What is your #1 piece of Advice??

[aquagirl63]

I am an aquatics specialist at Petco and our store gets a good bit of aquatics business.
I am compiling a list of Do's and Dont's. I welcome your help as educating people on proper set up and care is my main goal to keep our customers happy "fish customers"

Thank you!

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[NeverFadeAway86]

i would says the most important things ive found to be are learning about the Cycling of a fish tank, and mostly about what fish go in what size tank. just because they fit in the tank doesnt mean they will be happy

[XanAvaloni]

water change, water change, water change. Suggested phrasing: "Just like you have to walk a dog every day and take a baggie to clean up, and just like if you have a cat you have to clean the litterbox, if you have a fishtank you have to change water regularly, and for the same reason." People understand poop, they just don't think about it with fish.

And don't let anybody out the door with a fish who doesn't take with them testing equipment. Ideally an API liquid kit, but at very least a big bottle of dip strips. And a dechlorinator with clear usage instructions if they're on city water. Have clear explanations ready to hand for those who invariably accuse you of just trying to sell addons to boost profits. Especially if they have already bought decor whether tasteful or hideous: "Those [pointing to decor] are extras. These [pointing to test equipment] are essentials."

To add to Never's comment about size, mention numbers of fish too. Bettas don't need "friends" but tetras and other species HAVE to have multiples or they stress out and die. Oh, and no goldfish and tropicals in the same tank due to different temperature needs.

that pretty well covers my wish list. And applause to you for asking, it's great to have somebody from one of the big chains show this level of interest. Kudos.

[tanker]

1) Never sell a tank, deco, sand and fish together. The new "fish-customer" must cycle.
2) There is no such thing as a "1inch per gallon" rule.
3) Fish rarely starve. Owners almost always over feed.
4) Goldfish does not fit in small tanks.
5) Corys are not scavengers. They must be fed.
6) Plecos do not control algae, and they grow very big.


Sorry, could not think of "Just One".

[Glabe]

i would says the most important things ive found to be are learning about the Cycling of a fish tank, and mostly about what fish go in what size tank. just because they fit in the tank doesnt mean they will be happy

do NOT attempt to explain how cycling works. I've tried a couple times, and people buying fish could not care less about this "complicated" subject. they'll just zone out any time you mention cycling after that. just touch on the important parts and say "toxic" and "new tank syndrome"alot lol. they're good headliner words. and tell them to take it slowly and bring their water in to be tested in a week.

suggest cheaper alternatives to your hardware. You'll gain loyal customers by directing people to amazon.com and drsfostersmith.com

if the customer is about to make a poor choice about stock because of your limited options, suggest fish that your store doesn't carry. i need to get some business cards for bobstropicalplants.com cuz i always suggest his nerites and have to write it down. I had a couple people come back saying how great their nerites or otos are, wherever they ended up getting them. it's nice to gain their trust, and it's good for long-term business.

don't be afraid to turn people away. sometimes it's easy, like someone buying a koi for his 10g, but sometimes it's hard, like the adorable little girl who wants to buy a goldfish who she has already named, but her parents will only let her have a bowl. Then she's all sad, and the mom is angry, then the little girl comes in later with her dad who asks again and is all like "why not?" and you're all like "cuz we try and make sure our animals get adopted into good homes." and he's like "but it's just a goldfish!" and then you pull a sly one and tell the little girl that Nemo won't be happy in a bowl and he'll get sick, and she should get a puppy instead of a fish. Then she'll want a puppy, and the dad is even more unhappy, but you'll be smiling on the inside.

Be prepared to explain to every little kid why there's a dead fish in the tank. "he lived a long and happy life, and he was old" is a winner.

always remember to mention water conditioner! also, ask why people are buying meds for the tank, sometimes they just pick up a random medicine hoping it'll work.

NEVER suggest petco brand filters. they'll be discontinued someday soon, and people will hate you for it because they can't find any cartridges.

maybe get on the computer in the breakroom and file a suggestion that they stop carrying common plecos and chinese algae eaters.

[jayla2251]

Water changes!

[allaboutfish]

Research, research, research!


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[Chrisinator]

RESEARCH.

[discuspaul]

The best thing you can do, for yourself as a conscientious aquarist sales specialist, and for your employer - Petco's reputation, as well as to keep your customers happy & coming back (besides doing your research/ homework and being well-informed on the many facets of fish-keeping) is to spend every free moment you have during your shifts, ensuring, as best you can, that all the the livestock tanks in your store are kept as clean-looking, and free of debris, and any sick, dying or dead fish as you possibly can.

Check all the tanks frequently, immediately remove any dead fish that you see, treat any obviously sick fish right away (for say, ich, as an example), and place a quarantine tag on the tank, indicating the fish therein are under medication and not for sale.
Ensure you & everyone on staff does their job in terms of vacuuming detritus from tanks, cleaning up any algae, making sure proper water changes are being done, or if a central filtration system is in use, that it is operating properly & doing it's job.
Do everything you can, vis-avis your bosses and your fellow employees, to promote the maintenance of clean, good-looking tanks and healthy fish, without overcrowding them, so that they will present a very pleasant sight to potential buyers.
Hope you're following what I'm hoping to get across.
Oh, there are so many other things, but I'll stop here - I've already gone on too long.

[verbal]

I think research and water changes are the key to successful fish keeping.