View Full Version : Question about your LFS
holyherbiness
06-13-2004, 8:06 PM
My local fish store is a large place called Fish Town USA in bayside, NYC)
Today, I purchased 16 small fish, and the way the guy took them out disgusted me. IE: The person sent in a net and thrashed around violently inside the tank grabbing wildly at the fish. One time, the guy even crushed one of the fish against the side of the aquarium wall with the net, where it just limped off.
In another instance, I saw the man net out some clownfish, where he then used his hands to grab them out of the net to put them into whatever aquarium
I don't know, just seems odd to me.
The several places I've seen net fish... They used a net, but were alot more careful about just ctaching the one fish I wanted, and not squishing/scaring the heck out of the rest of them. They had to move quickly, but it definitely wasn't "thrashing"! They then held the fish (through the net) between tank and plastic bag, I guess so it couldn't jump out. The process of switching from tank to bag was also done quickly.
I watched anxiously every time, but all in all I don't think they did too bad a job. :)
ChicoRaton
06-13-2004, 8:49 PM
I know what you mean about the people thrashing around and squishing fish againts the glass. I think the trick is to go in when they aren't busy. I just got some fish from my lfs today (at 4 pm on a sunday) and it was just me and one other person in the place. I also had the owner catch the fish for me instead of one of the employees. I've talked with her and she seems very knowledgeable and cares about the fish. I'm sure most owners would care more about losing stock than the employees as well;) anyway, she took her time and was able to get all the fish without even scaring them I think:D
In any case, try to find the happy employee that seems to like his/her job and like fish.
On a slightly unrelated note, I really love the new lfs (the one I was just talking about) here. excellent prices, excellent stock, and a knowledgeable owner. I think the best way to get good service is to talk to the resident fish expert about tanks, ask questions that you might even know the answer to, compliment their knowlege, and visit regularly.
but I ramble.
Peace,
Chico
aquariumfishguy
06-13-2004, 9:06 PM
From the time I was 28-33 years of age, I sold fish to my LFS. I would breed fish like crazy, and they were exceptional looking. However, just as my landscaping has gone to sh*ts, so did breeding fish. Time was the factor here, I had none of it.
Anyway, to get on track... my LFS which is opposite of a large "chain store" treats me like family. I come in often, have some coffee and talk to everyone. Its really nice, and being that I have a personal relationship with these folks, I can net out my own fish. I do not purchase fish often as I am fully stocked for all of my 18 tanks, but when/if I needed to get a fish, I can do it without having to have someone else net the fish out.
I know, it's nice. :D
jacblades
06-13-2004, 9:13 PM
i bought gobies from petco the other day (i know-i am ashamed! but nowhere else had them...) and the dude smashed one with the net. he died later that night:( so when i went back to swap it, i made sure the nicer fish guy netted it for me... i see this at all of the pet stores i go to. rarely is there someone who would rather take 10 extra seconds to carefully net a fish instead of stabbing it to death with the net. they dont seem to hire people who care about fish-which to me doesnt make any sense :confused:
aquariumfishguy
06-13-2004, 9:17 PM
...Well I ask myself the same question when I go to Burger King and I get some frumpy-looking lady with half her teeth missing behind the counter saying "speak up, whatcha want?"
...why aren't the employees like the ones on BK's commercials? :p
Just for the record I catch my fish with my hands. As long as your hands are CLEAN it does less damage than a net.
Gambusia
06-13-2004, 9:57 PM
Catching fish with your hands is not a good idea for some species.
I have to transfer an African lungfish and I am definitely using a net.
I would have critized that employee for rough netting of the fish.
Originally posted by Gambusia
I would have critized that employee for rough netting of the fish.
Hehehe! I can see it now... Watching them get the fish and going "dude, can you scare the poor fish anymore? Give me that net and let's see how you like it!". :laugh:
Just so long as you're willing to net the fish yourself when they huff at you. :D
jacblades
06-13-2004, 11:05 PM
he was also the one that told me the ropefish was a kuhli loach:(
i prefer to use my hands but i wash them and then slather them with novaqua before i transfer a fish. yes i agree, some fish you should not touch with your hands but i dont have any of those fragile types.
Orange
06-13-2004, 11:41 PM
Next time find a guy that knows nothing about fish and slowley take him over to the Piranha tank and tell him to use his hands this time!!!!
Rocketman
06-13-2004, 11:59 PM
I work at an LFS...well, sorta, it's Pet Supplies Plus but I'm that 'resident fish expert' and we sell plenty fish. Some tips for getting the right kind of help and staying on the right side of the employees (maybe make this a sticky, hehe.)
1) Look around before you ask for help, especially if the employees are busy, (like at a general pet store, i.e. Pet Supplies Plus or those other two that start with P...can't remember.) When you simply look around and the employee can only watch you for 10 minutes and they have other things to do, it's obviously annoying. If they ask you if you need help, you can tell them you will in a few minutes.
2) Be interested in what they tell you about the fish or things that you should get for the fish. Otherwise, you give off the feeling that you don't care about your fish and if it lives or dies. Even ask if there are any special foods or what the LFS feeds - even if you already know.
3) Make a point to stop by even when you don't want to buy any fish. This way the employees get to know you. There are about 10 regulars I know by name. They ALWAYS get the heads up on new products or fish and I always give them the most care. Their "1 dozen feederfish" are actually more like 16. They get a lot of discounts on supplies as well.
4) Don't expect the greatest customer service if there are 3 people waiting in line behind you. It just works that way.
I've been catching fish all my life, so I move the net pretty swifly through the water and catch the fish in a few seconds. For the slower ones, I just put the net in the tank and lift up from under the fish.
schiejr
06-14-2004, 10:32 AM
I watched a Petsmart employee do the chase in a large tank with a small net for a skunk Loach. Pretty ugly. I made the tactful suggestion that she use two nets but she then made a lucky swipe (either that or the fish was getting tired) and got one.
jamjarjames
06-14-2004, 4:45 PM
i must admit tacking fish out of a tank isn't easy at the best of times, i usually get tired before the fish! However i think people should be careful no matter how long it takes, would you go and whack a dog with a plank of wood to get it in its kennel?? My LFS had my fish out of the tank before i had time to blink just one swish of the net and the fish are in.
holyherbiness
06-14-2004, 5:42 PM
I recall that the particular fish store had a bunch of clownfish in little cups in these tanks which were all dead with the exception of one
anyway, none of my new arrivals have died yet and seem fairly healthy in spit of the obviously stressing move.
I dont like to think of myself taking fish out with my hands because they are slippery little devils that flop around
There are lots of employees there, but I honestly don't think most know much personally. They do not tell me anything about the fish I am about to purchase, unless someone asks, in which they consult a "database" or something that they refer to.
I bought the fish yesterday, and the person was trying to get me to buy food and stuff for more sales.
Luckily, I research the fish I purchase fairly extensively before I go out and buy them (learned that the hard way ie: serpae+guppy=dead guppy)
Rockin_Sunset
06-14-2004, 5:56 PM
i have went to the lfs with my brother a couple of times and the way some of the employees get the fish is aweful. but is ture you should find an employee that looks like they like thier job and ask them to help you if they are not busy.
kikuchiyo
06-14-2004, 7:39 PM
I know a lot of fancy goldfish breeders use their hands to catch their fish (very carefully!) so as not to damage them.
Originally posted by jacblades
yes i agree, some fish you should not touch with your hands but i dont have any of those fragile types.
THe main fish you need to be careful about are the ones with poison barbs.
Rocketman
06-15-2004, 7:34 AM
The goldfish breeders do that because goldfish have a weird tendency to get caught on nets. Very strange actually.
bennubird
06-15-2004, 7:59 AM
I've been to several of the LFS in the DC area and have not had that problem at least not to that extent. I'm not saying it doesn't occur, I just haven't had that happen to me.
I had something like this happen. The clerk kept calling fish by the scientific name like he was very knowledgable. Any way I didn't buy from that store and never did again. I wish I was buying something expensive at the same time so I could of pointed out to a manager that they lost a large sale because of an incompetent employee. They didn't seem to care about just buying a fish. Tell some one with authority why you will not shop there anymore. Just watch for a little bit first and do not buy from any one store right away.