Hate Petsmart/Petco?? Vent here, and tell me/us why!!

[madasafish]

Hi fellow fish-o-philes,

I've been reading a lot of acerbic posts about Petco and Petsmart recently, and thought that it might be nice to have a topic set up for this very issue. Why are people so bitter about Petco and Petsmart (and other large chains)?

I've shopped at Petco many times, and aside from the often-uninformed staff, I've had no problems.

I also thought this would be a good way to raise an awareness of the problems of chain petstores. Are there any environmental issues that Petco/Petsmart shoppers should be aware of? Do they tend to get wild fish, or do they tank raise them? Do they overfish areas, or do they catch fish in such a way as to encourage sustainability? Are we really dealing with bad guys here--are the Petco high-and-mighties just out to make a buck--or are they genuinely concerned about animals like us?

Come one, come all and post!

Thanks a lot!
Jonathan

[RogerMcAllen]

*edit
In my opinion: (legal disclaimer to avoid getting sued)

The only problem I have with the petsmart near me is their pond section. They have a large tub for "assorted koi $14.00" The only problem with this is that the entire tub is filled with small fantails worth approximately $3. They keep all of their koi cramped in the same size tank they keep the neons in.

I like the drygood prices at petsmart, but their livestock is steep compared to my [acronym:87a94ccb0f="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:87a94ccb0f]. Neons are $2 vs $1.50.

I also don't like their channel cats. They sell these small 2" channel cats and say that they are great for an aquarium, max size is labled as 18" on the tag as opposed to the real life 4' or so. The cats are priced $3.50 as opposed to $2.50 at the [acronym:87a94ccb0f="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:87a94ccb0f].

[e-cat]

i dont like any of those kinds of stores including and mostly walmart becuase of the lack of knolage and walmart for the sick looking fish tanks full of dead moldy fish.

I shop at Petsmart. Often timesI get good advice from two people that work there. However the place is mostly full of kids and a retarded pregnant lady I can't stand.

I will NOT shop at Petco if I can help it. I did buy the decorations for my tank from there only because they were the only place that had them. Petco abuses their animals and the people that work there are VERY nasty. [Except one guy I went to school with, he is ultra cool]

I feel that petstores should not sell pets. Only breeders should be selling pets. Petstores often do not have the knowledge necessary of many types of animals. And the way they are kept is absolutely hideous and unfair!

[madasafish]

I guess I see a lot of moldy, rotting fish in their tanks. But... I see them even in the best of stores. Seems the employees almost prefer to leave the dead ones in as food for the rest (gruesome as it sounds). Petland in NY is even worse... every tank has at least one "dead and rotting."

OK, I'm starting to get an idea of why ppl don't like Petco etc. Still interested to hear about bad experiences, scandalous policies and the loveable staff

[e-cat]

the prices are cheap , thats why people go there too buy there fish, but if you pay the extra money too get your fish from a [acronym:0a78db940c="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:0a78db940c] that specializes in fish you will get a fish that is healthy and that has been taken care of properly while it is in the stores tanks.

[madasafish]

Thanks, SFD. That reminds me of a nasty story about Petco that I had completely forgotten about:

The air conditioning in a Long Island Petco went caput one evening before closing, about 1.5 months ago. Temperatures soared to above 90 degrees (fine for lizards, not for the rest of the folks...). The staff were advised to move all animals to other branches in order to save them. But, like the lazy bums they were, they decided the animals would be fine.

Next morning--over 300 dead animals (I think that's the number...). Anyway, something excessive and repulsive. I think you're right, SixFootDaisy. Animals really should be sold by breeders. They seem to care, and usually have larger spaces to keep their animals in. The stores in NYC are often so inhumane. Large cockatoos in a 8-cubic-foot space. It's just not fair, or even aesthetically pleasing. I always imagined that if I were to get a bird, or birds, I'd designate a large room of my (future, giant) house (mansion) to them. When I lived in a larger apartment, my neighbor (who also had a large apartment) always used to let his birds roam the house during the day.

But I'm straying from the topic. Thanks for all the replies. I guess this is just as much an outlet for expressing these ideas as it is an educational opportunity for me. I appreciate all your imput! Keep on writing.

Jonathan

[madasafish]

Hmm.. I guess I'm a bit too jaded. All the LFSs arounds me are just as bad, if not much worse than the Petcos that I've been to. Arg, that's NYC for you.

I have found one great place with a beautiful selection of fish for all those in the NYC area interested in buying fish/plants/etc. New World Aquarium at 204 East 38th Street (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) is the best Manhattan has to offer.
www.newworldaquarium.net. I'm sure some of you must have been there.

[fishfreek]

Just a reminder.

Please state only facutal statments. Its ok to talk about why one store is better or worse than another but its also important to not go as far as to become slanderious.



With that said I have had limited experence with Petco but the one that is somewhat local to me I feel is fairly good. The times I have gotten fish from there the sales assocate has asked quesitons about my setup and has also made suggestions about possible incompatibilities, etc.

[Zic]

I shop at PetSmart. I think it's an ok store. Except for the time I bought two tiger barbs and an angelfish and the guy bagged them up together, leading me to believe that they are compatible. hehe....

Anyways, now I do my own research before I step foot into the store. PetSmart has a 55 gallon tank with hood for 99 bucks. I'm going to get it as it's the cheapest price I've seen anywhere for tank AND hood (see my post titled "Yay! I can finally upgrade!")

The PetCo by my house has fish, but not that many. They have quite a few tanks, but nowhere near the selection of PetSmart, which is just right down the road.

I have a thing about breeders that I feel I must mention. But let me first say that I've never bought from a fish breeder, my opinion is entirely about cat and dog breeders. I think that it's terrible that people try to profit from a natural act, like dogs reproducing. The breeder may care about the dogs very much and take excellent care of them. I just think it's a shame that people pay 500 bucks for a purebred when good dogs and cats are being put to sleep at animal shelters around the country.

If you're looking for a dog or cat, before you pay some capitalist 500 dollars for a pet, at least look at your nearest animal shelter. There are good pets there, right this second, who are on death row.