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Tetratastic

Tetratastic

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Apr 7, 2003
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Ok, sorry for my rant, but...

Why is it that so many pet stores rarely mention cycling to new customers? And why isn't something about cycling included in aquarium instructions?

I got my very first tank and bought fish at the same time. The store has a 14 guarantee on fish, and of course, when they died I took the first batch back to be replaced, and of course they also died. It wasn't until I took the second batch back that someone FINALLY asked me if I'd cycled the tank.

I now pick my fish stores by whether or not they ask when I buy fish (my store of choice asks tank specs/tank mates each time I purchase fish).

It just seems to me more newbies wouldn't get discouraged (and less fish hurt) if they had this simple info. :(
 
I hate to say this, but it's pretty easy to make sales if they (oops!) "forget" to tell you about cycling. However, it is supposedly common knowledge that cycling is a necessity, so maybe some of the shops don't mention it for that reason? I'll work with the pet stores in my area to get them to remember about cycling, whatever reason they forgot...and, if we all do that, we might never have to worry about people not understanding the cycle.
 
i'm with you tetra but my petco told me i had to cycle befor i got fish(well the one guy did and he knows what hes talking about, the other one are useless)
 
Hi all,

Mot of you probably already know this, but it depends on the person you talk to at the LFS, especially the larger chain ones. Of the 3 fish/pet stores I've been to here in town, the best info I've gotten actually comes from a manager at PetsMart. His advice runs along the lines of what I've seen on this forum. (There's a 4th one here, but I haven't been to it for fish info yet.)

I was at one of the smaller mostly-fish stores yesterday & noticed a couple of fish in one of their tanks that had been dead for more than just a day (practically skeletons). Before I saw this, I had a high opinion of that store & was thinking of buying fish there when I get another setup (not anymore, though).

Anyway, my point was that if you don't know someone personally at the LFS, try to talk to a manager - they're (usually) a little more knowledgeable than most of the Teenagers working there.

:)
 
Good call, Pam! It's a lot easier at non-Wal-Mart locales, though, as the individual Wal-Marts decide whether or not to hire enough people with fish experience to keep that department staffed full-time. I agree with you on trying to find the experts at all places, though...we just have to hope that they are there.
 
I went to a petco near where I live and this couple walked out with a 10gal and like 2-3 koi. No one told them about cycleing or the size of the fish being to big for the tank. I dont think cyleing is common sence I never knew about it till I got the internet. I always thought the only worry's were algea and ph never knew about benifial bacteria ammonia and all that other stuff.
 
i dont think many people know about cycling when they first start out. i know i didnt, but once your fish drop like flies, you do a little more research on it, go back to the same pet shop, buy more fish, and buy all the expensive meds, and tank essentials. i think thas how LFS make money isnt it? not on fish, but stuff to keep your fish alive?
 
They make some decent money on fish, too...especially if you kill off a set or two before finally establishing the tank.
 
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