Petco

yonsu said:
tmtpowers and sophiecat22, please let your managers know that PetSmart has recently made an adjustment to policies and procedures, and gravel vaccuuming is no longer part of them. I can definitely see why, as I vividly recall gravel vaccuuming with those crazy devices and watching much of the waste go through the bag and right back into the tank. My manager wasn't aware until another store manager told her to read the memo (which was like 2 months ago, actually).
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We have the newer system and due to that, we are suppose to continue gravel vacuuming as we aren't having the same issues as many of the other stores :) LOL Our biggest issue is not letting the gravel actually get sucked up.
BTW, how are the other (older) systems set up? You've got me curious with the whole "bag" thing....
 
Yeah well yesterday I went to Petco to return my blue ram that was dead after 3 days.. looked kinda sick when I bought it but it was the only 1 and I wanted it so I brought it home. Anyways, the SA told my wife they didn't use RO water when almost every LFS uses it and even another SA from another Petco told me they used RO water. ????? Anyways, they told my wife not to let me use anymore RO water to mix with my conditioned tapwater... but I dunno, I got two responses on what type of water they use so I dunno which they use.....
 
tmtpowers said:
We have the newer system and due to that, we are suppose to continue gravel vacuuming as we aren't having the same issues as many of the other stores :) LOL Our biggest issue is not letting the gravel actually get sucked up.
BTW, how are the other (older) systems set up? You've got me curious with the whole "bag" thing....
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I went into the store Friday and was so impressed once again with how clean you guys keep the tanks, especially with having gravel (versus WalMartFishHell). Water sparkling, gravel clean, happy happy fish!! If I didn't have plenty already, and no more tanks right now ($) I'da got some more, they all looked so good. Just hope that Clown Knife goes to the proper home!!!! I am very comfortable getting my fish at the PS in Burlington!! Moreso than a couple of indy LFS. :dive2: Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!
 
The system at my Petsmart is only a little over 3 years old. Is the suction on a python always that powerful, or is it just that strong at petsmart LOL I have a heck of a time keeping the gravel in the tanks!

I'm curious as to what "issues" the other stores are having. And yonsu, what bag are you talking about?

rosita said:
I went into the store Friday and was so impressed once again with how clean you guys keep the tanks, especially with having gravel (versus WalMartFishHell). Water sparkling, gravel clean, happy happy fish!! If I didn't have plenty already, and no more tanks right now ($) I'da got some more, they all looked so good. Just hope that Clown Knife goes to the proper home!!!! I am very comfortable getting my fish at the PS in Burlington!! Moreso than a couple of indy LFS. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thanks rosita!! I'm glad to hear us Petsmartians (lol I crack myself up!) are doing a good job. As for the CK, we ask plenty of questions to insure that the prospect buyers have the proper aquariums/equipment to house all of our fish. For the most part, we'll refuse to sell a fish to customers who don't meet the requirements for the fish that they want and will suggest something else, but we do have those customers like the Fish-Killer family who wouldn't take no for an answer when I told them that 2 angels and 2 kissing gouramis wouldn't fit in a 10, 20, or even a 30 gallon tank. They replied with, "you have to understand that these fish aren't going to live long enough to get anywhere near that big". :rant2: :mad2:

But, its like I've said many times, you can only argue with the customers for so long before management is after your tail. When we get the occasional "I don't really care if the fish lives or dies" type of person, or someone who knows that their tank is too small or overcrowded but still want more fish, then we simply don't tell them about the 14 day guarantee so that they can't come back and get more fish to kill.
 
They replied with, "you have to understand that these fish aren't going to live long enough to get anywhere near that big".
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OMG! I hate it when people say that!!!! I always reply with a "sure, it doesn't live that long because keeping it in too small of a tank WILL kill it early. Then I go on to tell them how long they should live if properly cared for. This usually only gets me a look of go to hell but if that's the case, out goes the 14 day guarantee and they know it. 9 times out of 10 if its not a feeder goldfish, they don't get the fish.

rosita,
Thanks for the compliments. You know you are going to have to come by one day while I'm there :P
As for the CK, as sophiecat said, we ask lots of questions before someone buys a fish to make sure they go to a well suited tank. Poor fellow has been there for a while now. I thought about buying him but I just don't have the extra tank to set up for him :(
 
I work at a petco part time while in college...

First of all, to clean tanks i sure do scrape algae. On top of that i use a python and vaccum the gravel in every tank.

You all have to keep in mind that its a large retail chain under the control of corporate who wants things done a certain way. Have a problem...write a letter or make a call.

What we can do in store is very limited.

I spend my shift lecturing about cycling a tank to noobs, on top of that i have 'regulars' with a lot of investment in the hobby who trust me.

The fact that it is a chain retail store makes it what it is, good help is hard to come by and they dont pay well on top of that.
Mix that with people who think oscars will be fine in a bowl.

To be honest i do not think chain pet store should exist, but they are here to stay so if you dont like them then stay away. They arent forcing themselves onto you.

The best you can do if you dont like them is to just stay away.
 
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And in case anyone was wondering, we use the marineland commercial bio-wheel units. Works like a giant pengiun filter. One filtration unit per 12 tanks.

For gravel vaccuming we use a python off the shelf hooked up to a water faucet much like you would at home, except we use a lengthy extension hose obviously.

And fish are bagged the old fashioned way, no need for an air compressor. :laugh:
 
hamburgler said:
And in case anyone was wondering, we use the marineland commercial bio-wheel units. Works like a giant pengiun filter. One filtration unit per 12 tanks.
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I bought a fish today at Petco, they are the only ones in my area that carry Bumblebee Gobies. I tested thier water params when I got home. 0/0/10 with a PH of 7.0 (that is standard for my tap anyway) I was impressed... However My Petco has the worst looking tanks in all of Chattanooga.

And just an IMO... Petco should not be allowed to carry SW fish. Its just horrible at my local store. I went up to the manager of my local Petco today to tell him the Porcupine and Dogfaced Puffer that I have been looking at for the past two weeks are now dead. And that they where in good health two weeks ago, What happened?? They live like 15+ years with proper care! He says "oh yeah we havent done the "fish scoop" yet sorry about that" ... i'm like WTF!?

Anyway... that water is clean, the fish are disease ridden. If you want to know what Ich looks like go to Petco.
 
I guess i am lucky to work in a store which is run very well. There is always someone working who knows what they are talking about.
I never liked petco and still dont even though i work at one. But if i am going to work at a fish shop i might as well work at one where i can educate on proper husbandry.

And BTW our salt tanks are always kept up and monitored. Beyond that the largest fish we would ever order would be a yellow tang. I think many store just order whats available to them without thinking.
 
When I was younger I had a 10 gal tank with some rasboras. I went to get an algae eater of some sort (sadly without doing research) and the employee sold me a pleco, saying it would stay small. Poor thing outgrew the tank and made a huge mess, I had to find it a new home. x__o

But really, the same thing goes for any type of pet, people just need to do research before buying a life animal.
 
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