Leviticus

Sily man that owns the fish shop tried to tell me that a novelty tank he had (it was made to look like a cute little truck) which would have held less than a litre of water was suitable for bettas, I disagreed with him and he said that actually bettas don't do very well in a big tank!!

I didn't bother arguing - he probably thinks he is an expert- but I left his shop feeling very angry.

No wonder people think they can keep their betta in a tiny bowl when there are blokes like that giving 'advice'.

Sorry for venting folks - I just wanted to share my annoyance around

Blub

Leviticus

I don't know if he was ignorant or trying to justify selling that sort of rubbish.

You'd think you could make more money selling a whole tank set up, or maybe that is what he sells you later when the fish in a teacup thing doesn't work out.

Allie

Actually I think they truly believe that betta are fine in small spaces. Most people in fish shops unless into the hobby aren't very educated about fish & their needs.
I actually tell the guys at our lfs...I'll get you when I need to you to go fishing, lol. We are lucky that my bf has become acquainted with our fav lfs, manager who actually is keeping fish. But he is about one of the few that know what they are talking about. Even then, he's learned some from us.

≈ D ≈

Narcicius

Hope that guy gets a little behind on the bills and needs to try another branch of business because a fishstore doesn't seem to be his thing.

susitna-flower

It is very disheartening when you run across a LFS who is giving out bogus information. Just like it is when you watch a TV show, from a group who are suppose to be "experts", and maybe in some things they are BUT......The other day on HGTV they were doing a home "makeover", and one of the things the "expert" did was to put up two picture frame fish tanks in a little boys room, both tanks had 2 gold fish, and could not have held more than 2 gallons of water each! What do you do? That one show could influence hundreds of people to buy just such .

Narcicius

And it will, millions of people watch that network, and many (like my mother) get design ideas from show like that. I hope people research before doing something like that.

Leviticus

This is the shop. http://www.aquariumartists.com.au/aboutus.html

Because I'm in Perth, Western Australia there isn't a huge number of fish shops to go to - the other shop I use has 'bargains' like 3 rainbow sharks for $20 but they don't tell you not to put them all in the same tank. Now we only have 2.

And I am still laughing at the advice the assistant gave me when I asked if different sorts of cory cats were the same species, she told me that they were the same genus like with people you have whites, Africans, Asians etc When I said I didn't understand what she meant she looked at me as if I was really stupid and repeated it again.

Narcicius

I don't know whether to laugh or be dissapointed with that assistant.

LuvaBetta

Wow, and goldfish need huge amounts of space! Two goldies should have about 30g. I convinced my sister to move her 5 fishies from a 10g to a 55g and they seem to LOVE it!

There ought to be a test for pet store people, must pass before you're allowed to sell fish.

Leviticus

Well, I think she was right about the cory cats - they are the same genus but different species. But obviously wasn't too clear of what the definition of a species is - or she would have noticed different sorts of human can breed to produce a fertile offspring.

I think the moral of the story is to do your homework before you get to the fish shop so that you don't have to rely on what the staff there tell you.

Leviticus

And as for the show that had the too small goldfish tanks in a room for little boys....

You didn't say what age the kids were but a small child left unsupervised in their bedroom with a pet is a recipe for disaster anyway.
You know "Here fishy, share my playlunch and my textas with me!"

Cherrry123

Yes, and the people know how to convince you to buy things like that. I was at the lfs, and my grandpa was with me and I was looking at bettas and and I was talking to him about bettas needing a large amount of space and a lady comes up and says,"Oh bettas don't need a lot of space, this would be fine for two, they live in puddles, they dont need a filter" She held up a little box and it said, Betta tank divider, CAN HOLD TWO BETTAS WITH THE DIVIDER IN. My grandpa said ok, and we ended up buying it along with Flare, my new betta. To bad I'm not good at convincing people, now I am preforiming daily water changes until I can get a bigger tank! The lady didn't even work in the fish part of the store anyway. Which is why I agree, don't listen to petstore workers, or you will have a very grumpy betta, while you preform daily water changes.

Narcicius

I'm also for the test required for anyone wanting to sell fish. I hope it happens very soon if at all.

janoue

Unfourtunately our lfs are what they are. I get so mad that i have just stoped going and order everything i need online because i cannot be known as the crazy fish lady to every lfs in the city

LuvaBetta

Sorry about the
Jan-Mother of 2 Human daughters and 2 Betta Fish
Also, 4 Comets, 2 Platys, one very nasty black Molly, 2 Red Tetras, 3 Glo Light Tetras and 3 Black Top Tetras.

I just noticed your signature - a very nasty black Molly!?

COBettaCouple

It's sad how stupid and/or dishonest some people are. That shop owner either knows nothing about the fish he carries or gladly will send the fish home to die (and hopefully sell you more).