To answer your question on the whole "won't buy live pets from petsmart thing", it is really not about the fish. I also love guinea pigs (and own two rescue pigs myself), and other small mammals. However, it is known that all PetSmart guinea pigs are carriers of, or are already infected with ringworm. What's more, the live small mammals (guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.) are all kept in filthy conditions. I just don't like to support something like that. So no live animals there for me. I know that if you want to make change you stop shopping there altogether, but my LFS is a small operation, using their shelving space for nice tanks for their stock rather than focusing on a large collection of supplies. It is not practical to shop there for anything other than fish in turn. Therefore, we try not to buy PetSmart live animals, and focus on just the supplies.
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It's so awesome to see other people who know this about them!! I sort a figured that was why, and just wanted to see if I was correct. I completely agree with you, it is absolutely disgusting and appalling how their suppliers (there's multiple undercover investigation videos of their suppliers) and sometimes even stores treat their animals. Plus, they use GLUE TRAPS!!!
Only thing I used to support was the adoption program they had up front, since those animals weren't there to make profit and all donations go to the charity. (Where I adopted five rats, in which they kept the males with the females!!!! Since you like rodents, I'm sure you're aware how easy it is to sex rats.)
And although they don't focus on fish sales, according to some online posts by employees, they have a certain sales goal they want employees to make. Nor are they allowed to tell a customer no. If that doesn't tell you about how little they care about their animals/animal welfare, I don't know what else does. Especially given that excluding the few rare employees I've talked to at one location, are completely clueless about fish, and most animals for that matter. Not too mention how they encourage "impulse buys."
Granted most LFS need to sell stuff and animals for money to keep their business running, but I've also known LFS/ smaller pet stores to turn down people and refuse to sell people animals including fish, because they knew it would be a bad home for the animals.
I think it makes perfect sense to shop there for only dry goods, and not animals. Yes it keeps the business running, but perhaps sales will eventually be so low in live animals that they start selling less and less and focus only on dry goods and the adoption programs.
Back on topic, definitely check on CL for tanks and even fish, if you get fish from there, typically you don't have to worry about getting sick fish
