Lonely Angel

I haven't been online much between school and my job at PetCo, but hopefully I'll have some more free time to be here when the semester ends.

Anyway, I'm still working at PetCo, and I really do love working there. I get to be around fish all day, inform new tank owners, and work with other people who love animals. It is frustrating sometimes to deal with customers who view their fish as nothing more than decorations (one person wanted to put a lionfish in a vase!), but then something happens that reminds me just why I wanted the job.

A few days ago a woman approached me, holding a cup with a little blue betta in it. She asked where the bowls were. I LED her to the correct aisle (intending to explain about cycled tanks), but before i could say anything she asked which one would hold a plant in it. I explained that the plants block the betta's air supply since they breath from the surface. She asked 'but don't the bettas need the roots to eat and then they'll fertilize the plant?'

I explained that bettas eat meat, not plant roots, and told her that the idea of the plant/fish feeding cycle was just a myth that had been spread around. then I continued, saying that the bowls aren't even ideal for bettas due to the lack of filter and heater, plus swimming room in the small ones.

So she asked the question that I love to hear, 'What's best for the fish? I want to do what makes him happy.'

I refrained from shouting with joy, and instead explained about tanks and showed her the correct aisle for that. She asked if she could still have a plant if she fed the betta proper food, so I showed her the true aquatic plants we have.

She ended up walking out of the store with an eclipse 3, hikari biogold pellets, live plants, prime conditioner, and instructions on water changes until the tank is cycled. I'm so happy to just change that one betta's life.

Anyway, it's a long post, but I just wanted to share it somewhere, and i knew that you guys were the only ones to understand why I'm happy about one fish.

Lucy

It's good to hear from you.

That's wonderful.
This post made me so happy.
I wish all salespeople and customers were like just like you and the lady who will have a happy healthy betta.

pinkfloydpuffer

One more betta saved! Way to go!

Red1313

the Betta's of the world give you a big hug!!!

pamd

Cristina,

Congratulations and good going!

When you feel secure enough in your job, perhaps you will consider contacting PetCo headquarters. Of all the chains, PetCo seems the most guilty of spreading the myths about betta care. It's strange, but almost as if it's an ingrained part of corporate culture.

You're helping to change that, one betta and one store at a time. Your PetCo sounds great, with your caring and knowledgeable concern for the welfare of the animals and even hiring you in the first place. If all PetCo stores had someone like you ... but maybe you'll make an impression in headquarters some day.

Even bottom-line executives couldn't ignore the fact that the nice lady walked out of there with proper equipment. All that is much more profitable than a $4 to $8 betta who dies horribly for a saddened owner and is or is not replaced, with its bowl collecting dust in storage. A happy betta owner will come back for more, on demand of the happy betta. "Food, more plants, different food, more plants, a cave, a bigger tank, more, more, more!"

Appeal to PetCo's profit as well as their (hopefully) humane motives. More important than PetCo's bottom line to me is if they can become more humane through your connections and efforts. That could have a huge ripple effect with other chains. You have power, girl!