Is It Appropriate To Educate People In Public?

Was at Walmart today, seeing if they had any fairly priced tank equipment. There was a couple and their kids looking at filter pads, specifically for ones that had carbon in them. They were looking to set up a new 10 gallon tank.

I told them they could just put activated carbon in panty hose, rinse it, tie it off and slip it behind a filter, and that carbon wasn't even a necessary addition to a tank, it just helps remove impurities from the water. They were thankful and asked me a few more questions, which I answered.

They said they were just putting regular gravel in, and the fish they were looking at was a 39 cent common goldfish. I explained that those fish were not appropriate for a 10 gallon, that they'd get way too big. They mentioned that they heard that fish "grow to their tank size" and I explained how that was a myth, and that stunted fish are unhealthy and don't live as long. I showed them pictures of adult common goldfish and said they really should be put in ponds and not tanks, and that the fancy goldfish need a minimum of 30 gallons for one fish.

So, being Walmart, choices were limited, but there were a few fish I suggested. The neon tetras, platies, zebra danios, and fancy guppies (all male). All of these fish are listed as needing a 10 gallon minimum on the site. I also mentioned that the tetras and danios need to be in groups of 6 to reduce stress and aggression. The couple seemed, well... overwhelmed. When asked about the glowlight tetras, I said I had some but that they needed a 20 or larger and showed them my tank. They saw my plants and asked about them, and I explained how it depends on your lighting. I said that in a low light tank, like the one they were setting up, that a good plant would be java fern. Again, the couple seemed overwhelmed, and said in the past they've just bought fish and stuck them in a tank (all 10 gallons).

Was my behavior appropriate? I wasn't trying to come off as a pretentious know-it-all, I just want people to give their pets a good quality of life and not accidentally commit animal abuse. What would you do in a similar circumstance?



On a side note, I bought some green corys yesterday, and when netting them the staff person scooped water from a different tank, one that housed small koi. I asked if she could scoop water from the tank the cories were in instead, with the idea that the tank the koi were in might have different parameters and temp (and possible diseases), and she gave me a weird look and said "all of our tanks are on the same system". Was my request unnecessary?

 

Appropriate behavior. What you did just saved the fish. Did the couple buy any fish?

I wouldn't buy fish from Walmart. Walmart employees don't know anything about fish. I suggest you ask them what the nitrogen cycle is, there is a 90% that the employees will say no. Walmart does not focus on fish and employees choose to work there to help others with items not about fish. I'm actually surprised Walmart chose to sell fish. I would be just as amazed if Target will sell them (fortunately they don't).

 

Appropriate behavior. What you did just saved the fish. Did the couple buy any fish?

I wouldn't buy fish from Walmart. Walmart employees don't know anything about fish. I suggest you ask them what the nitrogen cycle is, there is a 90% that the employees will say no. Walmart does not focus on fish and employees choose to work there to help others with items not about fish. I'm actually surprised Walmart chose to sell fish. I would be just as amazed if Target will sell them (fortunately they don't).

I'm unsure, I flipped their understanding of aquariums upside down and the fish I suggested were more than 39 cents...

The tanks at Walmart are horrible. Terribly overstocked, dead and dying fish everywhere, incompatible species, rampant ich and finrot, and fish that your average consumer will buy thinking they won't get any bigger (oscars, kissing gouramis, bala sharks, and common plecos).

 

People like you are what makes the hobby great! We need more people like you who is willing to speak up for fish at a pet store in order to avoid the fishes death or wrong housing!

Many people are uneducted and easily manipulated when the first start off, they believe every fish website is right! Honestly in a similar circumstance I wouldn't have the balls, but again don't think people would take a kids seriously ! Showing pictures though was a smart move especially showing your tank which gives you credential! When you show pictures and hard evidence people are more likely to believe you plus, when you add that the fish have a shorter life or will die most people want to avoid that! People who keep goldfish in 10s, there water is always cloudy and the fish probably doesn't last!

There are many myths out there somehow such as the "inch-per-gallon" and the "fish will grow tot he tank size". Normally people don't actually look this up online since if they did what you get is websites and forums saying it doesn't work. You probably just save a couple of fish life and a headache for the family

As for the cory and the water, fish stores actually use the same water for their tanks! PetSmart: Behind the Fish Wall!PetSmart: Behind the Fish Wall!

 

You probably weren't "wrong" about trying to educate the people about what fish to keep in a 10 gallon, but there is "too much" sometimes. I'm not sure, I wasn't there.

About the Corys/Koi situation, she's probably right. I know most stores run on the same systems. Then again, I don't think it's so hard to scoop water from a tank that you want just to appease the buyer.

 

The only problem as noted by AquaticKeeper is that there is so much information for beginners to learn from Nitrogen cycle, properly stocking an aquarium, plants, fish health, filter size, etc that it's hard to tell them in one talk! Next time I suggest that you tell them about Fishlore and to go on to a forum to learn more about the hobby before buying fish

 

I was at Walmart a few months ago. They sold Oscars. They were kept in 5 or 10 gallon tanks and were really small. Really overstocked.

 

don't think people would take a kids seriously

I'm 26 o.o

 

Unfortunately a lot of fish stores use a common filter for every tank in the store. Easer to take care of,but 1 sick fish can infect all the fish they have.

 

Same system, all fish get diseases.

 

Same system, all fish get diseases.

Yeah, they actually showed me the pipes and filters behind the tank wall, said they keep getting BBA in all the lines.

 

Box stores will use a central system. A good LFS will have individual tanks with filters on each tank. At least PetSmart and Petco keep their feeder tanks on separate systems. And unlike some others here and on other forums, I don't agree with giving unsolicited advice. If i'm asked sure but i'm not giving a stranger advice they didn't ask for.

 

showed me the pipes and filters behind the tank wall, said they keep getting BBA in all the lines.

You're someone the employees don't expect. They don't expect to show you those pipes.................

 

You're someone the employees don't expect. They don't expect to show you those pipes.................

I think they were trying to reassure me that all the tanks used the same water supply, but I'd rather they didn't. It was a Pet Supermarket. Unfortunately the only true LFS is a much further drive and has only a small collection of tropical freshwater fish.

 

The nearest place that sell fish from my house is Walmart. The closest LFS from my house is 30 minutes away...............

 

The nearest place that sell fish from my house is Walmart. The closest LFS from my house is 30 minutes away...............

Mine is an hour and a half away off an exit of a 6 lane highway in the middle of Panama City Beach.

 

You didn't do anything wrong requesting the employee use the same water the cory came from. I might of done the same thing. Not like you knew all the tanks use the same water.

As far as dealing with the family, I don't know. It depends on how you approached them. You said they thanked you, but could be they were just trying to be nice. I had strangers try to give me advice before (non fish related), and I was not happy, and 100 percent of the time it was how they approached me. I had this one person and he actually seemed like a nice guy, but as soon as I let him in, he became very off putting.

 

Mine is an hour and a half away off an exit of a 6 lane highway in the middle of Panama City Beach.

Know worries, I know how you feel

 

As far as dealing with the family, I don't know. It depends on how you approached them. You said they thanked you, but could be they were just trying to be nice. I had strangers try to give me advice before (non fish related), and I was not happy, and 100 percent of the time it was how they approached me. I had this one person and he actually seemed like a nice guy, but as soon as I let him in, he became very off putting.

They were trying to figure out what type of filter to get, since the pads with carbon were only compatible with a larger, pricier filter, so I gave them advice on how to cheaply use carbon in the smaller filter they planned on getting. That's what led to more questions.

 

I'm 26 o.o

I meant me, reason why I don't go up to adults and tell them although I am trying to get the courage...I'm only 16!

 

I meant me, reason why I don't go up to adults and tell them although I am trying to get the courage...I'm only 16!

You're pretty big now! Gotta hurry and get the courage!

 

I don't think you went overkill; this hobby can swamp you very easily! I do the same thing when it comes to birds; I will recommend a size cage and an appropriate bird for it like you did with the fish.

The main situation with this hobby compared to keeping other types of pets is that we don't worry about the air quality and how much air circulation that is required for fish. Once your average joe learns about this, they glaze over and freak out.

 

I meant me, reason why I don't go up to adults and tell them although I am trying to get the courage...I'm only 16!

Sorry, I misread! XD

 

The main situation with this hobby compared to keeping other types of pets is that we don't worry about the air quality and how much air circulation that is required for fish. Once your average joe learns about this, they glaze over and freak out.

Yeah, many beginners don't realize the things you need to know to have a proper tank, most beginners or people who don't own fish just think you get a tank, heater, light, and then fish! They don't realise different fish need different requirements, cycling an aquarium, reasons why water changes are necessary, etc

 

I think it's fine to help people understand fish. It makes the job of the person in the fish department easier. I work at a pet store, and so many people are so uneducated about fish. Sometimes I feel people don't want to listen to the sales person even if they know what they are talking about because the customer is thinking that the store just wants to sell them things they don't need to make money.

My manager tried to tell a customer today that his high nitrate where because of having too much ammonia, (despite the ammonia levels being zero from the test I did). He then suggested Ammo down (which is not a product, and I believe he confused and fused pH down and Ammolock).
They bought 14 fish at the same time, and hadn't done a water change for a month. Their angle died, and my manager gave them another. He is so clueless about fish, I don't think he fully understands the Nitrogen Cycle and how it relates to the fish tank biome. I suggested that the customer do a 50% water change and come back another day and he got upset at me.


At the pet store, we have about four feet of tanks to one system. Three on the top and bottom row, two in the middle. All runs down to a Mairneland Commercial filter with prefilter, carbon pillow, and bio wheel. The system also does continuous small water changes. Prefilter and carbon filter changed monthly or bI monthly, rinsed weekly. The feeder fish filters are changed weekly. Still, a ton dead, just sitting at the bottom, others too weak to swim.
We used to add Pima/Melafix weekly and StressCoat bI weekly, as well as twice daily salting. We have stopped all but the Stress Coat. It's corporate run, so I'm sure it's just to save money.

Sorry for the long post...

 

Yeah, many beginners don't realize the things you need to know to have a proper tank, most beginners or people who don't own fish just think you get a tank, heater, light, and then fish! They don't realise different fish need different requirements, cycling an aquarium, reasons why water changes are necessary, etc

It's like they don't realize that fish poop and pee like most any other animal. How most people treat fish would be like keeping a German shepherd in a crate it's whole life and wondering why it gets sick and dies prematurely.

 

They were trying to figure out what type of filter to get, since the pads with carbon were only compatible with a larger, pricier filter, so I gave them advice on how to cheaply use carbon in the smaller filter they planned on getting. That's what led to more questions.

I think you did the right thing. If I saw someone perplexed about something and I had the knowledge to help out, then like yourself, I would. It's all in how you present yourself.

I meant me, reason why I don't go up to adults and tell them although I am trying to get the courage...I'm only 16!

Age is meaningless at a certain point. Half the time I think I'm in the babysitting business.

 

People should treat there pets like having a baby, researching days,weeks, and months before hand and researching everything before actually having the pet!

 

Yeah, many beginners don't realize the things you need to know to have a proper tank, most beginners or people who don't own fish just think you get a tank, heater, light, and then fish! They don't realise different fish need different requirements, cycling an aquarium, reasons why water changes are necessary, etc

YES!!! I have to say I was in the same boat, but then I found FishLore! I love it!

 

Something that genuinely makes me sad is seeing Walmart (or any pet shop) selling fish like oscars and bala sharks without asking buyers what setup they have. You just know they're going into an overstocked 10 gallon and will die in a few weeks...

 

People should treat there pets like having a baby, researching days,weeks, and months before hand and researching everything before actually having the pet!

Pretty sure most people don't even do that either.

Fahn, even high quality, experienced local fish stores have their tanks overstocked. However, the fish are still healthy. They won't ask about their customers setups either, because they need to make a profit. But they can give great advice.

 

I subtly hint. I remembered there was a couple with a small child which was arguing about getting a fish. The husband wanted a .5 gallon for 1 betta fish while the wife didn't want a tank. I was with my brother at the time, and he played along while I "talked" loudly to him about how they were unsutible for any fish and that a betta needed at least a 10 gallon. The woman was like "see" and the guy gave me a dirty look, but it was worth it. They just left

 

I think you did the right thing. After all, they did keep asking you questions. I'm not a Walmart shopper so I don't know anything about their fish section. Luckily I have a lfs that has individual filtration about 10 minutes from my house. I also would have asked the water question about the corys. I've asked about pH and temperature too. I'm sure you spoke to them in a kindly manner, so it sounds to me like you did the right thing.

 

People should treat there pets like having a baby, researching days,weeks, and months before hand and researching everything before actually having the pet!

Pretty sure most people don't even do that either.

True...because most people would NEVER have any babies then! They're too scary! I have 2 of my own.

Most people probably don't research their pets properly anyways. My neighbor has a herding breed type dog and that dog only goes outside to use the bathroom! I can't imagine what it does to their house! But....I've been there, done that too with getting a pet without proper research.

 

Fahn, even high quality, experienced local fish stores have their tanks overstocked. However, the fish are still healthy. They won't ask about their customers setups either, because they need to make a profit. But they can give great advice.

True, but they can't realistically give all those fish adequate space. They also have heavy filtration and the idea is those fish are only there temporarily. I also understand the need to make a profit, but I believe one should be ethical and think of the animal's safety and well-being in the process. I would not, could not sell something like a common pleco or red tailed shark to an uninformed couple setting up their kid's first 10 gallon tank.

It's different at places like Walmart, though... they just don't care.

 

I feel like pet stores and such are capitalism at it's worst since companies make money selling lives and don't care what happen to those lives as long as those lives make them money

 

Not all are bad AL913! When I worked at Petco many moons ago, two of the managers were awesome! If I didn't think someone could handle buying a pet, they would back me up! We had a list of certain people that we were never ever to sell to! I had 2 teen boys added to the list when they wanted to buy a rat and shoot it off in a rocket! I only found out when they started to tell me more about what their plans were for the rat.

 

Do any of you complaining about LFS stocking have any idea of the cost of shipping a box full of water? Especially one full of bread and butter fish that sell for 2-4 dollars a piece.

 

Do any of you complaining about LFS stocking have any idea of the cost of shipping a box full of water? Especially one full of bread and butter fish that sell for 2-4 dollars a piece.

Oh, I understand it's expensive, and that tanks are overstocked out of necessity, not neglect.

 

Someone wanted to buy one of our Ball Pythons, Houdini, on a whI'm and I was like helllll no and did my best to convince them otherwise. He's such a great little snake and he needs to go to a good home. I don't think we are allowed to deny a sale, but we are definitely allowed to discourage them if we don't think the environment is suitable. I just hate confrontation and don't want to get fired so it's hard for me to say "No, I'm not going to sell you this fish because you don't have a proper setup or education"

One dude came in and got two balas and two iridescent sharks for a 20 long. No less than a week he was back and they were dead.