*****
- Thread starter meowzer
- Start date
sjk2840
Member
***** is a hit or miss thing. I will admit I've gotten some of my fish from there. I bought my first clown fish from them- he was small when I bought him- turned out to be a really good fish. I've also gotten a few other fish from them, ones that my LFS didn't have. Quarantined all of them before adding them to my DT. I wouldnt make it a habit buying from them though. I did find a ***** near my house with a salesperson who is VERY knowledgeable about SW fish. (which is rare) most are just that-salespeople.
yummysalt
Member
I've been to some ***** around my area too, and like most answers, the fish usually have ick, discolor, or floating like they are going to die.
There was this one time when I was trying to buy some ghost shrimp from *****, which they just arrived. I told the lady that I would like a few of them.
She said that they need to make sure the ghost shrimp survive first, and come back in a few hours. I told her that it doesn't matter, I am only using them to feed my fish.
She looked at me weird, and said, we do not sell them as feeders, and we need to acclimate them first.
Keep in mind that all there fish are floating in there tanks as we speak.
Another lady walk by and open every single bag and put them in there with the water that came with the bag.
I asked the first lady if that is how they acclimate the new fish, and she yes,"We must float them for 15 minutes first before putting them into the tank.
I also ask, are all the tanks connected? she said yes.
I laugh and left.
There was this one time when I was trying to buy some ghost shrimp from *****, which they just arrived. I told the lady that I would like a few of them.
She said that they need to make sure the ghost shrimp survive first, and come back in a few hours. I told her that it doesn't matter, I am only using them to feed my fish.
She looked at me weird, and said, we do not sell them as feeders, and we need to acclimate them first.
Keep in mind that all there fish are floating in there tanks as we speak.
Another lady walk by and open every single bag and put them in there with the water that came with the bag.
I asked the first lady if that is how they acclimate the new fish, and she yes,"We must float them for 15 minutes first before putting them into the tank.
I also ask, are all the tanks connected? she said yes.
I laugh and left.
unleashed
Active Member
i used to work for a ***** yrs ago .. to be honest they are not that bad when it comes to keeping the fish unfortunately
corp has rules and regulations as to what type of foods medications etc each fish is to get.. if they dont sell it they dont use it.. they really do try to educate their care givers as to how they feel things should be handled ..its not always the best way .IMO but its their belief(corp) ..all in all they do get some very nice specimens in and they are sold at reasonable prices..just remember these people are trained in strict ways of dealing with customers and stock... if you know what to look for and what to avoid you will have a better chance of getting what you want.. a healthy long living fish.. some blame has to be taken by the hobbiest as to lack of knowledge and research... buying fish that dont look healthy etc.. also if these stores are so kept in unappealing states.. you should be contacting corp supervisors this mean someone is not doing their job.. i did not work in the fish dept but i had watched, talked to and even sometimes helped out with nightly rituals of water chances(yes they do it nightly).. this truly is not acceptable to their standards.. dont get me wrong i hated working there ( corp rules and all) but because i have seen and delt with hands on experience of them not all are this way....i just want people to know this is not the norm. and if it is then the store i worked at should be rated very high on care and health of fish and animals.. trust me they didnt pay enough for the perfection we had to give..
corp has rules and regulations as to what type of foods medications etc each fish is to get.. if they dont sell it they dont use it.. they really do try to educate their care givers as to how they feel things should be handled ..its not always the best way .IMO but its their belief(corp) ..all in all they do get some very nice specimens in and they are sold at reasonable prices..just remember these people are trained in strict ways of dealing with customers and stock... if you know what to look for and what to avoid you will have a better chance of getting what you want.. a healthy long living fish.. some blame has to be taken by the hobbiest as to lack of knowledge and research... buying fish that dont look healthy etc.. also if these stores are so kept in unappealing states.. you should be contacting corp supervisors this mean someone is not doing their job.. i did not work in the fish dept but i had watched, talked to and even sometimes helped out with nightly rituals of water chances(yes they do it nightly).. this truly is not acceptable to their standards.. dont get me wrong i hated working there ( corp rules and all) but because i have seen and delt with hands on experience of them not all are this way....i just want people to know this is not the norm. and if it is then the store i worked at should be rated very high on care and health of fish and animals.. trust me they didnt pay enough for the perfection we had to give..
lkgrenegade22
Member
I visit almost all the ones near me fairly frequently. The key is knowing what days they get their shipments in. I have seen some of their tanks infected with ick though, especially their damsel tanks. I have also seen a few things mislabeled that were overpriced or underpriced. So depending on the error you could find a really cool fish for a really good deal. If you are that worried about them just QT them...
mboswell1982
Active Member
the ***** my gf is a sales rep at, well, the lady in charge of their fish section is a sw hobbyist for years, she takes really good care of the tanks and fish, and theyve even got a pair of b&w o clowns in a separate from their system tank thats mated up, if i had a tank set up id buy those bad boys, they're in great health, very nice fish that i look at every friday, at least, friday being the day my gf is in there LOL
lkgrenegade22
Member
Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2844355
the ***** my gf is a sales rep at, well, the lady in charge of their fish section is a sw hobbyist for years, she takes really good care of the tanks and fish, and theyve even got a pair of b&w o clowns in a separate from their system tank thats mated up, if i had a tank set up id buy those bad boys, they're in great health, very nice fish that i look at every friday, at least, friday being the day my gf is in there LOL
I'm sure they are just like any other chain stores. You will find some that have much more knowledgable people that love their job and go the extra mile. Heck from what I have learned and been told on here I have gotten more correct info from a guy at ***** than I did some other people at 2 of the biggest most extravagant SW stores anywhere around me.
http:///forum/post/2844355
the ***** my gf is a sales rep at, well, the lady in charge of their fish section is a sw hobbyist for years, she takes really good care of the tanks and fish, and theyve even got a pair of b&w o clowns in a separate from their system tank thats mated up, if i had a tank set up id buy those bad boys, they're in great health, very nice fish that i look at every friday, at least, friday being the day my gf is in there LOL
I'm sure they are just like any other chain stores. You will find some that have much more knowledgable people that love their job and go the extra mile. Heck from what I have learned and been told on here I have gotten more correct info from a guy at ***** than I did some other people at 2 of the biggest most extravagant SW stores anywhere around me.
mboswell1982
Active Member
LOL thats just rich, u know? you'd think people at the strictly SWF stores to be experts, but they might know less than you do, and just enjoy talking outta their hind end LOL
unleashed
Active Member
Originally Posted by LKGRenegade22
http:///forum/post/2844346
I visit almost all the ones near me fairly frequently. The key is knowing what days they get their shipments in. I have seen some of their tanks infected with ick though, especially their damsel tanks. I have also seen a few things mislabeled that were overpriced or underpriced. So depending on the error you could find a really cool fish for a really good deal. If you are that worried about them just QT them...
here's the kicker on mislabeling the employees are not allowed to change the labels on the fish when they arrive.. what ever the supplier says it is is what its sold as
so mislabeling is the suppliers doing not the store itself... the stupid part is when they know its wrong and cannot change it lol
http:///forum/post/2844346
I visit almost all the ones near me fairly frequently. The key is knowing what days they get their shipments in. I have seen some of their tanks infected with ick though, especially their damsel tanks. I have also seen a few things mislabeled that were overpriced or underpriced. So depending on the error you could find a really cool fish for a really good deal. If you are that worried about them just QT them...
here's the kicker on mislabeling the employees are not allowed to change the labels on the fish when they arrive.. what ever the supplier says it is is what its sold as
mboswell1982
Active Member
thats gotta suck, cause i know that comes outta the fish departments budget when something like that happens
lkgrenegade22
Member
Originally Posted by unleashed
http:///forum/post/2844457
here's the kicker on mislabeling the employees are not allowed to change the labels on the fish when they arrive.. what ever the supplier says it is is what its sold as
so mislabeling is the suppliers doing not the store itself... the stupid part is when they know its wrong and cannot change it lol
I learned this just the other day. They had a diamond goby labeled as a longfin sleeper goby. I asked a girl about it and she said that she honestly could not tell me but that was what they bought it from the supplier as, so that is what it had to be sold as.
http:///forum/post/2844457
here's the kicker on mislabeling the employees are not allowed to change the labels on the fish when they arrive.. what ever the supplier says it is is what its sold as
I learned this just the other day. They had a diamond goby labeled as a longfin sleeper goby. I asked a girl about it and she said that she honestly could not tell me but that was what they bought it from the supplier as, so that is what it had to be sold as.
maryg
Member
I went to ***** today and got a couple of nice finds.
This one is fairly new located in Saint Lucie West. I find the staff at this particular one know their stuff and actually own saltwater tanks themselves.
I have purchased there many times now and not have had any problems except with a feather duster that I think either a crab or peppermint shrimp had for dinner.
Today I picked up a pair of Lyretail Anthias for $20 each
a mandarin for $18 and a LTA for $34. Their prices are fair and everything so far seems healthy. I also visited another one in a neighboring town that was pathetic. I guess it is hit or miss.
This one is fairly new located in Saint Lucie West. I find the staff at this particular one know their stuff and actually own saltwater tanks themselves.
I have purchased there many times now and not have had any problems except with a feather duster that I think either a crab or peppermint shrimp had for dinner.
Today I picked up a pair of Lyretail Anthias for $20 each
a mandarin for $18 and a LTA for $34. Their prices are fair and everything so far seems healthy. I also visited another one in a neighboring town that was pathetic. I guess it is hit or miss.
ophiura
Active Member
***** bashing threads are a dime a dozen.
I have seen LFS that are just as bad, and certainly could not identify one goby from another either.
What bothers me is that many people continue to buy supplies there. So long as you buy saltwater supplies, you are "telling" the ***** people that yes there is a market for saltwater things - including livestock.
I would prefer that people not shop there at all...not just avoiding livestock. But there are some good stores out there, with caring employees - just as there are some really horrid LFS without good employees. A broad brush doesn't work.
Anyway, I would hope people reconsider what they buy. I try not to buy anything, ever from ***** unless I am really in dire need.
I have seen LFS that are just as bad, and certainly could not identify one goby from another either.
What bothers me is that many people continue to buy supplies there. So long as you buy saltwater supplies, you are "telling" the ***** people that yes there is a market for saltwater things - including livestock.
I would prefer that people not shop there at all...not just avoiding livestock. But there are some good stores out there, with caring employees - just as there are some really horrid LFS without good employees. A broad brush doesn't work.
Anyway, I would hope people reconsider what they buy. I try not to buy anything, ever from ***** unless I am really in dire need.
M
marineang
Guest
There's about 6 *****'s around me that I visit off and on. It is true, it is very hit or miss and there are different variables to it, I think. Some stores have aquatic associates that are highly intelligent - one moreso than my LFS and it's because she's in the hobby herself.
As far as livestock goes, I always look while I am there. I've purchased a few clowns from them that are doing well. It's the timing in getting them. They don't care well for their tanks nor do they qt. for disease but if you get them fairly soon after they come in, I've had some luck. They aren't my first choice by any means. Sometimes I examine a particular fish for so long and it looking healthy and I know if he stays there he will get stressed, sick and die, so I save them.
As far as livestock goes, I always look while I am there. I've purchased a few clowns from them that are doing well. It's the timing in getting them. They don't care well for their tanks nor do they qt. for disease but if you get them fairly soon after they come in, I've had some luck. They aren't my first choice by any means. Sometimes I examine a particular fish for so long and it looking healthy and I know if he stays there he will get stressed, sick and die, so I save them.
ca161406
Member
i seen a niger trigger at ours that was about 90% dead so i thought maybe i can bring it back. its wat i did with my puffers so i was pretty confident i cld. when i went to ask the worker ppl if there was any way i can get it for a discount. and they told me no we gotta wait for it to die. then laughed.
interesting ppl huh
interesting ppl huh
mboswell1982
Active Member
at the ***** i go to all the time, as long as the one lady is there, the fish positively thrive, you hardly ever see dead fish, and they are always healthy looking, nice clean, and i mean spotless, tanks, and so on, but if she'snot there, especially on the weekends, you'll see dead fish everywhere
sepulatian
Moderator
Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2860780
at the ***** i go to all the time, as long as the one lady is there, the fish positively thrive, you hardly ever see dead fish, and they are always healthy looking, nice clean, and i mean spotless, tanks, and so on, but if she'snot there, especially on the weekends, you'll see dead fish everywhere
If she was that good then the fish wouldn't be dead by the weekend... Just saying.
http:///forum/post/2860780
at the ***** i go to all the time, as long as the one lady is there, the fish positively thrive, you hardly ever see dead fish, and they are always healthy looking, nice clean, and i mean spotless, tanks, and so on, but if she'snot there, especially on the weekends, you'll see dead fish everywhere
If she was that good then the fish wouldn't be dead by the weekend... Just saying.