Wal-Mart Fish and Plants Suck!

[Sploke]

I usually don't buy fish there, but I was there and they had some otos and my LFS did not, so I bought them. I probably got lucky, but the lady said they weren't selling very well so had been in the tank for over a week. They are doing well now, probably thanks to that "grace period" to recover from the shipping. The two nearest me aren't great, but not the horror shows that some people tank about. No worse than the LFSs around as far as dead/iched up fish go.

 

[born2lovefish]

Any chain store in my opinion has crappy service. Find a small store locally owned and they usually have great fish and service.

 

[TommyR]

Walmart SUCKS. People never seem to learn. I'm sure my Walmart story is here in the forum somewhere. DON'T BUY FISH STUFF THERE. EVER. SPREAD THE WORD.

Tom

 

[manthing]

our walmart isn't any better and I have been kicked out of a few. I have a bad habit of cleaning out the dead fish with a newly opened net from there stock, and giving the little fishys medicine that i stand right there and open. So they ask me to leave all the time. It's just horrilbe that they don't take better care of the fish than that.

 

[Gena575]

our walmart isn't any better and I have been kicked out of a few. I have a bad habit of cleaning out the dead fish with a newly opened net from there stock, and giving the little fishys medicine that i stand right there and open. So they ask me to leave all the time. It's just horrilbe that they don't take better care of the fish than that.

Seriously, you could well be harming more than you are helping by medicating the tanks that way. Do you realize that when you put something in one tank it is going into every tank on that side (each side has a common sump)? Do you know that the fish haven't been medicated? You could easily be arrested for shoplifting for what you are doing.

I know some Walmart tanks are beyond horrible, and they really have no business selling fish. Until the masses stop buying fish there they won't quit though. I work 1-2 days a week in the fish department of Walmart and I do my very best to take care of the fish. Some weeks I am the ONLY one to feed the poor things. I buy certain foods and treats for them out of my own pocket. I'd love to hear constructive advice on how to take better care of these fish.

The vendor rep for my store is pretty dense, and if I didn't have the limited knowledge I've gained here and on other boards, I'd believe him. We are currently battling an ich outbreak. The vendor's suggestion was to dose the warm side with Maracyn 2 daily. Ummm, what the heck is that going to do for the ich? I've kicked the heat up to about 80 and added a bit extra salt. I'm sure the cats and loaches aren't too pleased with that, but they are less pleased with Quick Cure. I've gotten it under control to the point that only 4 tanks (was 9) are quarantined. We should be able to pull 2 of the tanks off tomorrow or the next day as I'm only seeing a few spots on a couple of fish in them now.

It's not easy dealing with management, other tasks that are "more important" and quite frankly idiot customers. If I have to dip bala sharks for a 5 gallon hex, or oscars for a non-heated 10 one more time I may explode!! I do my best and it frustrates me that everyone bashes Walmart, but no one offers any constructive advice on how to better care for the fish.

 

[msouth468]

Walmart SUCKS. People never seem to learn. I'm sure my Walmart story is here in the forum somewhere. DON'T BUY FISH STUFF THERE. EVER. SPREAD THE WORD.

Tom

Kind of generalizing there, the Wal-Marts where I live take excellent care of their fish. And you simply can't beat there prices. You should never condemn the whole chain of stores for the mishaps of a few.

 

[Peanutsweet]

Our Walmart does not sell fish. They used to but I guess didn't profit? so they went out of it. When the clearance sale came I bought a bunch of really nice fish for under a buck each. Crowded them up in a tank probably too small for them all -didnt realize at the time -and then moved the whole thing just a few weeks later complete drain with new water. They all thrived. I hardly lost any. Must have been dumb luck LOL because now I know better and the harder I WISH, the more victims I have
I wonder if my fish keeping hobby has the same curse as my rose growing hobby did. The more I water, mulch and fertilize :bowing: the faster they die. If I ignore it and peek out of the corner of my eye it blooms everywhere ... Maybe the fish can sense my stress...