LFS experience

foolishfish

foolishfish

Registered Fish Offender
Dec 10, 2008
290
1
18
Where the wild things are
Visited a lfs whose owner had said he'd like to buy some of my extra fish, not that there really is such a thing...just a shortage of tanks. While I politely waited to speak with him I observed his help refilling tanks straight out of a hose and then adding Genesis water conditioner. I never use it but I looked at the package and it only says that it removes chlorine, not chloramine (the stuff that we have in our water 'cuz it lasts longer).

Went back to speak to the owner, who says that he'd like to expand his fish section since that's his first love, and watched while he sold a 1 gallon bowl and 3 - 2" comets to a woman for her 5 year old. Sold her food, gravel and a net...that's it. I suggested that he didn't have to rush on my account but he was obviously quite finished with her.

I offered to help her carry her things to the car just to have a chance to remind her to change the water...frequently, and to look for a bigger home, and a filter, and an air pump. I wanted to tell her that the guy was a knucklehead but I refrained.

I couldn't resist mentioning to him the additional sales that he had just ignored. He hadn't asked but assumed that she didn't want to spend that much. I suggested a plastic tank w/ a hermit crab next time.

God bless the folks that take the plunge, and I try to suport them, but sometimes they make it terribly hard.
 
Unfortunate for sure but people need to support themselves too.
 
I have had similar experiences with LFS and I am so greatful for AC for "real" information.

But keep something in mind. Many times there are people who don't want to hear what is best for their new aquatic "pets". I once watched helplessly as the owner of one of the LFS that I frequent went a couple of rounds with a man who "INSISTED" that he be sold the 3 fancy goldfish his kids picked out along with the 10 gallon kit he already had on the counter. I think sometimes the owners just give up.
 
Wow, was it a fish store and not a pet store? My "LFS" is owned by a cranky old lady, I'd guess that she's 80 years old. Unless you bring in a receipt from last time, she'll almost always make you bring in a water sample before she sells you fish. I also have to bring in a receipt from last time which she adds on to so she knows I don't have any fish that won't get along. Every time I go in she warns me about how my Tri-Color shark is going to eat everything, she then shows me the 30 year old Tri-Color she's had since she started the store.
 
I don't have any LFS by me but the one I go and hate is petco for things on emergency and look at some fish I could take home and quarantine for around a month to make sure all the bad stuff is gone. I am going tomorrow to Blue Sierra which is a LFS cause I need some fish stuff like canister filter that petco wouldn't ever carry. I usually do most of my fish shopping online.
 
Kengel said:
Wow, was it a fish store and not a pet store? My "LFS" is owned by a cranky old lady, I'd guess that she's 80 years old. Unless you bring in a receipt from last time, she'll almost always make you bring in a water sample before she sells you fish. I also have to bring in a receipt from last time which she adds on to so she knows I don't have any fish that won't get along. Every time I go in she warns me about how my Tri-Color shark is going to eat everything, she then shows me the 30 year old Tri-Color she's had since she started the store.
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Cool - that would be me if I owned an LFS! LOL!
 
Yah, i have a local petsmart and petco, the information they give you is so bad i can hardly stand it. I found a good LFS nearby though that's very knowledgeable.
 
Kengel now that you mention it the very first tank that I ever bought and stocked for my very first place of my own was probably from her sister. The store was a little hole in the wall and sold nothing but F/W fish. If you didn't pass the sniff test with the owner she wouldn't sell you the fish.

I had to go back for weeks bugging her to let me add a GBR to my giant cubic foot of water tank. I think she finally agreed to let me buy a small school of neons an otto and the ram, but she made me buy my first HOB filter at the same time. Glad she did. That ram lived for over three years and I've never had one live that long ever since.

Yeah this guy is sliding into what I refer to as a sadistic appeal venue. We have a handful of shops around town that used to do a decent job with tropicals but now they are all gravitating to whatever the big corp. stores don't want to handle. Piranha, Red Tailed Cats, Red Devils, 4 eyed fanged somethin' or others. They are also getting more into lizards and snakes, 'cuz they all say they're less work. Basically they feel that their clientele is more interested in watching one critter eat another critter, so that's what they cater to. If they sold dogs they'd probably only sell in- bred pitbulls
 
Kengel said:
Wow, was it a fish store and not a pet store? My "LFS" is owned by a cranky old lady, I'd guess that she's 80 years old. Unless you bring in a receipt from last time, she'll almost always make you bring in a water sample before she sells you fish. I also have to bring in a receipt from last time which she adds on to so she knows I don't have any fish that won't get along. Every time I go in she warns me about how my Tri-Color shark is going to eat everything, she then shows me the 30 year old Tri-Color she's had since she started the store.
Click to expand...

LOL! My kinda store!!!!
 
Are you hating on pitbull's??? My brother has the nicest pitbull ever and I hate when people bring pitbull's into talk. I don't know if you making fun of the breed or what. I am just saying they are amazing dogs if they have the right owner and are in the right setting. Sorry a bit of topic. I wish I had a angry old grandma who sold fish.
 
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