Should I believe this pet store empoyee?

Some months ago, I happened to be in a distant town (think I may have mentioned this bit to the forum before) and stopped in at a pet store to check it out. It was nice, it was clean, their small animals were certainly kept well! But when I mentioned something about my bettas, I was told they don't like large tanks and prefer to be in tiny (1/2-1 gallon) spaces otherwise they get freaked out. Got told the old story of how they live in puddles in their native habitat and I told him that no, they live in large open spaces and just because they can survive in smaller doesn't mean they should. He walked away from me.

Yesterday, I happened to be back in that town so I went into the pet store. There was an interesting acrylic tank on the counter and I was asking questions about the company and whether they could get it in a certain style since he was online looking that one up for me anyway. Mentioned that I wanted them for my bettas. Again got the old story about how they don't like big tanks, etc.

BTW, it was the same employee.

I was so annoyed I emailed the store when I got home about my concerns and included a reputable betta site. Said that if that was me that had been told I was wrong I would have looked it up and changed my tune if I found I was wrong. I got an answer a short time later from the employee I'd been dealing with and turns out he's the manager! He looks like a kid to me, I must be getting old. Anyway, his excuse was that he knows all that stuff but people don't listen to what they have to say anyway so they just tell them the old story so at least the fish don't end up in worse conditions, and would I like to order those tanks?

I think he's just trying to make a sale. What do you think?

 

Wow... Yea, there are some cooky people at fish stores. O had a female betta in a community tank for years and it was perfectly happy. That's like saying that you should be in a small house because if its too big you won't like it! no logic there.

 

Its common "knowledge" that bettas love small bowls because once or twice they get caught in a puddle. Sadly people still think so

Sent from my P900/Q900 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

Forgot to mention, it was a 20 gallon. That guy is not the fastest fish in the tank.

 

Just lame, imo.......

 

That's what I thought. More interested in making a quick sale than the well-being of their critters. Sad. The other day when I was in Creatures (YYJ folk will know what I'm talking about) I expressed interest in dwarf puffers and the employee was beginning to warn me about all that I'd need to have in place in order to ensure their wellbeing when I told her, "oh, I don't want them now! Maybe in a few years. I've just heard about them and wanted to see. I'm a beginner and I don't feel I'm ready for anything more advanced than my bettas yet." I swear she heaved a sigh of relief that she didn't have to do battle with yet another starry-eyed newb. And they will try to get their animals the best situations before they leave the store. They're good that way.

LOL! "fastest fish in the tank"

Going to have to remember that one

 

Tell him to make a fishlore account, I'll have a Betta Debate with him.

This makes me mad, hits the nerves. I'm super happy my LFS have 1 Betta per 2 gallon with a filtration and aeration treated like a normal fish not a "puddle fish".

 

Our WalMart has betas, and whenever they are there for more than a week they move them into the display tanks. Only nice thing I've seen them do! they get some beautiful ones, there's a nice blue crowntail betta that I love, but don't have a tank for it

 

I mean where did he even get that info? 2 things for sure he must have learn it in a bad site or he got that info from the breeder that doesn't seem to be very reputable, trusted and informative about the true origin of a betta.

 

Have to say it again, that's funny.

 

Our WalMart has betas, and whenever they are there for more than a week they move them into the display tanks. Only nice thing I've seen them do! they get some beautiful ones, there's a nice blue crowntail betta that I love, but don't have a tank for it

Our Wally World only just started carrying bettas. They don't even have display tanks. Just the tiniest little cups, half the size of the regular pet stores' containers

I mean where did he even get that info? 2 things for sure he must have learn it in a bad site or he got that info from the breeder that doesn't seem to be very reputable, trusted and informative about the true origin of a betta.

Just something he'd heard I guess. Worst part is, I spoke to him months ago and corrected him and that day he just walked away from me. Now, months later, he's still spewing the same nonsense. You'd think he'd have learned something:-\

 

It all comes down to pride sadly

Sent from my P900/Q900 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

Tell him that an experienced fishkeeper has kept them in 20 gallon tanks and they were perfectly happy. I think they have that ability because the water they live in does not have much oxygen.

 

I recall seeing bettas being sold in glass "nano bowls" the size of a large stemless wine glass in a place years ago! I was horrified! I tried as best I could to say something on their behalf but the manager just said "we try and try and try, people still believe what they want to believe, tell us they have a bigger tank waiting at home already, and whatever else they think we want to hear. I would bet money at least half of them never get upgraded from that little cup. That's why most of my employees have stopped trying to argue some sense into more stubborn customers. Can you blame them for it?"

If it were me, I wouldn't believe the guy from that store. I think he's telling you what he thinks will placate you enough to make the sale.

 

He could have said "Betta's like big tanks so why won't you buy a 5 gallon or 10 gallon" the bigger the tank is the expensive it is.

Heck even a puddle fish "Killifish" can't survive in a puddle for long.

 

I know! That's what really confuses me. Why not try to sell someone on a bigger tank? Why tell everyone that they're scared of big tanks and need tiny, cheap bowls? Unless there's that much profit to be made from selling people $5 fish every few months when the last one dies from poor care. Surely they're not selling that many bettas though???

 

Several acre rice paddies = muddy half gallon poop puddles


Makes perfect freaking sense. The difference between "paddies" and "puddles" is difficult to grasp for some people. =(

 

I know! That's what really confuses me. Why not try to sell someone on a bigger tank? Why tell everyone that they're scared of big tanks and need tiny, cheap bowls? Unless there's that much profit to be made from selling people $5 fish every few months when the last one dies from poor care. Surely they're not selling that many bettas though???

He clings to much on his beliefs and pride. That he forget the buisness plan already.

Why is it just hard to treat a betta like a normal fish?!

Edit: Can you give me the store's email?

 

Amen!

 

Hello, I think the issue with the store owner is a lost cause. If he truly wanted to change, change would have occurred the first time you spoke to him. Sorry some stores just work that way. I've learned to just move one to the next store.

 

Sigh. Ok. TBH it's not that much of a loss to me since the store is technically in my city, but hardly local given it's a ~42 km drive through often heinous traffic to reach it. I only stop in when I happen to be at that end of the island and try to check out as many places as I can while I'm there!

 

Wow. But I guess that's just the store manager's opinion right or wrong, and sadly, the bettas have to live with it. But I guess if you really like the bettas there you can still buy them and just not listen to his advice about in how big of tanks they should be kept. Hence my signature lol, I know it's by Lady Gaga, but still pretty good if you want to use it in a fish store!

 

He's not the owner, just the manager. I don't know if it's store policy but the manager's answer didn't jibe with what he'd said in store. The bettas are ok, really no better or worse than most of the others available here. You have to go to a good store like Creatures to find higher quality bettas.

 

Oh, okay, I'll see if I can edit that lol!