Disappointed With Local Fish Store

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I'm fairly new to keeping fish - I started around 6-7 years ago and quickly found my way to a 37 gallon tank (does not have a bowed front). While I enjoy the hobby, it seems as though I've consistently made mistakes in everything from my equipment to the fish I purchase. This is a story about the latter.

I learned a few weeks ago that there's an independent pet store just a few minutes from my home. (Previously, I shopped at the local Petsmart). One day I stopped by this shop and, while small, 2/3rd's of the space was dedicated to fish, with so many different species, different sizes, and so on. The reason I went was that I needed to donate a Gourami that wasn't getting along well with the other fish in my tank. And the store happily accepted the donation. I was a little surprised that they just plopped him in their Gourami tank, as I expected that they would place in a hospital or temporary tank, but oh well.

I decided that I would get a new fish to replace the Gourami, so I asked the guy for help. I told him about my tank and fish (37 gallons, 1 Gourami, 3 tetras, 2 barbs, 2 cory cats). He recommended more tetras and barbs, of course. He recommended bala sharks, and then he recommended something new he had just gotten in - a whalefish. He said it would be great in my tank and would get along fine with my other fish and wouldn't get larger than it's current 3 1/2 inches. It looked really interesting, so I bought one.

As soon as I released him into my tank, he found the nearest hiding place (which happened to be inside one of my features), and I didn't see him again for almost 3 weeks. I was a little bothered that the guy at the pet store didn't tell me that it was such a shy fish, but oh well.

After doing my weekly water change yesterday, the whalefish appeared for a few minutes before retreating back into the cave. The sighting got me interested in learning more about the fish. And what I found was a big surprise.

First, "whalefish" is not the correct name - it's "baby whale" and they are of the mormyrid species. Second, and most importantly, everything about my setup is completely wrong for this species of fish: while some people suggest 30 gallon as a minimum tank size, most recommend 55+; sand or small round gravel substrate - no sharp edges (I have standard aquarium gravel), as the fish scour the bottom for food; lot's of live plants (which I don't have); they're carnivores and prefer live or frozen food (brine shrimp), which I also I don't have, so the fish has probably not eaten anything (except for one of my very small barbs, which I found the other day completely chewed up; lastly, most recommend that you keep these fish in their own tank. Oh, and from my reading some species of this fish (which are apparently very difficult to identify) grow to 8-12".

So, I am very disappointed that the local, independent pet store, would recommend this type of fish to someone with my setup, not mention anything about the diet, or ask about my substrate, or that in general mormyrids are very difficult to keep. I always felt a little bad going to Petsmart and supporting the big box pet stores, with staff not very knowledgeable about their fish. But, I see now that all the local pet store was after was an unsuspecting customer to spend $20 on fish he should never have purchased.

I know I should have researched the fish before I purchased it, but I assumed at the time (and that's were I was wrong) that the local pet shop wouldn't steer me wrong. I'm not sure what I should do with the fish, so if anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks, and sorry for such a downer of a first post.

Bob

 

HI Bob and welcome to the forum. You'll find that most of us here have similar "war stories" in our quest to learn how to keep a tank! You're not alone here

The best course of action is to increase your schools of tetras and barbs but also your shoal of cories. What exact species of each do you have in your tank?

The baby whale is interesting and I really have no idea what to tell you. You could try posting a picture and maybe by some miracle a world expert will come along and be able to tell you exactly what you have but if you're interested you can try posting in the buy/sell/trade section here after you've reached 50 posts. Someone with the right setup might be really interested! I know I would be, they're cool

Hope to see you around the forum!

 

HI Bob and welcome to the forum. You'll find that most of us here have similar "war stories" in our quest to learn how to keep a tank! You're not alone here

The best course of action is to increase your schools of tetras and barbs but also your shoal of cories. What exact species of each do you have in your tank?

The baby whale is interesting and I really have no idea what to tell you. You could try posting a picture and maybe by some miracle a world expert will come along and be able to tell you exactly what you have but if you're interested you can try posting in the buy/sell/trade section here after you've reached 50 posts. Someone with the right setup might be really interested! I know I would be, they're cool

Hope to see you around the forum!

Thanks for your response. Currently, I have 3 black skirt tetras, 1 rosy red barb, and 2 cory cats.

 

Do you know what kind of cory?

 

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I'm fairly new to keeping fish - I started around 6-7 years ago and quickly found my way to a 37 gallon tank (does not have a bowed front). While I enjoy the hobby, it seems as though I've consistently made mistakes in everything from my equipment to the fish I purchase. This is a story about the latter.

I learned a few weeks ago that there's an independent pet store just a few minutes from my home. (Previously, I shopped at the local Petsmart). One day I stopped by this shop and, while small, 2/3rd's of the space was dedicated to fish, with so many different species, different sizes, and so on. The reason I went was that I needed to donate a Gourami that wasn't getting along well with the other fish in my tank. And the store happily accepted the donation. I was a little surprised that they just plopped him in their Gourami tank, as I expected that they would place in a hospital or temporary tank, but oh well.

I decided that I would get a new fish to replace the Gourami, so I asked the guy for help. I told him about my tank and fish (37 gallons, 1 Gourami, 3 tetras, 2 barbs, 2 cory cats). He recommended more tetras and barbs, of course. He recommended bala sharks, and then he recommended something new he had just gotten in - a whalefish. He said it would be great in my tank and would get along fine with my other fish and wouldn't get larger than it's current 3 1/2 inches. It looked really interesting, so I bought one.

As soon as I released him into my tank, he found the nearest hiding place (which happened to be inside one of my features), and I didn't see him again for almost 3 weeks. I was a little bothered that the guy at the pet store didn't tell me that it was such a shy fish, but oh well.

After doing my weekly water change yesterday, the whalefish appeared for a few minutes before retreating back into the cave. The sighting got me interested in learning more about the fish. And what I found was a big surprise.

First, "whalefish" is not the correct name - it's "baby whale" and they are of the mormyrid species. Second, and most importantly, everything about my setup is completely wrong for this species of fish: while some people suggest 30 gallon as a minimum tank size, most recommend 55+; sand or small round gravel substrate - no sharp edges (I have standard aquarium gravel), as the fish scour the bottom for food; lot's of live plants (which I don't have); they're carnivores and prefer live or frozen food (brine shrimp), which I also I don't have, so the fish has probably not eaten anything (except for one of my very small barbs, which I found the other day completely chewed up; lastly, most recommend that you keep these fish in their own tank. Oh, and from my reading some species of this fish (which are apparently very difficult to identify) grow to 8-12".

So, I am very disappointed that the local, independent pet store, would recommend this type of fish to someone with my setup, not mention anything about the diet, or ask about my substrate, or that in general mormyrids are very difficult to keep. I always felt a little bad going to Petsmart and supporting the big box pet stores, with staff not very knowledgeable about their fish. But, I see now that all the local pet store was after was an unsuspecting customer to spend $20 on fish he should never have purchased.

I know I should have researched the fish before I purchased it, but I assumed at the time (and that's were I was wrong) that the local pet shop wouldn't steer me wrong. I'm not sure what I should do with the fish, so if anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks, and sorry for such a downer of a first post.

Bob

Hello Bob. Welcome aboard! It's too bad you got questionable advice!

 

Do you know what kind of cory?

Black Cory.

Can I mix different types of cories, such as green and albino?

Thanks!

 

Do you know the exact species? Corydoras schultzei perhaps? Post a picture if you're not sure.

 

Black Cory.

Can I mix different types of cories, such as green and albino?

Thanks!

Some types of cory will school together but most will not

 

Cories are shoaling fish, not schooling. They will hang out with other fish not the same species out of desperation as most prey fish will, but they much prefer to be with others of the same kind

 

Yep. Unfortunately you did get some bad info. I'd try to rehome him back to the pet store. In the mean time while you still have him you can try and feed him some frozen blood worms at night. These fish don't do well with active eaters (like cory cats, tetras, and barbs) because the more active fish will gobble up the food before the mormyrid can get around to eating it.

 

Yep. Unfortunately you did get some bad info. I'd try to rehome him back to the pet store. In the mean time while you still have him you can try and feed him some frozen blood worms at night. These fish don't do well with active eaters (like cory cats, tetras, and barbs) because the more active fish will gobble up the food before the mormyrid can get around to eating it.

Thanks for the advice. I bought a package of frozen brine shrimp and will try that tonight, after feeding the other fish.

 

Sounds good!

 

Well I'm assuming most "big box" store employees are not paid on commission, so I doubt they care how much you spend unless its a manager, trying to reach his/her store goal. Either way, most of these employees are reading off a cheat sheet provided. They are not inquisitive about your setup or current stocking and just answer the basic questions about the fish, that could probably be read off the little display card on the tanks.

However, you can't really trust LFSs either. My friends were sold a plethora of fish that will outgrow their 30gs in a year or so (if they live that long), but since the store said it was ok, they accepted it as truth. LFSs, sometimes, are unfortunately just looking for the quick sale. I can't tell you how many times I see a dead fish in both their tanks.

Your best bet is to find out what you want, either through the power of the internet or if you see something you like in a pet store, research the heck out of it. Go to multiple sites (Google is you're friend), because you will get conflicting answers. Then make an educated decision.

I a very new to all fish keeping as well and I can't tell you how happy I was to find this site (as well as others) and learn about the careful research needed to have a prosperous and happy tank.

 

I'm quite new to keeping fish but reading up on all theses problems about LFS (live in the uk so I'm not sure what it is) I feel like the amount of small chain/garden centre stores I have around are very well managed. I've also never seen betas kept in such bad conditions! Usually they are kept in 1 or 2 gallon fish tanks all separated, not to say that's good though /:

 

I'm quite new to keeping fish but reading up on all theses problems about LFS (live in the uk so I'm not sure what it is) I feel like the amount of small chain/garden centre stores I have around are very well managed. I've also never seen betas kept in such bad conditions! Usually they are kept in 1 or 2 gallon fish tanks all separated, not to say that's good though /:

I believe LFS means "local fish store/ shop." I'm glad to hear bettas are being well cared for somewhere!

 

Yeah, when I heard about wal-Mart keeping betas like that it made me feel sick ):

 

Went to a random LFS the other day. Saw Bettas in 16-ounce drinking cups (like a clear SOLO) with a plastic lid on top.

I hate to say I supported the store by buying a filter pad from them,

 

Oh no! Well I guess if the things you need are in that store then you'll have to support it ): many people think that my 5 gal I'm setting up for my betta is way to big for one fish I just say that they need space too!