I would laugh if it wasn't so sad LOLAhh yes the joys of tropheus.. the swimming the nibbling.. the eating, the bloating, the dying... al in a 20minute show
I think the issue is that Tropheus are not fish you just throw into a community tank, nor a fish you can just keep like the "mixed Africans" they also sell.
This is how I got started with tropheus. Got one from petco many years ago. I threw him in my 125G african cichlids tank, I really liked him, and he did well. Then I learned more about them and I have kept several colonies since then. I currently have a two small colonies in my 90G, again mixed with malawi haps and peacocks. If that petco didn't have a trepheus, I may have never gotten started on them. So, I am glad they carried one.I think the issue is that Tropheus are not fish you just throw into a community tank, nor a fish you can just keep like the "mixed Africans" they also sell.
It's definitely Petsmart I am thinking of (although my Petco also definitely uses salt, only it's in little cups inside of the tanks.) Since the stores are franchises, it's very possible they are run differently - and I'm in Florida, you're in Kansas, so that could very well play a role also. I know the Petsmart closest to me has a lot of issues with their filtration system. I have seen towels, buckets and cones on several occasions. I've asked the people about it, and they've said something to the effect of "Corporate knows what the problem is...they just won't pay to have it fixed." (There is only one person there who appears to know anything about fish, and he keeps a flowerhorn in a 30 gallon tank. Although I'm Facebook friends with him and see he just recently got an 120 gallon, but that's neither here nor there)I have to wonder if you're thinking of somewhere other than petsmart, honestly.