acceptable to look a person straight in the eye and say "you are retarded"
I want to do that every time I hear some stupid comment come out of the mouths of pet shop customers. I don't work there, but I'm in there enough to have heard some pretty dumb things!

 

[Raechal]

Sometimes you just wish it were socially acceptable to look a person straight in the eye and say "you are retarded"
I want to do that every time I hear some stupid comment come out of the mouths of pet shop customers. I don't work there, but I'm in there enough to have heard some pretty dumb things!

I know. I wanted to say, "That's the most stupid thing I've ever heard." But I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to get kicked out for "harassing" an employee while my 120 gallon tank was half-way out of petsmart.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Im a teen and once I start talkign and they know what Im talking about they treat me as if I do. Isnt the myth true tho in that the fish will go to the tanks size, but its organs will keep growing and kill it.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Forget social acceptability! Not completely of course, but I have personally handed out plenty of looks to people that say 'you are the most idiotic person I have ever talked to may your fish go belly up and your tank explode over your precious floor' plus a few comments when I am really mad about hope they can afford to buy another fish after they kill that one. Sometimes you just have to show the person you don't care about them personally, you are just trying to inform. People want to take it like a personal attack when you give them advice, so it's like, okay, I'll just talk to someone else since you obviously won't even bother to think about the situation for a minute and listen to someone that has kept fish (alive!) and who might know something you don't. And why can't you tell them they are wrong and you won't sell them the fish? Or at least just tell them they are wrong, will you get fired or something?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

yes, it is true they stop growing, but they die faster, alot faster, and their body gets twisted

 

[Sorrell]

If you are in the process of purchaing something in a fish store and you hear bad information like that you need to express your concerns to a manger and let them know what happened and that you will take your business elsewhere if this is the information that they are giving out.