It really depends. 75 degrees is max for a goldfish but many tropical fish are fine in these temperatures. So it depends on what fish they’re with but many will be fine. It also depends on the kind of goldfish and where it came from. It also depends a lot on filtration.
The main reason this isn’t such a big problem is commercial filtration. Higher temps decrease the oxygen but a mass commercial filtration system is a million times better then these little
HOB filter or
canister filters we use in the hobby. These systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars and are so superior they can make up for a lot of parameters. They keep parameters more consistent than anything we have at home and consistency is more important than actual, specific numbers.
It just really all depends on what is going on. Obviously a small store just dumping random fish with extreme variations in requirements is irresponsible, but I would not be so quick to judge without knowing the specifics.
There are tons of things in a pet store that sends the wrong message, like
bettas in a cup, one gallon kits with a goldfish and 10 neons on the cover of the box...sure it’d be nice to have knowledgeable employees that can advise better and a store that refuses to sell anything that might send the wrong message, but the fact is better employees and clarified misconceptions costs money. Are you willing to pay 2-3x for your fish for a store that makes less money by hiring adequate employment? Most people are not.
Thus, ultimately, it is up to the consumer to educate themselves. And I feel anyone who walks into a store trying to replicate anything done in there without educating themselves is equally to blame. Education is the definition of a responsible pet owner.
