fish store water quality?

[thetmaxx]

Does anyone know how well fish shops tanks are kept? I've never really had a problem with fish from petco, and wal mart...(only bought one upsid down catfish from wally world)... and this fish store downtown seems great, they've sold me 2 excellent fish that were very healthy, but this store a little closer sold me 4 fish, and 2 of them died, quickly, and the one i got replaced doesnt look too healthy, but im trying to get him there....

also when you put a fish in, is it a good idea to scoop him from the bag with a net, rather than pour their water in your tank? i just thought of that...

[TankGirl]

Fish shop tanks are kept like aquarists tanks are kept - with extreme variations. Some shops take great care, others don't. Some shops won't sell sick fish, others will. Some shops adjust the water parameters for the different kinds of fish they sell, others don't.

I would choose a [acronym:c3fa22cc50="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:c3fa22cc50] based on how many ill or dead fish you see in their tanks, and over time how their tanks look in general. I have a PetsMart near me where the fish are always in perfect condition and I have gotten fish from them many times, some that I have had now going on 3 years with no problem. Another PetsMart down the road always has iffy looking fish. Mainly I frequent a shop that sells fish only, and the fish always look wonderful and the staff is knowledgeable. Even so, I would not put their water in my tanks. I acclimate the fish slowly, dripping my tank water into the bag, and then net the fish out and dump the water.

Good question, and something everyone should think about!

[ReefGuru]

Generally speaking, they are kept in crappy conditions. The fish are kept in substandard conditions. This is true of petco, and of [acronym:6f99692206="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:6f99692206]. I have worked for both petco and many [acronym:6f99692206="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:6f99692206] in Chicago, and I can tell you, if we kept our standards to what they did, our fish would be dying left and right. The only reason they get away with it, is because they are willing to sacrifice some fish for higher profit, and the fish generally only stay there from 4 hrs to a month at most.

Andrej

[mitche8359]

I found an easy way to get the fish into the tank. I don't like adding the water to my tank since I don't know what's in it, The net I have is too large for the bag. I get a bucket hold the net over the bucket and gently pour the water and fish into the net. I fing that it doesn't damage the fish as much s going after it with a net in the bag.

[Menagerie]

I fing that it doesn't damage the fish as much s going after it with a net in the bag.

That's a good method that I have used also.