I have to VENT!!!!

[bcollie]

Last night at the lfs I was checking out their live stock while the clerk filled up my water containers. In a tank I saw this tiny little yellow let sticking out from behind a bunch of snails. I got the clerk to pull it out and it was a tiny yellow serpant star...it broke my heart to see that 2 of its legs had been broken off, but fortunately the legs were regenerating. I couldn't stand to leave it at the lfs so I bought the little star.
What I want to vent about is...don't these stores ever FEED their livestock?????!!!!! The little guy was ravenous last night and tried to make off with a whole Formula One cube tonight...wrapped its little legs around my fingers trying to get to the cube.
Well...at least I have a very cool looking albeit small yellow serpant star now. It will get fed here. :happy:

 

[porcpuf]

It's hard to find an LFS that cares much if at all. That is sad but I'm sure he will do much better now. Good luck.

 

[shoreliner11]

I'm sure Ophiura will comment on this one but serpent stars are opportunistic so, if he could get his hands on a whole cube he'd most likely take the whole thing. Not saying he wasn't starved but they're remarkable at finding food.
Aaron

 

[andretti]

Sad to say, but fish stores are a business and as we all know, the bottom line in ANY business is $$$$$$$$$$

 

[slock]

I was in ***** yesturday to pick up 160 gal tub of salt (it was a good deal) and hung out for a while. they were floating bags of fish in the tanks and starting to release them.
Call me simple, but I think 80 dainos in a 10 gallon tank is a little much. Several of the marine tanks had all kinds of fish just slugging around the bottom looking like they were ready to die, one tank in particular had 3 fish totaling $190 one large tang was swimming at a 45 degree angle, the other two were scraping and glancing off everything in the tank when they weren't taking headers right into the gravel. A lot of the fish seemed to be rubbing theirselves on things.

 

[msd2]

I can see both sides and to an extent feel torn between the two polar opposites of great lfs and poor lfs. Here in the bay area in the last month the two best lfs have closed. They had BY FAR the best livestock I have ever seen, especially one. They managed the fish well, had unbelievably healthy, virile corals. The problem was cost, imho. They charged more, not a lot but on average 20% more than large chains, or other lfs that deal with massive volume and care little for the animals. So in reality we only have ourselves to blame for the situation we see in the lfs. I am no different than anyone else, I want a bargain too but sometimes the long term costs are too great. Anyway, my point (if there is one) is to think about that when you get corals/fish/whatever from the store, why support someone that is mistreating animals? All you are doing is encouraging that further with your dollars. Hence the reason I am so pro local reef club. I have gotten many amazing frags and the best part is I know they have had tlc, didn't get ripped from the ocean, and are free (w/trade) or cheap.
Just my 2 cents.
:happyfish

 

[wax32]

That little serpent was probably far from starving. They will litterally eat till they explode sometimes. If food gets near one they eat it. Done deal. But YES lots of crappy LFS out there treat their livestock badly. That's why when you find a good one, don't shop around for better deals, give the good place your business.

 

[ophiura]

The alternate name for "serpentstar" is of course "brittlestar" and this obviously refers to a special ability to autonomize or purposefully/willingly cast off parts of their arms under stress or perceived stress. Generally the result of a perceived/real predatory attack. Thankfully, they can regenerate them. So short arms, in the case of serpent/brittles and certain Linckia sp stars is not something to worry about in general. That is not, IMO, indicative of poor care (actually, the fact it was regenerating indicates that it was in relatively good shape).
But few people feed these critters as the are considered "clean up crew." Your experience kind of proved that they should actually be spot fed. As mentioned, they are opportunistic, and can and will eat what they can get a hold of - even to the extent of breaking a hole through their disk.
I agree with what many have said, and want to echo Wax32 here in saying don't let price be the bottom line. There are many bad LFS, there are many good...but I often hear people complaining that the good one's are too expensive! Maybe it is because the get good quality stock, good employees, and put some time and effort into caring for things!
(-- Ophiura, former "good LFS, but too expensive" employee)

 

[wax32]

Exactly :cheer:

 

[sprang]

I would much rather spend 10 bucks more on a healthy fish from a good lfs than a discount chain that puts 40 coral beautys in a 10 gallon tank where half are dead or dying.
I have no good lfs left around now. I have to order on-line

 

[irishsalt]

Hey man,
ThankGOD you saved that Beautiful creature....
Now it's my turn to vent!
I can't speak for the entire US of A or the planet for that matter. What I can speak for is most of ALbuquerque NM, Miami and San Diego IME!
I've heard more bashing and crap talking about LocalFishstores since I've posted here then any other web site. This site is aweome overall but gimmie a break guys. These LFS rants are Genrealized and Vague - best. It's Starting to get real Childish!
Maybe I'm just really Fortuane overall but.........
#1 What, are they suppose to have Top DOG Marine Bios working - LFS's in general(LOL)? Whether it's a buisness that ranges from small-large, they probably aren't making much and it's often not an *easy* job to say the least.
#2 Yes, they're in buisness to make money, but so is every faceless Net company that you give your money to! Oh yeah, Most of us are buying direct from the country of Fiji right?
#3, NO, their tanks aren't ment for long term storage but this doesn't mean that most LFS's have Malnuruted/straving fish and crappy filtration.
Again, I might be super fortuante but I doubt it. Their's lemons in EVERY local buisness of all Genres and it's ultimately buyer beware like life in general. Local Buisnes are the back bone of your local city/town whether you realize it or not. NO, you shouldn't suppot a buisness that you feel is overall crap/dishonest.
I went into the LFS around the corner from me to look for Anenome the other night. The guy was OBVIOUSLY having a very bad day. To make a long story short he gave me $90.00 worth of Anenome for free and my girl and I had him over for beers. TUrns out he's a super intelligent, super kind dude that's working his way through College(Buinsess and wants to study Marine Bio).
I also noticed that most LFS's around here are VERY competitive with most high end Net companies. NICE, as You can put a fish on hold for half down and let him sit in their tank for 3+ days as to help ensure that your noting getting a fish that's gonna be dead.
I've been doing buisness with SFW since 99 and will continue but LFS's aren't the enemy IME> FInd a TRULY LOCAL Lfs as opposed to a Petsmart type/wallyworld global company. You often Pay for Knowledge to IME and it's worth it.
Gimmie a break!!!!

 

[ophiura]

I totally agree with this, IrishSalt!! I can't stand bashing threads in general, but nothing gets too much worse than something like a "*****" thread.