Walmart - Why do they have fish

[rdd1952]

I know this is a very international forum so this is mainly for those in the US but I needed to vent. I had to visit Walmart today to pick up something and decided to go see what they had for fish supplies. I was shocked at seeing their fish tanks. I guess I really shouldn't have been based on what I had seen in the one where I live and what I have read on here but this one was even worse that I expected. There were fish skeletons in some tanks!!
How long do you think it had been since they have been cleaned out or emptied. There were dead fish everywhere and all were either being eaten by their tank mates. Why do they keep fish if they aren't going to put any effort into it.
There wasn't anyone around to tell. I left without even buying the items I went to get. I will not shop at Walmart again. Is there anything we as a group could do to get them to either clean up their tanks or better yet, stop trying to sell fish. I can't believe that even the most inexperienced person would buy a fish from one of those tanks.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yes it's really sad, most Walmarts order them, then when they've been shipped in, the bung them in whatever tank is nearest and leave them. The don't really care at all. I know that some Walmarts and Petsmarts are great, but most just don't care, and the staff are just hired anyway even if they know NOTHING about fish. It would be great if we could as a group do something to help these poor little fish. But it's Bettamomma who's always got the courage to stand up for them!
You rock, Bettamomma!

But well done rdd1952 anyway for not buying any fish from there - after all, the more we buy, the more they buy, the more the fish die.

 

[rdd1952]

I actually hadn't planned on getting any fish. I went in to buy some contact lens supplies and a couple new buckets for water changes. I ended up not buying those things because of what I saw. I didn't want to give them any of my money. I did come close to buy one of the bettas they had. He was in a decent size cup (probably 8 to 12 oz) but they didn't even have them half full of water. On top of that, His water was totally filthy. When I picked up the cup, all the waste clouded the water. I have my 5 gallon tank almost cycled and am still tempted to go "rescue" him when I get off from work.

 

[DannyBoy17]

Does anyone even buy fish from there? It seems like they would love a ton of revenue from fish sales, there are PetSmarts, SuperPets and PetValus all withing walking distance of our walmart.

DB

 

[BettaMomma]

rdd - please go and get him.

I discovered a boy at WalMart (I was only in there for emergency reasons - otherwise I avoid that hellhole) in horrible shape on Sunday - belly so bloated up it was about to split. I didn't get him that day and now I'm left to lament about it because I waited a day, went back to rescue him, and he was gone. I will probably think of him every day for quite a long time.

I did get another boy yesterday that I think is also knocking on death's door - he's dragging himself around his new 2.5 G tank and every once in a while he gets up his strength to meander up to the top and take a breath.

I am medicating him but the poor little guy is just completely listless and gray. At least if he doesn't make it, he had a nice place with a hidey cave, plants and some clean medicated 78 degree water for a while. I've not given up hope on him yet, though.

So do please go get him. He deserves to be with you.

FYI - something I found out about WalMart... apparently they don't have a "back room" where they take their fishes who are sick or dying. Makes you wonder what happens to the sickys when they disappear from the shelf. And I think it's very noble to buy one that's on death's door and at least give him some peace and quiet before he dies, or to nurse them back to health. They're destined to die because of WalMart either way, most likely. I'm staring at one in that exact situation as I type. It breaks my heart and makes me want to go just RIP someone's head off at WalMart, but I've already tried that route. ALTHOUGH - I am very happy to report that since I've been doing fishy policing at these stores around town, their conditions seem to have improved. I'm sure it's not because of my ranting and raving and nasty phone calls, though.

And while I agree that buying a sick betta off the shelf just means they'll replace it with another, not buying a 3.84 fish from them isn't going to affect their bottom line and they'll just throw away the ones that die. I just buy the sickly fishies and none of the other stuff to go with it at their store - I get my tanks and such elsewhere, unless it's a dire emergency. I think that ranting and raving about the condition of their fish to anyone within the WM corporation that will listen will help out, maybe not to any large degree, but it will help. It already seems to have helped in the local stores (somewhat, anyway).

 

[RandomWiktor]

Our wallmart's fish department is very busy because of the WAY overpriced fish at Petsmart. Most people would rather risk a wallmart fish than pay double what the animal would cost at most LFS. And considering the poor conditions most of the fish at Petsmart are in as well, its really not much different. I'm glad to hear you walked out and didn't buy anything at Wallmart. Your 3 dollars for a fish isn't keeping them open, but buying all of your stuff there sure is helping. I've been shopping at Target and Wegman's and the Salvation Army because none of them sell live animals.

 

[rdd1952]

I just went to Walmarts website and sent an email (about 3 paragraphs) under their feedback section. I'm sure it will get deleted and nothing will come of it but at least I feel a little better.

BettaMomma, I probably will go back and get that one this afternoon. It will be the last money Walmart ever gets from me. I always hated going there in the first place. Now I got a reason not to ever go back.

 

[BettaMomma]

Great - let me know if you do go - I'd love to hear about and see the lucky fella that gets to come and live with you.

I used to not even think a thing of going to WM and buying everything - like shampoo, t.p., dish soap, toothpaste, etc. I buy NOTHING there anymore. I will go to their store to police the fish - and ONLY to police the fish or get something in an emergency. I now shop elsewhere to get all my household crap - I dont' even mind paying a little bit more.

Besides, WM always kinda bothered me. It always seemed like it was a white trash trailer court gathering of some sort. (at least the ones in my city did) (i apologize if I offended anyone with that statement. I can't imagine that I did, but I apologize anyway)

I think I'm going to start calling it WhiteTrashMart.
Hmm, that's got a ring to it.

 

[rdd1952]

bettaMomma, it's pretty much the same around here. About all I ever bought there before was toiletry items and my contact lens solution. I can afford to pay a little more at the drug store though. I'm definitely going by to get him when I get off. I'll let you know how he does in his new 5 gallon home.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Funnily enough, a betta at pets at home (the UK version of petsmart) sells bettas for £4.50 ish, whereas the shop in emsworth does them for £3.... I would much rather poke dad to get him to take me there than ealk to pets at home to buy fish, there is a better variety and they are cheaper.

 

[rdd1952]

I don't have a problem with paying a little more as long as I know they take care of their fish. I guess I am very fortunate that I have 4 LFS, including 2 PetSmarts, that I feel very comfortable buying from. With what I want to put in my new 75 gallon though, I may have to look a little harder. Angels are a little harder to find and I don't remember seeing any blue rams at any of those LFS either.

 

[wrs]

my walmart takes very well of fish.

 

[rdd1952]

BettaMomma, what do you treat your's with? Do you just give them a medication in general or do you treat for abvious symptoms that each one has? I may need to pick up some antibiotics too but not at Walmart. There is actually a LFS in the same shopping center as Walmart. They're not the best in the world but I can go there and get meds.

 

[rdd1952]

I'm going to try to remember to bring my camera and take some pictures next week maybe. It was BAD.

 

[redtailblackshark]

what I hate about wal-mart having fish is that the people at my store got tired of cleaning the tank so they took out all the gravel in every single tank! you would think yeah right, who would di that, but yeah, they did. All of their gouramis are floating in the tank dead, and so are all the silver dollars. I actually thought of VOLOUNTEERING there to get gravel in the tanks, the tanks cleaned, proper food and nutrition, and actually taking the fish out when they die...