A "seriously wtf is going on with this world" post

It is shocking some of the stuff I have been told about compatibility,adult size of fish and weather my tank size will be able to live comfortably in my tank.
I mean I understand that these places need to make money, bit to mis lead a customer to the extend that many of my fish have died, is just sick to be honest
Any one else have such bad experiences with SA stores?

 

Unfortunately most sales people at LFS know very little about fishkeeping and/or are out there just to make a quick buck. That's why it is crucial for fish keepers to learn as much as they possibly can before purchasing any fish in order to avoid problems either immediately with keeping them with incompatible fish, incorrect temperatures and water parameters, or later on when they find themselves in a position of having a fish which is either outgrowing their tank or eating their other fish. So if you see fish you like but don't know anything about it, rather research FIRST before purchasing.....rather safe then sorry

 

I have to admit, i got done by just that. When i was given my first tank i went to the lfs where they sold me 4 baby oscars and told me they would be fine in my 30l tank. They were prob too much for that tank even when only an inch long. I eventualy went and got some advice at another lfs when the water started smelling bad. I ended up upgrading tanks three times till eventualy i had them in a 1000l tank. I must say i loved my oscars and recently had to sell them as my new house doesnt have space for a 2.5m tank.

 

hey - research, research, research as Veegal says, but if that fish in the LFS is a "I gotta have that no matter what !!! " fish, then put a deposit down and ask the LFS to hold it for a few days .. Research - then go back to the LFS.

I sympathise with the Oscar story - I Loved my Oscars - eventually had to give them away, cause I was moving - Guess what - One month after giving them away the bast---ds started breeding.

 

So this is the reason I only have the plants atm veegal..
My tank 300L had 4 african jewel fish and a couple other small fish, but the jewels started getting very aggressive, and ended up basically killed off all the fish except for two others. So I took the African jewels to a fish shop and got a black ghost knife fish. I was told by the fish guys that this fish would never outgrow my tank (when I got him I was told he is a fully grown adult. Finds out I was very misguided. )
So I took the fish back today and got some plants.. one I just found out isnt even an aquatic plant... so this shop is obviously doing well in my books... Sigh. So with my plants that i got minus the non aquatic one, which I will throw away I guess, I will be watching over my tank for the text two or so then I will be upgrading.[FONT=&quot]
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:worried::motz: You are certainly not the first person this has happened to and unfortunately you will not be the last. Some LFS's, and we all know which is the most famous for it in Cape Town, only have THEIR best interest at heart and of course that is measured by the amount of money in their till at the end of the day. :evil:

A group of us Capetonians are getting together next Saturday to go LFS crawling - if you'd like to join us then just join the Cape Town Fish Keeper Social Group and you'll see all the info there.....WE won't lie to you.

 

Ye that sounds amazing
Will get right onto it...

 

:rock: Great! If you want to hang on with your upgrades mentioned in another post, there will be loads of accumulated knowledge around on Saturday covering plants, equipment and livestock :blink1:

 

sweet.. cant find where this is though.. what category is it under?

 

Click the 'home' tab at the top of the page and look to the far right - under Social Groups you'll find it

 

sorry to hear about your experiences with that LFS. read your thread on marineaquariumsa also! best is to do your own research so you know exactly what you are purchasing and dont listen to LFS "advise"...

 

Let me relate something that just happened to me - I just phoned an LFS down Bergvliet way to ask what time they close and do they have any sponge filters ...
The answer -------------------------
Doesn't matter what time, we will be open for you - and there are hundreds of filters all very cheap !!!!

 

Going that extra mile for the extra buck....typical

 

It's good to see that some places are willing to go the extra mile. I think we have all been in trouble at some time or other where we were prepared to spend that extra buck to solve our problems.

 

Nah brentnorm - that was the usual sales pitch.....even tried to sell us seriously water damaged books when we got there and said that they 'weren't water damaged, the colour plates just stick together like that'.....hahahaha, you could SEE the water damage

 

It's simple then, don't use them. I just don't think bad mouthing LFS is good for our hobby/passion. I think we all need to use common sence.

 

Had almost a similar experience this weekend at a LFS in Great North Road in Boksburg. Was standing around looking at there stock, when a guy bought a couple of fish which included 2 Bettas. Not once did the assistant helping him ask him what his intentions with the 2 Bettas were. Imagine this guy dumping both Bettas in one tank when he gets home........

 

Speaking of which, I have a video clip that I recorded at an LFS here in the CPT (no name mentioned) of two betta males in the same tank fighting. Staff working there doesn't know jack either. Pathetic...

 

the think that irritates me is that i find myself pointing out sick fish in every petshop i go to. What is it? are they waiting for the fish to die.... do they even look at the fish they sell????

 

I have a heart attack whenever I hear of someone who claims you can house Oscars in "any size tank, because they only grow as big as the tank they are in".

Fortunately I must say Panorama Petshop has been good over the years, and I can't recall ever getting bad advice from them, or hearing anyone else getting bad advice.