Over the weekend I was at a local pet store. This isnt the one I go to for my fish stuff. I was there to buy hamster supplies. Anyway there was a lady and her daughter looking at a 36gal fish tank. So I hear her saying she wanted to purchase Oscars for this tank. She asked the lady do Oscars get big, and is 36gal enough for 2 Oscars. The lady said no Oscars dont grow to big. WTF!!! Are u kidding me lady. And yes 36gal is fine. I was soo angry. She also said the filter it came with was fine. The filter was fine for normal fish but not Oscars. So I pulled the lady aside and told her the truth. I told her they grow 12"-15". They live up to 15yrs. I said there is no way 36gal is enough for 2 Oscars.. And They are messy eaters and really need a good filtration..I said u need to due massive weekly water changes. So she was very happy I told her. I told her the pet store Ive been dealing w/ for yrs and to please go speak to them about what fish would be best for her. Its really, really, sad that they hire people that know nothing about fish then sell these fish and they suffer a slow miserable death. So please, please find a pet store you trust!! Thanks. I had to vent. When I started my fish hobby 5yrs ago, I started easy and worked my way up to my O and BP. There were many of days I lived at my pet store trying to figure out how to make things right. I read a ton on Cichlids.
Comments
It is sad especially for
It is sad especially for people that dont really read on whats involved in caring for fish. People think Ohh there just fish they are easy. As u know its alot of work but worth it in the end. Thats why I stick to my 1 fish store. They have sharks and sell stingrays.
I feel that it is up to the
I feel that it is up to the buyer to educate themselves prior to buyin also. you wouldnt go buy a car because the sells person tells you its a good car. same with fish or anything else for sell. lol. still sad that people that choose to be in that field would not try to learn more...
Yes people need to educate
Yes people need to educate themselves but people go to the fish store to find out whats best for them. They expect people there to help educate them on what fish is best for a tank they want to buy. If a person working there doesnt even know that a 36gal tank is too big for 2 oscars I feel they shouldnt be working w/ the fish. They should work at other parts of the store.
I have a good LFS that I live
I have a good LFS that I live at. THEY KNOW ME BY NAME!!! lol but there are petsmarts and they are really useless for the most part. every once in a while, i meet someone that is pretty full of knowledge and it is good to see. Just educate as you go. :)
Similar thing happend to me..
Just like you, a few days ago I was at a small town petshop. I made a comment to an employee about them getting BP's in (which looked very ill) and so she started to ramble on about them, saying how they can be in a 10 gallon, etc. I just laughed and walked away, because the same employee had told me her own BP is outgrowing a 40 gallon just a week ago. Too bad she doesn't remember contradicting herself. It's so sad that they'd rather make 10 bucks than save a fish from a miserable life. I wish everyone ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WORK IN THE FISH BUSINESS would educate themselves!