We sometimes but from Wally World also. And it's usually for reason above. We see something a little unusual they have no idea what it is and pay next to nothing for it. We got some really nice chocolate mollies from there for about $2 each and saw same type at PetCo for almost $10.
Walmart fish
- Thread starter hollyatkinson
- Start date
For me it is more of a "If I knew then what I know now" issue. I bought some of my first fish from there as they are generally cheaper than most and after some research the really good fish stores I go to in the area are up in Buffalo a good 35 mins away. When I am up there I like to check out the Petco's , PetSmarts, and Wal-marts as well just to compare prices and see how things are.....let me just say that I haven't been in PetSmart or Wal-Mart in months since I started keeping fish and I was amazed at what I THOUGHT were attractive and healthy looking fish. I as well as most beginners definitely didn't or don't know what to look for I guess. Some of the fish in these overcrowded tanks just lacked so much color and vigor, its a crying shame.....
steve
steve
The super W-M near me has so-so fish stock. A little better than average but still rather poor. What peeves me the most is how generously they stock baby large fish, oscars especially. I -know- at least 90% of them will either...
1- Die while still in the tank,
2-Die shortly after being purchased by an ignorant/new fishkepper or
3- Live to an adult, but deformed, HITH-ed, and in a undersized tank.
Some Walmarts may have certain fish cheaper, etc, but I generally don't buy from them because I'm supporting their whole fish department. If I find a W-M with an excellent and honest fish department, then I would support it ( someday, maybe, far away....)
I got into fishkeeping by purchasing a cute baby oscar and, of course, I had 10g. I didn't know anything about water quality, etc, and the fish died shortly. A month and hours of research later, I realized the employee that told me 'they get 'yay' big ( he stretched his hands to about 5") and are good fish' was a moron and/or heartless sellout. Eh, sorry about the rant...
1- Die while still in the tank,
2-Die shortly after being purchased by an ignorant/new fishkepper or
3- Live to an adult, but deformed, HITH-ed, and in a undersized tank.
Some Walmarts may have certain fish cheaper, etc, but I generally don't buy from them because I'm supporting their whole fish department. If I find a W-M with an excellent and honest fish department, then I would support it ( someday, maybe, far away....)
I got into fishkeeping by purchasing a cute baby oscar and, of course, I had 10g. I didn't know anything about water quality, etc, and the fish died shortly. A month and hours of research later, I realized the employee that told me 'they get 'yay' big ( he stretched his hands to about 5") and are good fish' was a moron and/or heartless sellout. Eh, sorry about the rant...
I was @ Petsmart yesterday and was TOTALLY Grossed out! Their feeder minnow tank was pretty full, but on the bottom there were these "fuzzy rocks". I went for a closer look and realized they weren't rocks, they were dead fish absolutely covered with fungus!! I've never seen such huge balls of fungus!! I mean, they were big, solid, green balls w/maybe a tail hanging out or something. The fungus had to be at least 3-4 times the size of the fish itself. I can't even imagine how long they'd just been sitting there rotting in that tank!
GROSS!
Beth
GROSS!
Beth
The Wal-Mart here no longer has fish. Not that I would ever have bought from them. One thing that keeps being mentioned here though is price. Saving a few bucks is not the most important thing. As we keep reading about the level of education of these big box fish stores, people still keep buying there fish and equipment there to save a few bucks. Spending the extra money at a local fish store with a knowledgable owner/employees is well worth it. You may pay more in the short term but in the long run the knowledge you gain will far outwiegh the slight financial loss. Besides which once you get more knowledgable and want more exotic fish the Big Box is not going to special order them for you. The local guy will if you have been going there and dealing with him/her. Just my two cents here.
I almost bought feeders from my walmart out of deperation, but half of them were dead and dying.
I believe that some of these variety stores do get people with knowledge and care in the fish dept. But, seems most of them don't . I couldn't believe I was seeing dead plecos in their tanks.
I thought they were hard to kill. Maybe I'm wrong?
I believe that some of these variety stores do get people with knowledge and care in the fish dept. But, seems most of them don't . I couldn't believe I was seeing dead plecos in their tanks.
I thought they were hard to kill. Maybe I'm wrong?
What I have noticed at least up here in Canada is the quality of people they have working in the stores. The staff all think that it is "play time" and " its someones elses job" to do the clean up and uasly it is the people who care about there job and are nolageable do the work, then they get fed up because they do all the work and get paid the same as the rest that are "chatting" or "talking to friends on the phone". The fish guy i deal with did work at the local Pet....... and I can see why he moved on to a fish only store/ mom and pop operation. This guy knows his stuff and he care about the fish and the store and who he works for and the customers and there needs. He isn't afrade to say "listen your gravel you could get cheaper at .......store but we have a better heater and pump here" he looks after both store and customer. Thats what I like about him.
Thats my rant for the day
Thats my rant for the day I hate Walmart. I took my finance to walart and showed the cute little pacu's they keep there that they say grow to 8". Then took her to the fish store and showed her the pacu they have in a show tank that is 2'. I think that is enough said about that.
Think that's bad? My local WM still sold parakeets until about 3 years ago.....
They did away with their living pets dept entirely about a year or so ago. Thank goodness, too. I did get a great deal on some koi there once, though; they had them in the tank with the regular goldies for a buck apiece.....
They did away with their living pets dept entirely about a year or so ago. Thank goodness, too. I did get a great deal on some koi there once, though; they had them in the tank with the regular goldies for a buck apiece.....
