Bala Sharks & a 30g

Candycat21

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2004
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Charlotte, NC
Okay, as some of you know I work at a petstore. Well, it was just one of those days where you get the customers who know EVERYTHING. Anyway, a couple was looking at the fish for a good while then asked for help. They were pointing to the large Bala Sharks and said "I want them all" There were 6 in the tank. I said okay, but first asked what size tank she had. She said a 30 gal. I looked at her and said you really can't put 6 in a 30g tank as they get almost a foot in length and 30gallons is just too small. Well...then all hell broke loose. She turns to me and starts cussing at me saying that's ridiculous! :rant: "I've kept them before and they never got that big!" I told her that was probably because their growth was stunted from not enough room. She goes off again and starts cussing at me some more and says "So you're not going to sell them to me!?!" I just looked at her because I had never said that, she just assumed I wouldn't based on what I told her. Her husband finally chimes in and says "This is **** b*******! Lets go and get them somewhere else!" :thud:
I just wanted to get some other people's opinions here. Was I right in telling them not put that many in a 30? Honestly I wouldn't even put 1 in that size tank, but that's just me.
The day before, I had a customer that was getting a small(one of those 2 gal topfin tanks) and asked what fish she could put in there. I told her a Betta. She asked "What about goldfish?" I said no as they need more space, produce more waste/ammonia and grow to be fairly large, chunky fish. She then pointed to the tropicals and said what about those? I said no as they all need a heater, proper filtration and IMHO at least 10g of swimming space min. as most like to school.
Here we go again...she says well let me get 3 of those 26cent goldfish, I want something that's going to be active, and if they happen to get too big for the tank I can just flush them. They're only 26cents. I looked at her with a shocked expression on face. I wasnt expecting her to say something like that! Then I said that based on what she has just said to me, I really wasn't going to sell her fish. She was like "Are you serious!?" I said yes. She tells her husband and he looks at the fish then at me and goes "They're just a **** fish! Who cares?!" And I said I care. Im not going to sell fish to people who ahve openly admitted they were going to flush ii if it got too big for the tank etc.
They ended up getting the Betta which I reccommended right from the start, so at least that ended on a good note.
I have so many other stories from just working this weekend. Had a customer come in that refused to leave until I sold them 2 Bala sharks....for a 10 gal tank!!!! :rant: They wanted to put a tinfoil barb in too and I said no.
Then had a customer buy 2 bala sharks(OMG these poor Balas!) 4 Tiger Barbs and 2 Clown Loaches....wait get this....to put ina tank with a Red Devil!!! This fish is full size....he's had it for about 10 years and everyfish he's tried to put in with it, the devil has killed...including other cichlids about the same size!! How can some people be so ignorant!!!?? He said things like "well the tiger barbs are fast so they should be able to get away. If not oh well." Same things with the bala's. They got all the fish, but I didn't give them the 14 day guarantee that our fish usually come with, just because those fish are incompatible.
Oh wow. Sorry for the long post. I just needed to vent a little and see what everyone else had to say about it.
Thanks for being so patient LoL ;)

Candice
 
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oh heck I hope they pay you well at the fish store. Sounds like a high pressure job. Some people seem to like throwing away money on short term pets.
 
I think the problem comes to the fact that some people like those you mentioned wanting the balas no matter what, like aquariums for sport/entertainment value, probably not even for themselves but for their kids or something. On the other hand you have people like a lot of us here who have spent many hours reading, researching and learning and think of keeping fish more then just a hobby. Once you get into it and learn more you become more passionate about these "fish" and want to have the best possible home for them. Anyways.. hope those balas do ok :/ I love balas
 
Good for you Candycat...at least you do your best to try to educate people...many pet shop employees would not speak up or would even encourage ridicuous stocking scenarios. Hang tough!
 
Just because some people can't afford to house a certain fish they get all crazy :rant: :eek: :thud:

I just don't get it ignorance, denial, money I just don't get it. Why keep pets if you can't house them properly. They are not going to act the way they should, you'll have a sick overcrowded fish. 6 balas look amazing in a 500 gallon, and would be ok in a 180. But a 30 gallon, come on now.
 
I know what you all mean!!! :rant: I do my best. Most people are more than happy to hear the advice you give them and are grateful for it, but then you do get the select few like some of you said...just want fish for the sake of having them or to keep their kids entertained and just REFUSE to even hear a word you have to say. I had one customer come in....he bragged about majoring in Biology and said that he knew more about fish than myself or anyone else I work with after I asked him if he had tested his water at all as he had returned some dead fish. He said he knew what was wrong and didn't need to test his water...that the fish he had gotten were sick and thats why they died. Load of crock honestly!!! I NEVER sell a fish that appears to be abnormal. I actually take my time looking for the best ones to reduce the anmount of fish returns.
I guess there will always be those select few who just KNOW EVERYTHING....just gotta grin and bear it sometimes. :thud:
 
Thanks for reminding me why I refuse to work retail ever again. FWIW, anytime you deal with the public there are those who will "know more than you" no matter what. I have a friend who is a nurse. If you knew the number of people that, despite not have an RN, BSN, AN or even senior bed pan scrubber degree knew more than her how to do her job... Lucky for her though, she is able to get them back by squeezing the sphygmomenometer too long, making a shot hurt more than it should, etc.
 
Harlock said:
Lucky for her though, she is able to get them back by squeezing the sphygmomenometer too long, making a shot hurt more than it should, etc.

JMO, but that's worse than the ignorant fool who thinks they can do the job better. When someone insists that can do my job better than I can, I smile, and say I will be more than happy to let them, I should bevacating my position within the nest 18 months and they are welcome to apply. Until then, I'm doing the best I can, and they'll just have to work with me. Hurting someone else is revenge--doesn't resolve the problem, likely makes it worse, and if it makes the person feel better--is sick.

CandyCat--talk to you boss, and make sure you have their support. While I think that LFS employees should be allowed to refuse a sale, for the sake of your continuted employment you should discuss the issue with your boss. After all--you are their employee, and even if you don't agree with it, you need to follow their guidelines.

As for the people who behave this way--yes, they are ignorant. Many willfully so. I can't offer any advice, other than to say that offering to help and giving them good advice is best, but ultimately, it's up to the individual to become an informed pet owner, for any type of pet.
 
thats sad, the poor balas :(
im really nervous about keeping 3 balas once i get my 130 set up because i know they need alot of room... i dont even think i'll bother with them, even though i really love them. theyre very graceful IMO. but i already have 1 (i had 3, but two passed unfortunatly) and a pair of tinfoils. i think that should be fine for the 130g.... i hope, heh. :p
 
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