Lets Make An Lfs Encounters Thread

Just curious how things go for everyone else in the hobby, here are two big ones for me.
Went to petsmart looking for some angelfish since I wanted to have more than one. They had just gotten three that day and they were all tiny making them cheap since they price by size. I asked the lady there for all three (knowing I'd be lucky to have one make it through petsmart disease) and she asked what tank size I had. 20 high for quarantine I said. The response was "you know 29 is the minimum recommendation for one right?" I wasn't going to keep all three in that tank, it's just for qt purposes anyway. "They have to have at least 29 gallon for just one, I really don't recommend it"
I then got a "your tank probably isn't even cycled, do you even care about the fish you keep? A 20 gallon is too small for even one angel" Then me, being really frustrated at this point retorted with. Well they have a better chance of survival with me anyway, the tank water here is always freezing, and I can actually maintain the right water parameters or medicate if I need to. She then glared at me, said she wasn't going to get any fish for me and walked off. I will accept some fault for not keeping my temper in check, but that just blew me away. I came back the next day to get them and they all had severe ammonia poisoning, none made it through the week.

Second experience I'd like to share is both good and bad depending on how you look at it
Went to buy a tank at petsmart again, the associates in the back offered to get it off the shelf and onto a cart for me since it was big (75g). Of course I said yes to that, and you'll never guess the mild chaos that ensued. A corner caught the lip of the stand, knocking the stand into one of them helping me, which caused them to lose their grip on the tank and dropping it. The tank shattered and the stand was damaged slightly. Of course a tank shattering can't be quiet so several other employees came running back along with the manager, they made sure we were all ok. The manager then apologized for the accident, gave me a discount on an identical tank next to the broken one, and a $50 gift card.
Karma?

Share your stories below

 

You might remember this. At my lfs a few weeks ago an employee didn’t let me buy bolivian rams for my 36 gallon tank because she said they are aggressive and will kill all my other fish. I was going to buy them again a few days ago when that person wasn’t there but there were no more left.

 

I was at Petland browsing around for fish supplies and then a kid came into there with a dead betta. They had a live fish guarantee, so they were about to exchange them a new betta. The kid eventually asked if he could exchange for a koi instead of a betta. Luckily the woman said that they would grow into a huge fish that aren't suitable for his small tank and eventually need a pond. That was one of the proudest moments I had of Petland.

 

You might remember this. At my lfs a few weeks ago an employee didn’t let me buy bolivian rams for my 36 gallon tank because she said they are aggressive and will kill all my other fish. I was going to buy them again a few days ago when that person wasn’t there but there were no more left.

Definitely remember that one, my first story came up in that thread somehow too

I was at Petland browsing around for fish supplies and then a kid came into there with a dead betta. They had a live fish guarantee, so they were about to exchange them a new betta. The kid eventually asked if he could exchange for a koi instead of a betta. Luckily the woman said that they would grow into a huge fish that aren't suitable for his small tank and eventually need a pond. That was one of the proudest moments I had of Petland.

That's absolutely amazing! Most places would just see if they're the same price and just swap them.

 

Definitely remember that one, my first story came up in that thread somehow too

I remember that. Didn’t say you apologized for trying to take better care of the fish or something like that?

 

Yeah, I did.
We both blew it up a bit, but that kind of behavior shouldn't exist at work

 

I want a new tank! I still have to decide how to do my 29 gallon though.

 

"you know 29 is the minimum recommendation for one right?" I wasn't going to keep all three in that tank, it's just for qt purposes anyway. "They have to have at least 29 gallon for just one, I really don't recommend it"
I then got a "your tank probably isn't even cycled, do you even care about the fish you keep? A 20 gallon is too small for even one angel"

Okay, well they might have been a little rude but at least they were trying to make sure it was going to a good home.. Most of the time that doesn't even happen

 

There was another time when I was at petco instead (don't go to petsmart much anymore) I overheard a trainee in aquatics say the dreaded "inch per gallon" and I was torn in half between ignoring it (and letting some fish suffer) or correcting her (but that'd be rude, and I couldn't make her look bad in front of a customer)
I eventually just walked away

 

I just outright lie to the store. Yep their going into their own 5 gallon tank so they don't drown or fight. Its easy just tell them what they want to hear and move on. If I told them the truth I dought they would sell me fish.

 

Okay, well they might have been a little rude but at least they were trying to make sure it was going to a good home.. Most of the time that doesn't even happen

I appreciate the different view, never even saw it that way myself.
I kinda wanted to make this since there's so much lfs hate in the hobby right now. Just trying to spread some positives too. Thanks Val

I just outright lie to the store. Yep their going into their own 5 gallon tank so they don't drown or fight. Its easy just tell them what they want to hear and move on. If I told them the truth I dought they would sell me fish.

Honestly me too. They think I have at least 20 tanks

 

I make it a point not to tell anyone at the LFS what I have in my tanks, except the manager, who is great. It keeps things easier

 

We need more people like that woman who asked you all those questions. Minus the rudeness. I'm glad she looks for the right accomodations for the angelfish.

 

Well my local fish store is locally owned, there are two other chain stores. But I know and love the local store. The owner keeps fresh and saltwater tanks. He even will build saltwater tanks for people and set them up/clean them/etc. He's a very small business and his stuff is more expensive than the chains, but they're almost always healthy fish so I like supporting him. And I know he is knowledgeable and cares about the hobby. He's offered several times to order whatever I need/want

 

We need more people like that woman who asked you all those questions. Minus the rudeness. I'm glad she looks for the right accomodations for the angelfish.

That is the whole truth and nothing but, isn't it. Though I think even bizaliz3 wouldn't even freak out at 3 barely dime sized angels in a qt that size. I may be wrong, but that's why I tagged her

Well my local fish store is locally owned, there are two other chain stores. But I know and love the local store. The owner keeps fresh and saltwater tanks. He even will build saltwater tanks for people and set them up/clean them/etc. He's a very small business and his stuff is more expensive than the chains, but they're almost always healthy fish so I like supporting him. And I know he is knowledgeable and cares about the hobby. He's offered several times to order whatever I need/want

I have one of those near me too, it's a bit harder to get things there since they are a little more expensive too, and there isn't even a one week guarantee. I understand that's harder for them, but it's hard to pay more with that risk. Even with the fish health being a million times better than a chain store

 

That is the whole truth and nothing but, isn't it. Though I think even bizaliz3 wouldn't even freak out at 3 barely dime sized angels in a qt that size. I may be wrong, but that's why I tagged her

I remember this story.

While I do appreciate that she cared enough to make sure the angels were going to be kept in the right tank size for life (because most care only about making sales).....the critical part she overlooked was that the 20 gallon was QT....not permanent. Which gives me the impression that she isn't aware of the QT process and why it is important. QT tanks will almost never be big enough for a life long tank for the fish. If you made it clear to her that it was for QT only, then she was way out of line.

Also, that store is very irresponsible to be selling "barely dime sized" angels. If they aren't even dime sized, they should not be at the store yet. They should still be getting daily water changes and freshly hatched BBS regularly! Those are babies!

And yes, a 20 gallon would be fine for 3 dime sized angels for quite some time! And this would be considered a "grow out tank" in addition to a QT.

 

Okay this story is actually a happy story. I was at my LFS and was talking to a really nice employee, she ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. So I talked to her for a while about vals, and Diana Walstad, and bettas, and how troublesome red plants can be sometimes, and about the difficulties with livebearers and overpopulation. And then we discussed crypts to great lengths, and how they were nice centerpiece plants, and large leafed plants for bettas ect....it was really enjoyable, and I am glad I had that experience!

 

Also, that store is very irresponsible to be selling "barely dime sized" angels. If they aren't even dime sized, they should not be at the store yet. They should still be getting daily water changes and freshly hatched BBS regularly! Those are babies!

That would explain why I couldn't manage to keep them alive then
Sometimes when they miss the friday shipments their suppliers just double the order and send whatever they have. That's probably how they got to the store so early

 

When I worked at a store, I had a woman and her daughter come up to me and ask, “can a Dory fish live in a fish bowl”.


Yes ma’am your Blue Hippo Tang...I mean Dory fish can live in a freshwater bowl with no heater and no filter. Sometimes people have absolutely zero common sense.

 

That hurts to hear

 

That would explain why I couldn't manage to keep them alive then
Sometimes when they miss the friday shipments their suppliers just double the order and send whatever they have. That's probably how they got to the store so early

Ya, I suppose the supplier is more to blame in this case than the store themselves.

Its not that it is hard to keep less than dime sized angels alive. But they are definitely too sensitive to be shipped and spend time in a yucky fish store tank. As long as they have been weaned off of BBS, they are fine with crushed flakes and stuff. But they require more attention to their water quality than older juvies and adults.

 

At petsmart once I saw a family buy 2 bettas, a small bowl thing, 20 pounds of gravel, a 100 gph filter, 50 watt heater, tropical flakes, shrimp pellets, a cave thing, and a plastic plant. The parents even asked the kids if they wanted a larger tank and they said no. The stuff they bought was ridiculous for the small bowl too. The bettas probably died within a day or 2

 

Well, they were just babies and they had ammonia poisoning by the time I got them too. Probably not much I could've done


Here's another story from petco. There was a kid that literally wanted one thing from each freshwater tank. His mom was on his side and the poor employee was only able to convince them they were overstocking the tank.
They ended up with something like this
1 peacock and mbuna, 1 convict 1 blood parrot, 1 glow tetra and glow danio. A goldfish a silver dollar a hatchetfish. Etc. Poor guy asked to clock out early because of it too

At petsmart once I saw a family buy 2 bettas, a small bowl thing, 20 pounds of gravel, a 100 gph filter, 50 watt heater, tropical flakes, shrimp pellets, a cave thing, and a plastic plant. The parents even asked the kids if they wanted a larger tank and they said no. The stuff they bought was ridiculous for the small bowl too. The bettas probably died within a day or 2

I'm impressed they actually knew they need a filter and heater

 

Well, they were just babies and they had ammonia poisoning by the time I got them too. Probably not much I could've done

Agreed. Its unfortunate that suppliers would send fish that are that young and small to the LFS.

And unfortunate that the store didn't allow them to go home with someone to be cared for better than the store could have.

 

What would y'all do if you heard someone say the inch per gallon rule
Walk away like I did? Or correct them?

 

What would y'all do if you heard someone say the inch per gallon rule
Walk away like I did? Or correct them?

To be honest, I'm way too shy of a person to butt in to a conversation so I probably would have walked away. That may not be the right choice but I really would not have the confidence to say anything.

But I have helped people in fish stores when they are standing there pondering fish food or just staring at something.

 

I've thought of doing the same myself too, I'm just afraid of the "do you work here" type people

How about a good story now.
I heard an employee telling someone the 40 gallon recommendation for bala Sharks is wrong and they truly need over 100 gallon to have enough room.
Same person also stopped someone buying fish and a tank on the same day

 

Hopefully the tank and fish person was a new hobbyist. Me personally I would of been asking to talk to the manager. I did once before when an ossaciate wouldn't let me buy a betta because they told me it would drown in my tank. I could of just left but I don't to the pet store very often.

 

My aquatics specialist at my petco used to be awesome, until he started working at a real fish store. That petco is pretty horrible now.

 

Hopefully the tank and fish person was a new hobbyist. Me personally I would of been asking to talk to the manager. I did once before when an ossaciate wouldn't let me buy a betta because they told me it would drown in my tank. I could of just left but I don't to the pet store very often.

I thought about doing that after the angelfish argument, but it wasn't worth arguing with two people if they disagreed with me too.

My aquatics specialist at my petco used to be awesome, until he started working at a real fish store. That petco is pretty horrible now.

Similar thing happening at mine. Both 10 year hobbyists got transferred out of the aquatics department.

 

I had a nice one and a not nice one. I've had many bettas and recently bought one from this local store and the cashier checked that I had all the things for him. First time ever out of the years I'd had them someone bothered to ask. She was nice about it too so I left her a google review which I don't usually do.

Bad- bought 2 from meijer which is basically walmart and 1 got sick immediately but I saved him. Over the next 3 months I'd look at the fish section and a bunch would have mold on them or were dead. I HATE talking to managers but I did it. After the 4th visit with multiple dead fish I sent an email to corporate complaining that this store shouldn't carry bettas as they don't take care of them. Got the rudest email back saying they keep them in above minimum containers and how you can't put them with other fish.... So what? You can still change the water or like idk go and feed them once a day so you see the dead ones.

When I worked at a store, I had a woman and her daughter come up to me and ask, “can a Dory fish live in a fish bowl”.


Dumbing it down... Dory was in the OCEAN are there fresh water Oceans? That's just terrible.

 

Sadly after the nemo movie many many nemos and dories were put in freshwater bowls. The lfs we had at the time had to put up a big sign. These are saltwater fish. Thank you for your understanding. Yea sad situation.

 

I had a nice one and a not nice one. I've had many bettas and recently bought one from this local store and the cashier checked that I had all the things for him. First time ever out of the years I'd had them someone bothered to ask. She was nice about it too so I left her a google review which I don't usually do.

Bad- bought 2 from meijer which is basically walmart and 1 got sick immediately but I saved him. Over the next 3 months I'd look at the fish section and a bunch would have mold on them or were dead. I HATE talking to managers but I did it. After the 4th visit with multiple dead fish I sent an email to corporate complaining that this store shouldn't carry bettas as they don't take care of them. Got the rudest email back saying they keep them in above minimum containers and how you can't put them with other fish.... So what? You can still change the water or like idk go and feed them once a day so you see the dead ones.

That's terrible

 

Sadly after the nemo movie many many nemos and dories were put in freshwater bowls. The lfs we had at the time had to put up a big sign. These are saltwater fish. Thank you for your understanding. Yea sad situation.

That's really sad.

 

Can we get some more positives in here? That was my original goal for this thread due to the ammount of lfs hate out there

 

I got a good story. I was at my petsmart browsing anubias plants. And some how got into this conversation with a worker and this elderly couple. We talked about fish stuff for about half an hour .and every one else kept staring at us like we were crazy. Then again there's a few workers at my local petsmart who keep fish in good quality at home.

 

Anyone that hasn't gotten a crazy look at some point in this hobby is very rare honestly haha
Especially when we try and explain the nitrogen cycle to them

 

When I just went last week to buy 6 female bettas they all judged me.
"You know bettas can't go together right?"
Me: "Its a sorority in a well planted, heated, filtered, cycled 20 gallon tank..."
"Whats a sorority?"
Or the other day someone switched around betta cup lids. There was a baby halfmoon in a female cup.
"Why would someone put this female in a male lid"
I was like yikes that will be surprise if someone makes a sorority.
Heres another male in a female lid...

 

Frogs!? That's a first
Lots of chains are notorious for mislabeling bettas

 

Frogs!? That's a first
Lots of chains are notorious for mislabeling bettas

Indeed, 5/7 of my female bettas where male.
Heres the link to the thread on the frogs:
Petvalu Selling Other Fish In Cups?