So yesterday was an absolutely awful day at work. Right off the bat I sold two Black Moors to a woman and her little granddaughter who also purchased the fish's future home: one of the smallest bowls we carry. Despite my efforts to persuade her to buy a proper tank and provide good filtration she proclaimed she could not afford to do so. The little five year old went so far as to proclaim "There are plenty of fish in the world that go everyday without a filter and they do just fine." Ahhhhh ignorance is so blissful especially at such a tender age.
Later, I was talking to a couple who had just set up a tank and couldn't understand why their fish were dying. I asked of the tank had been cycled and they said "Oh yes, we had it running for a day." I proceeded to explain their tank was not cycled. A fellow employee of mine whom has been working in the department as long as me, but whom I hardly ever work with interrupted me and said "Oh yes, it can be cycled in a day. Just throw some Cycle in there!" "No, that product does not work," I replied. "Yes, it does it says so right on the box...." "NO IT DOES NOT!" Everyone went quiet. I then went on to explain the nitrogen cycle.
The highlight though was the large, ok I might as well say it, ENORMOUS, LOUD and rude woman who came in, purchased a 20 gallon starter kit, a female betta, two large red orandas, a larger calico ryukin, and two common plecos. About the only piece of advise I gave her was that she should cycle her tank first which was of course promptly ignored.
Why? Why did I do this? To be honest I'm tired. I'm tired of talking. I'm tired of informing. No one listens. No one cares. Fish don't have cute fuzzy bodies.....I guess they must not be worth anything. No one wants to learn. I can't stand it anymore you guys. I really can't. This is the only place where people really think that fish are intelligent....that they do feel pain like other animals. You're the only ones who care. Campaigning to make big chain stores carry the right information is nice, but we need to be doing more than that. Laws should be passed. Fish should fall under the same cruelty standards as other animals. Something can and should be done. I'm so tired. :shakehead:
Later, I was talking to a couple who had just set up a tank and couldn't understand why their fish were dying. I asked of the tank had been cycled and they said "Oh yes, we had it running for a day." I proceeded to explain their tank was not cycled. A fellow employee of mine whom has been working in the department as long as me, but whom I hardly ever work with interrupted me and said "Oh yes, it can be cycled in a day. Just throw some Cycle in there!" "No, that product does not work," I replied. "Yes, it does it says so right on the box...." "NO IT DOES NOT!" Everyone went quiet. I then went on to explain the nitrogen cycle.
The highlight though was the large, ok I might as well say it, ENORMOUS, LOUD and rude woman who came in, purchased a 20 gallon starter kit, a female betta, two large red orandas, a larger calico ryukin, and two common plecos. About the only piece of advise I gave her was that she should cycle her tank first which was of course promptly ignored.
Why? Why did I do this? To be honest I'm tired. I'm tired of talking. I'm tired of informing. No one listens. No one cares. Fish don't have cute fuzzy bodies.....I guess they must not be worth anything. No one wants to learn. I can't stand it anymore you guys. I really can't. This is the only place where people really think that fish are intelligent....that they do feel pain like other animals. You're the only ones who care. Campaigning to make big chain stores carry the right information is nice, but we need to be doing more than that. Laws should be passed. Fish should fall under the same cruelty standards as other animals. Something can and should be done. I'm so tired. :shakehead:
