Aquarium nightmare

[snakeskinner]

This afternoon my wife and I ran around the Oklahoma City metro area looking through the phonebook for any petshops with freshwater fish to check out what everyone had. First we stopped at a little hole in the wall that didn't even know what he had. He had two rams in a tank that wasn't marked so I asked him about them, he said he only had one so we went back to the tank. He was looking right at the first one and said he couldn't find the ram that was in there. I don't know what he thought the other one was but I figure if he didn't know I didn't need to buy fish from him. then my wife pulls me over to the saltwater fish to show me the tanks. They had the equivalent of 20 gallon tanks divided into 10" widths with one or two fish in each little section. they might as well had them in betta cups. At the end of our trip we decided to stop by a wal mart we had been to a few months ago but didn't get anything because they had a couple tanks with slight ich. This time was disgusting. Every single one of the bala sharks was dead and sucked to the filter (15-20 fish), every irredescent shark had the most severe ich I've ever seen, several tanks were so green you couldn't see into them and they had fish mixed up so bad you couldn't find anything you wanted. The tiger barbs were put with mollies, small cichlids with oscars, pictus cats in with tetras and there were lots of single fish in the wrong tanks. There was no one in sight to complain to and the store manager was not there so I emailed a long letter to wal mart corporate and plan to call the GM tomorrow and let them know what kind of a pet department they had. I bet the GM's never been by the fish tanks. Has anyone else run into so poorly run stores? It's just plain sad.. kyle

[often dignified]

Yes, unfortunately there are people that own a business they know nothing about. I've been to a LFS here and this guy had about 50 ten gallon tanks running, with a couple 55's.

I thought "ok, looks like a nice setup" when I first walked in the door. Until I realized his salt water tanks were completely covered with that purple/brown stuff on the glass, you could only see in from the top right hand corner.

His freshwater tanks each had a power filter on them, and they were covered with hard water deposits, I know it probably doesnt hurt the effectiveness of the filter, but how hard is it to clean them once in a while? The buildup was terrible - the filter media was so clogged that NO water was flowing out the spillway, it just ran right back out of where the intake tube went in - meaning no filtration. All of the fins were torn and ragged, lots of ich, and tons of fish crammed into each tank.

Not to mention a poor selection, but he did have some of those $12 Glofish :rolleyes:

I find that Petsmart and Petco have a hell of a lot better selection and at least tanks that look representable. The 14-day return policy is also nice, if you happen to get a sick one. The LFS store has a huge sign saying that they can't give refunds for dead fish. I think a LFS should do everything possible to help you avoid fish loss, so they should be accountable if something happens (if they are giving advice to a newbie - I know Petsmart doesn't ask how long you have had the tank, the size, other fish, if it's cycled - but a LFS should be a bit more intimate than a chain store.)

*steps off soapbox*

Someday... :shake:

[fishdude]

yes i have my local walmart is a horrible place for fish
*sues for animal cruelty*
they are using the oxygen tablets as a source of air so they can keep like 20 goldfish in a ten gallon
and there are no plants at all in the rift lake cichlid tank things
and they always have ick
somone really should sue them for animal cruelty

[fishdude]

i also saw a store employ helping a family buy a 10 gallon tank a HOB filter (no filter media) a hood and light and 2 bettas some goldfish and some cichlids all were coverd in ich of course and the emplloyee said the ick was natural and wouldnt harm the fish.

the only reason i go there is because they have cheap fish food

[often dignified]

animal cruelty or asinine (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=asinine)?

[OldVamp]

we just got a new SUPER Wal-Mart here and they did fine with the fish for the first couple of weeks but then it all went down hill. The tanks have no gravel, there is about 1 sickly plant in each "divider", and because the tanks have a central filtration system all the tanks have several sicknesses in them. Most of the fish were dead or dying, and to beat it all they just keep putting new fish in the tanks and they die as well :thud: . The tanks smell of dead fish from 5 feet away. We havent had a fish store in our town in a couple of years, but that is no excuse for this level of stupidity :sick: . In the next town over the super wal-mart takes very good care of their fish with gravel and nice healthy plants in every divided tank, and some of the employees were supposed to have transfered over to our store when it was built. Must not have been any from the "live pets" section.

[RENEGADE]

Our Wal-mart isn't too bad but our Petco is horrible (except for the new one that opened a year ago that one is nice, the guy in the fish area works there full time and keeps fish him self so he takes good care of them, but he doesn't speek much english:rolleyes: ) I stick too the two LFS

[ewok]

petcos are usually about the best around here. walmart usually is iffy to bad or worse. most of the lfs aren't that great either. :rolleyes:

..... and that's about the extent of what's offered. :(

[Lauren]

oh wow, that's horrible. Stories like this make me so grateful for my wonderful fish store.


I avoid walmart with an undying passion. I've made it a goal to go in there drunk once and have fun, but besides that, I won't step foot inside one unless it is absolutely necessary. There is a new Petsmart near me that is pretty good. I'm very good friends with the girl who works there. I'll buy food and chemicals there, but not the fish. I've noticed that the ones at my lfs are a lot more vibrant in color. Plus, I love my friend who works there, but I've seen how she keeps her fish at home, so I don't trust her knowledge.

[Uncle Bete]

I haven't came across a wal-mart that has a decent fish dept. yet.
They'll do soemthing like, call rodger from the shoe dept. that doesn't know shoes let alone fish, and have him help ya. Being jobless and in need of a job, I worked at one for a month, I know!
And as far a sueing them, I'm sure they have more money for lawyers than OJ!

[snakeskinner]

I've probably been by about 5 or 6 wal marts in the last few weekends checking out their fish department selection and condition and most are pretty good other than personnel. None have had dedicated pet department people that are actually there (or I'm real good at going in when they're on break). There is one less than a block from where I work as well as it being the closest place with fish to my house and they do pretty well. There is always one or two dead fish total in different tanks but never like this. A couple of these tanks had more dead fish than live fish. Hopefully the GM at this store hasn't seen this or doesn't know about it and some heads will roll. At least the dedicated fish manager needs to be fired, not to mention the floor manager that oversees the pet department. The store is probably 45 minutes from my house but I'm gonna check up on them to be sure their fish are taken care of. In fact, I may just go see the GM in person so I can take him over there and show him what I'm talking about. I didn't write down the "infractions" so the more time passes, the more I'll forget which fish were placed wrong, etc. etc. Kyle

[PumaWard]

Well, I only have 2 LFSs in the area and both seem to have healthy fish. One has a problem mostly with healthy fish coming in, one of the owners told us they had 20 kuhli loaches come in and all were dead upon arrival:eek: . The LFS that has problems with their wholesaler won't sell sick fish and they won't sell fish that they've had problems with dying before until they have kept them for a week.

Wal-Mart doesn't have fish (thank god) and the closest PetSmart it 1.5 hours away (although I have only seen a few sick fish in all their tanks every time I have been up there). I do remember visiting a Wally World down in West Virginia, most the fish has cotton fungus:sick: .

[snakeskinner]

well, I just got off the phone with the store manager and asked him if he'd been by the fish lately and he said he'd been by this morning and noticed a few tanks were dirty but they were going to clean them. I told him I was less worried about the dirty tanks and asked him if he noticed the dead and diseased fish and he asked what I meant so I told him about the irredescents with ich and the dead bala's and also told him about how many fish were put with other fish that shouldn't be and could cause more stress which could lead to more ich. He said he would immediately call some consultant place they use to come out and check their water and fish. I'll go back this weekend and see if there is any progress. cya, Kyle

[DEmigh]

Hey snakeskinner, how goes?

I live in OKC. My favorite LFS is Aquarium Concepts, at NW 50th and MacArthur. They're in a shopping center on the South East corner of the intersection. The store actually faces MacArthur, but it's about 75 yards away from the street, at the back of a HUGE parking lot.

[fishdude]

my local LFS is the best fish store ive ever seen

they even ordered my rams for me. :D

there tanks are always clean, they always ask what is your tank size, and if u know alot abaout fish before buying them.

they have the best quality fish and i have never NEVER seen a sick fish besides a goldfsh with swimblader disease:sad

[snakeskinner]

DeMigh, good to see someone else locally. I use Aquarium Concepts also for the most part but there are some other fish they don't carry and I just like checking around. I went to a couple in Edmond, one in Norman (wasted trip), one on SW84th and Penn and as many wal marts and pets marts as I could. I've also used Josette's a couple times but they're usually higher priced. The Wal Mart on North Penn and Memorial is the one I was speaking about above. Are there any other shops on the North side? I seem to remember running by one several years ago before I got back into aquariums but don't remember where. I found Economy cages and aquariums on 23rd but they don't have fish. I'm wanting a good pair of Rams, I found a trio of small blue's in Edmond and Josette's said they might get some Wednesday but they are in high demand and first come first serve so I'll call Wednesday and go check them out to see. cya, KYle

[DEmigh]

The one you ran by a few years ago may have been The Reefshop, on NW 50th near Portland, but they went belly-up. There was also a strange-little store on the west side of Western Ave, just north of I-44. That one is presently "closed for remodelling."

I'll let my memory work on this one for a while.

[Must4ng s4lly]

People DO NOT SHOP AT WAL MART! They stink and never take care of their tanks don't even darken their doors unless you want disease filled tanks!! YUK!
Lowering your quality of Life everyday! Wal Mart Motto! :)

[snakeskinner]

Must4ng S4lly, I have several wal mart bought fish in all my tanks and actually I have a better survival rate on those than the other LFS bought fish, it all depends on the department manager really. It is a hastle getting fish there since they never have a department employee in that department but any joe-schmo can catcha fish and write on a bag, it's the person maintaining the stock I'm worried about. Well, good news anyway. I had a message on my answering machine from someone affiliated with the specific walmart I wrote this thread about or a corporate type employee (they never said). They said they'd had a consultant come in and take care of their disease problem and moved the fish to appropriate tanks and I was welcome to come check them out again. I will try and "darken their doorstep" :) sometime this week and see what it looks like. I doubt I'll be buying anything there since there is another supercenter about 20 minutes closer to my house. I just like seeing if a particular store got something interesting. My wife found a particular gourami she fell in love with at a wal mart but had we not been checking around, she would never have found it. I'm glad this store did something (maybe I went high enough to get something done). I just hope they keep it this way. Kyle

[Must4ng s4lly]

Need I say more?? Nuff said! Avoid those Retail nazis! My bet is they will still have disease riddled tanks! In Houston they are all that way. At least the ten + stores I have been in. I no longer shop there as I hate the hassle and their philosophy of business; Empty stores all over the landscape, employee treatment (no I never worked there!), Environmental practices, invasion of neighborhoods and the guaranteed 10% increase in crime for ALL Supercenters. I just ran one (400,000 sq ft store) out of my neighborhood and they were NASTY about it!

Let me know when you go back if the tanks STAY clean and disease free. Bet not ! :) Good KUCK!

[jonah]

Originally posted by DEmigh
The one you ran by a few years ago may have been The Reefshop, on NW 50th near Portland, but they went belly-up. There was also a strange-little store on the west side of Western Ave, just north of I-44. That one is presently "closed for remodelling."

I'll let my memory work on this one for a while.

The Reef Shop didn't go out of business, they moved (350 S. Vermont). It's down in one of those warehouses down by I-40 and Meridian (just East of Meridian). If you go East on Reno and then turn South on the street after Meridian (past the fish restaurant) it's down on the left side near the street.

That store on Western (Aquarium Interiors) has been going out of business for years. I've heard recently that he's finally given up trying to run the place. The owner seemed like he might be sick. It's probably the oldest fish shop in Oklahoma, going back to the 60's or even 50's.

The last time I went to Josette's, the salesgirl blew into the fish bag with her mouth.:rolleyes:

I usually go to Aquarium Concepts too or I'll go up to LeighAnne's (Aquarium Fish & Supply) on Kelly in Edmond.

PetVet over in Midwest City sometimes has unusual fish, but I haven't been there in a year or so. I didn't think much of their tanks and I didn't like the fish guy there. He's moved to Oregon recently, so I might check it out again. The clerk there was the owner of the Aquarium Exchange, but since he's moved, I'd assume that endeavor is no longer around, at least not in Oklahoma.

The coolest aquarium shop was Heart's Desire on MacArthur and 36th. It was like going to a public aquarium with a shark pool and 500g tanks with giant catfish and cichlids. Of course it went belly up 6-7 years ago. :(

I get a lot of my fish from auctions and other members of my fish club (OKCAA).

[seastaar88]

i dont know why anyone with a right mind would shop for fish at walmart. food, gravel...fine, but FISH? when there is a GREAT LFS down the road who is super friendly and knowledgeble?! it's crazy. i typically like petsmart when i'm shopping for plants because i like how they keep their (huge selection) of plants in a running-water tank. i was disappointed last weekend when i went in to buy some gravel -- it looked as if the tanks hand't been cleaned in two weeks. the algal growth was INSANE! :P stick the the LFSs as long as they back their fishes w/ a guarentee and KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT! ask questions and see how they answer!!!

[HarmonyAZ]

My local PetCo is so bad, my first time in there I talked to an employee for only about 1 minute before he said, out of the blue, "You really need to go to Pets Inc. in Tempe. They have much nicer fish than we do." Then he walked away. This PetCo's tanks are disgusting and full of dead fish. Like 25% dead inventory.

PetSmarts here have nice looking tanks but the employees seem to know less about fishkeeping than I do, and my entire background is now about 8 hours of reading.

The Tempe Pets Inc. store has TONS of fish, and beautiful clean tanks, and never any dead, but it's a little hokey, too. They have overcharged me several times. And they sell puppies, which I am against.