How long do fish stores have fish in general?

PuppyFluffer

PuppyFluffer

AC Members
Jan 9, 2008
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east coast USA
I am learning a lot about the tank size requirements for various fish and it is obvious that the tanks in pet stores crammed with fish are far to small for their long term needs.

(For example, I just started a thread about putting tiger barbs in a 10 gal and learned that they need far more space to swim that that would allow.)

So, how do these fish deal with being crammed 20- 30 to a tank in a pet store? I am sure they suffer stress from this.

How long do then tend to stay in these conditions awaiting sale? (It's obvious to me that there is no set answer to this question, I am just curious on the general turn around time on stock in a fish store.)
 
common fish are usually only there a week or two.

there are several factors which make a store environmant a lot different from a home tank. first, the fish are pretty stressed anyway from shipping and adjusting to the new environment. the overcrowding and (usually) lack of decor in store tanks prevents most fish from establishing their own territory, which is a main cause of fighting. in the case of schooling fish under stress, rather than fight with each other they school up and that makes them feel a little safer. also, stores have large filtration systems and/or do large water changes often, which keeps the tanks chemically safe for the fish.
 
Thanks for the reply! That all makes sense!

I wish all fish stores would post the adult size of the fish they sell. I think that would prevent a lot of wrong purchases and unhappy cramped fish!

I really like striped fish and the clown loach caught my eye and I thought a few of them might be nice - then I learned online that they get to be a foot long! You sure don't get that impression when they are two inches flitting around that fish store!

I'm a professional pet groomer and I see so many people get dogs that are completely inappropriate for their family and/or living situation. A little education goes so far to help people get the right pet. I see it's the same in the aquarium industry too.
 
Yup^

My stores fish are their awhile I'd easily say more than a week. There tanks are almost always overstocked and the "large" filtration systems suck. I notice ALL the time that one or more tanks in a "pod" thats controlled by one filter has a diaeses of some sort.

Just yesterday lol petland has discus with body fungus and a HUGE lack of color. lol 110.00 for a adult my butt.

And petco has velvet and ich in a couple of there tanks ran in pods of 6 tanks to one filter. They all have it now lol.
 
Having worked in an aquarium shop, I can tell you from experience that disease can happen so easily in a store and has little or nothing to do with the care they are being given by the store. Many times the fish come in to the store sick and show no signs of illness for a day or two after they have been there.Of course that means they have now infected the system and the other fish in the system have the potential to get sick. If upon arrival it is observed that a certain fish is sick then they along with all of the rest in that bag are quarantined(at least they were in my store) in the back and treated. However, it is not possible to quarantine all new arrivals since there is not usually enough space for that.

Given the fact that in most pet stores or aquarium shops run their filteration system for many tanks all at once it is possible to have the tanks overstocked. The fish especially the fast sellers such as tetras and livebearers, sell so fast anyway that they are not in overcrowded tanks for very long.

Marinemom
 
Good question.
What if the store can't sell the fish. Let's say walmart has an ugly deformed oscar that won't sell. Does the fish stay there in that tiny tank until it dies?
 
My Walmart doesn't sell fish anymore. I was thrilled to see that! I'm sad to know that it isn't a company wide decision.
 
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Wal-Mart has no business selling fish. They really do not know what they are doing in terms of the care for these animals they are trying to sell. They are better off just selling supplies if even that and leave the selling of fish to the aquarium shops. Everyone including the fish will be better off.

Marinemom
 
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