Take what you get and shut up!

I think I'm a fish store's worst nightmare.... I pick my fish.... Have you ever tried to catch a specific fish in a crowded (for instance) Zebra Danio setup...... I walk in study the fish, and then say... "I want that one or that one etc....

Should one just take what they catch or can you be finicky and demand a specific fish.

 

If you want the best quality fish, then yes, you'll do that. A good pet store with good staff should be willing to get the customer the best fish avaliable, not just do their job by dipping in their net and seeing what they're getting.

 

Don't feel lonely, i also do that!! I agree with SalmonAfrica!!

 

dude, we paying for the live stock.. lots of the times they just want to get rid of fish so they give u what they catch easily and its usually the weak ones that r easily caught..

after a few times buying bad fish.. never again! they all know me now as well..i'm not picky but they dont give me the crapy catch of the day!

 

i once was offered the chance to net my own fish simply because i told the attendant that i was picky about what i get, it shouldn't be a problem imo

 

Adding onto this.... If I walk into a pet shop and all the water is blue, I just turn around and walk out again... (if you ask why, they tell you it is for colour effects... Ha! Ha!).... and the moon is made out of cheese??

 

Blue water = Methylene Blue mmm I wonder if all your fish are sick. Def walk out

 

You do know that a tank can be blue from the kind of light it is using? I know of some shops that use blue lights. Don't know why.

To be sure, just ask why the water is blue. If they're treating the fish, that's a good sign - at least they're taking care of their stock. If you ask to buy a fish from a treated tank, and they go ahead with it, THEN you walk out.

 

I do the same, Cheetah. I pick the fish I want, and they must go get it. After all, I'm paying for it. I once bought a few fish at a lfs, and the lady at the counter threw the bag around, shaking it vigorously. I told her I don't want them anymore, they can keep it. what must I do with completely stressed out fish, that might have damage. I don't buy livestock there anymore

 

My LPS right by me knows me very well, very picky of what i want. She gives me the net and bag and lets me do my thing.

If only all LPS were like that

 

This is what I really appreciate about getting fish from Dolphin. When I bought my Apisto's from him he gave me a new net. (Still in it's wrapper) to prove he takes cross contamination seriously. He filled the bag with water for me, and told me to catch the fish I wanted. He patiently stood by without even blinking an eyelid at how long it took me to catch the fish I wanted.

He then double bagged the fish and taped the corners for me.

When last did a LPS double bag for you?

 

I've seen some store assistants really struggling to catch 'em, and when I suggest to help.... (it is an art of experience to net fish).... I almost get chucked out the door....

 

Now that is excellent service, unfortunately i have never experience Dolphin's service.

And not once have they ever double bagged anything for me!

 

I often catch my own fish at LPSs. I've luckily never come across an attendant who wasn't willing to catch a specific fish for the times that they insisted that they should catch them.

 

Talking about state of lfs's setups, have you ever seen fleamarket pet stalls? I've had very bad experiences with them - mostly ick related, poor water quality etc

 

I just take care of who I ask to catch the fish.

 

dont buy from flea markets.. very bad quality in general.. they mix fish that aren meant to be together/have sickness and they get stressed out and dont last long in ur aquarium..

wheres dolphins store btw?

 

You are a paying customer you have the right to be fussy about what you get, i scrutinise fish so bad before i buy them, after observing their behaviour from a distance i stand with my nose against the tank looking for sickness or flaws,