Big box employee trying to change fish care

I'm trying to see if I can improve the fish department for the big box company that I work for. I don't think I'm allowed to say the company, but it's not petco or petsmart. And it's not a pet store. But they sell fish.

I've already talked to someone in the company, but was informed that I had to also talk to another person, who isn't in until the middle of the week.

So. Based on fish treatment in box box stores that aren't petco or petsmart, what are some improvements you would like to see?

I'd like it known that I'm not promising anything. The only thing I can do is talk to people, submit a request, and maybe contact the headquarters. I'm not sure if it will make a difference, but I'm thinking if I appeal to the "customer service" part and inform the boss that the fish equipment is vastly out of date, then it might.

The things I've thought I so far:

Better filters/heaters. They only sell cartridge filters and preset heaters that I know of.

A liquid test kit

Better fish care

Training Fish associates to recognize and take action when fish are sick

Having pamphlets and explaining the nitrogen cycle to customers

Have a fish compatibility and a recommended tank size charts






Now keep in mind it should be realistic. So it can't be "get rid of betta cups." That's most likely not going to happen, unfortunately. The realistic version of that would be "give bettas a water change every day."


So if anyone wants to offer a realistic idea, I'll add it to my list.

 

It's Walmart isn't it? Don't wanna get you into trouble so I'm done playing the guessing game. How about stop selling bettas sense they can not really care for them in a realistic way and still make a profit. And then focus more on the other fish that stores sell like koi, goldfish etc. And stock less fish per tank. Another one I hate is seeing employees who seem to be doing nothing, while a dead fish is laying on the sandbed. Get em out a there! Good luck on this...grant? Is that the right word?

 

I like all your ideas. Remove dead and dying or sick fish. If you stock mostly the same types of fish ,then a basic care sheet on each type of fish including, size and some other fish that they would do well with what other types of fish that you stock. Info on Tank sizes for the type of fish that you stock. Alison

 

Yes compatability and tank size is a big one that box companies do a bad job at telling customers before they buy.

 

I would like for you guys to have a station or some sort of area with a computer to use Aqadvisor. Maybe a plumbing or computer controlled water changing panel? That's too much Isnt it? haha. Maybe a specific Betta safe ornament list, some ornaments and plastic plants tend to shred those. Medias for sale. If that pet stores sells reptiles maybe basking lights for sale.

 

I would like for you guys to have a station or some sort of area with a computer to use Aqadvisor. P.

I wouldnt do that if I were you isn't accurate. I would us it as a baseline though




This is Cacret, ending whatever is my comment with a lol xD

 

I wouldnt do that if I were you isn't accurate. I would us it as a baseline though


I was going for the PH and Temperature. But in all honesty I would like astock rather than a employee who will suggest a comet in a 1 gallon or a employee who will mix tropical and coldwater fish...

 

Well that is true.
But there are sone employees who give great advice, btu yeah there are some who get owned in advice by a website that is sometimes dissed


This is Cacret, ending whatever is my comment with a lol xD

 

The website is incredible really, some people just doesn't understand how to use though.

 

My lfs has what id call a betta bar. They are still in cups, but its well lit, single row and they pump fresh air through the lid hole. Being well lit you can tell if the water is clear or not. You could do something similar on an end cap. Reason to give would be better marketing for the betta, sell the betta tanks underneath and its a better showcase for them. Also would bring buisness as people would see a better quality of fish and bring others.

 

AqAdvisor also has a warning for coldwater vs tropical or similarly anything for an "out of the blue" need a newbie might not expect (there is one that pops up for plecos saying they need driftwood, for example) and for the larger fish it will say if it will outgrow whatever size tank by adulthood. It may not be accurate but like others have said, regardless of which big box store it is (benefit of the doubt being given here because I've tried and been in similar situations) I would rather have a halfway but not quite there yet database tell me what is ok and what's not some teen from the paint section or sports part of the store that knows nothing beyond "yeah, they should look cool together." No, that doesn't cut it for me (not that I would go in that uninformed about a new fish I was going to buy and expect them to fill me in 100% accurately on 100% of everything it will need, but you get the idea - if I was a newbie trying to do it) It wouldn't even necessarily need to bebut anything along those lines would work - something where you could just type in the ones you're looking at, and have it spit out an answer of if something is compatible or not, overstocked or not, recommended temp and other parameters, and even an ability to print it out. Handouts on nitrogen cycle and similar are helpful but making sure they are stocked and EVERY person (unless regulars you know are experienced) goes home with one when buying a new tank or kit is the key to it and so is ensuring employees are trained in it too.

 

Good news everyone!

I have to write up something and turn it in to my boss.

So keep those ideas coming. And remember to keep them realistic.

Tomorrow, I start my paper.

I go back to work on Wednesday. So I'll stop taking ideas on Tuesday night probably.

 

This is probably not ideal, but maybe get them to stop selling common plecos and rainbow sharks.

 

It's a start. I got them to pay attention to me. And they admit that they need an upgrade.

 

That's awesome! One of my stores has the bettas on a dark shelf like cans of soup maybe get the betta cups their own lit display like witchydesign said.

 

Maybe refusing to sell someone an oscar if they have less than a 55 gallon tank.

 

Witchydesign I absolutely love that betta bar idea. That sounds pretty cool.

 

Well they used to keep them in breeder boxes inside the other fish tanks, which I also liked (they are never overstocked) but it kinda catches your eyes. its just a simple shelving unit that they ran air lines through and have lit with led's

 

The main thing is just employee training, employee training, EMPLOYEE TRAINING.

They are the single point of contact between customers and products - they should know the care of these animals just as they should know how a toy would work, what service is required, any retail application. A well trained team of employees would do far more good for the fish in your department than fancy Point Of Sale displays and so forth.

 

Well they used to keep them in breeder boxes inside the other fish tanks, which I also liked (they are never overstocked) but it kinda catches your eyes. its just a simple shelving unit that they ran air lines through and have lit with led's

I like the idea of breeder boxes. While not ideal, they still have filtration, warmth, (slightly) more room than a cup and no risk of suffocation from someone stacking them in such a way that covers the air hole in the top. They are well lit which means people seeing prettier colors on a healthier, happier betta are more likely to buy them. Ideal would be to stop marketing all the "betta kits" of tanks not much bigger than a cup, or bowls but I doubt that will ever happen realistically. However, once again if educating employees and from there customers on the proper care for a betta included several gallons and not just several ounces of water, a heater and a filter, that would not only mean better care for the fish but would also mean happier customers. That will in turn appeal to the higher ups in the store by not having angry customers coming back demanding refunds for their bettas that sickened or died from being kept in tiny spaces with unheated and unfiltered water.

 

Well the OP posted that the store is not a pet store so I doubt that they will be getting an aquatic specialist in there. In my opinion if they are not going to care for the bettas then they should stop selling them entirely.
Now let's not forget about the other guys in the "real" tanks. They also need to take better care of them. I have seen plenty of dead fish laying around in tanks decaying. Plenty of ich filled tanks with medicine not 5 feet away from the tank yet they are left untreated and sold. There's a reason people refer to it as a "Walmart rescue" (or other chain store" the only fish in such tanks are algae eaters thriving in the nasty tanks with plenty of food for them. So let's not give all the attention to the bettas, we must remember all of the guppies, goldfish, and young koi left to suffer in their own fermenting, aged waste.

 

Maybe remove gravel and just have bare bottom tanks? That way it's less likely for John Doe, less than ideally trained employee of big box store A is less likely to look in, decide if he can't see the waste then it's not a problem yet, right? Wrong! It's sunk between the crevices of the gravel and decaying there, constantly polluting the tank as it builds and builds and yet continues to be NOT cleaned out. It there is no gravel to hide it in, it's that much easier if A) it's not getting caught in crevices of the gravel bed, it's easier to get sucked up by the filter in the first place, so it's never even allowed to sit and rot B) employees can see when it is due for a cleaning and up the maintenance as necessary based on levels of stocking because the accumulation of waste that doesn't get sucked up by filtration systems will be clearly visible, C) easier to do a more thorough cleaning at that point so better conditions for the fish when more of the waste is able to be removed at once because once again, it's not trapped in the gravel layers to rot.

 

Big box stores shouldn't sell anything that won't have "Feeder" in front of its name. Basically if it doesn't sell mammals, it should only sell live bait. (Yes, I know, I don't respect feeder fish but they still shouldn't suffer as much as the mammals I eat.)

 

I'm still taking ideas for a half hour yet, if anyone wants to post some.

EDIT: Done. Thanks everyone who voiced their opinions. I'll be sure to include your ideas in my write-up.

 

Good luck with the presentation. Alison

 

A bit more than a week later, how did it go?

 

I too would love to hear about your progress. Hope it went well.

 

I second (third?) the sentiment! Let us know when you get an update!

 

I'm still waiting for the answers yet.

 

Which ideas did you end up deciding to present to them?

 

oOBlueOo how's it been going g, get any results?

 

Sorry for the late replies everyone.

I decided to talk about customizable filters (like the Aquaclear hob), the nitrogen cycle (and having a poster board explaining it hanging by the fish supplies), adjustable heaters (aquapro, aquatop) , proper tank size and general fish care sheets ( like general care for tetras) and proper tank requirements for bettas.

I wrote that last part about bettas as an impulse. I was kind of hoping to butter them over by saying that their 5 gallon kit would be perfect for a betta along with filter modifications and a proper heater.

I asked at work how it's going. Still nothing. But I'll talk directly to the manager of my store on Monday.

I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but I had to submit it as a customer review because I was told that they listen more to customers than employees.

So on that note, anyone can join in if they so wish. I just went to the website and clicked feedback. Which I'm still mad about. I would think that as an employee, I would be able to do more than just customer
feedback.

Also, due to size limitations, I couldn't include everything I wanted to. I hope what I did include is okay and like I said, anyone can send feedback of their choice.