Idiot working at Petsmart

[WhiskeyD]

I went to buy a tetra from Petsmart today and I got a complete moron helping me. Her strategy to catch the fish was to put the net in the middle of the tank and wait for the fish to swim into it. After about 10 minutes she finally realized this was not going to work so she decided to get another net to try and scare the fish into her net that was still sitting in the middle of the tank. After another 5 minutes i started to get impatient and asked her if i could just catch one myself. "Your not a licensed fish handler" she replied and then went on to say "You know, you shouldnt be buying a fish unless your tank has had water in it for one week". LOL, i didnt even bother explaining that only water in your tank wont start a cycle. So finally after about 15 minutes she finally catches one and guess what? SHE DROPS IT ON THE GROUND TRYING TO PUT IT IN THE BAG! She then picked it up bare handed and tried to "dust it off" (her words) by rubbing it with her finger! I couldnt believe what had happened. I felt bad for the lil guy so i went ahead and bought him. Im just going to QT it to make sure it is healthy and didnt catch anything. But wow, people like this should not be working with fish!

[trochilids]

That's way too funny -- in a sad, morbid sort of way. What can you do but chuckle, though? In some ways it's too bad that Darwin's laws don't apply to humans.

[beglely]

Im not sure if I should laugh or cry...either way its our emotional human side of things that prevents Darwin's law from applying to us....not sure if thats for the best or not tho lol

[WhiteDevil]

Originally Posted by trochilids

In some ways it's too bad that Darwin's laws don't apply to humans.

Thats just because of human intervention.

[Aries]

I always wanted to work at a local pet store (love animals) After getting into the fish hobby I considered working at one in the fish dept. Working with fish discounts on supplies, with the occasional human interactions, what could be wrong, right? Now...I think I would just hit my head against the wall all day long after gaining all the knowledge I have about aqua life keeping (which theres ALWAYS new and more info to gain..One reason why I like this hobby so much, also with the ability to always experiment with DIY projects) ...Petsmart employee's kill me..

I had one tell me to WASH my WHOLE filter pad in TAP water three times a month.

Im guessing the Petsmart had an "Economy Talk"...I can see it now..
"Ladies and Gents we need to rack in some more money and whats the best way to do this...Lie your A**'s off. Now get to it! Or your fired.."

NO offenese to people who do work for petsmart or local fish stores that ACTUALLY know what their doing. I would say Amen to you, and more people like you NEED to be working there...

[bs6749]

Buying a single tetra? Tetras are schooling fish and you should keep them in groups of at least 6. I guess the Petsmart chick missed that too.

[eja206]

just wondering how the tetra is doing now? lookig healthy etc? will be a massive success if it lives through that ordeal - hope it's ok! also, what type of tetra is it? x

[WhiteDevil]

Originally Posted by bs6749

Buying a single tetra? Tetras are schooling fish and you should keep them in groups of at least 6. I guess the Petsmart chick missed that too.

6 is a ok number but tetras like groups of atleast 10 to thrive and mature correctly, pecking orders ect. I have 6 neons and 6 other tetras, the funny thing is even though they are the same main species, the sub species do not interact near as much as one would think.

[divedeep1689]

our petsmart here in town isnt to bad they have some ok people who work there now the petco in town lol up until a a few months ago when they hired a guy who worked at petland they didnt even do water changes in thier tanks they had a pair of sea horses in there that looked worse and worse each of my trips they had dead fish in the tanks always the clownfish always had ich and the alage was awful lol

[WhiteDevil]

^^^ thats when you turn them in, let the correct county dept handle it THEN call their coporate.

I used to work at petco years and years ago PT nights, we lost our "fish girl" and after she left, it all went to ****. I mean nothing was ever done to the tanks, never cleaned, never thinned out, couldnt sell fish due to the quality of the tanks. Im not sure how they get away with neglect and abuse, its really beyond me.

[divedeep1689]

well now that this new guy works there who i knew when he worked at petland it has really turned around he sold me my first coral from petco my green zoanthus you can see it in my album

[WhiteDevil]

Im lucky to see any SW fish let alone coral/live rock at the petco by me, only 2 LFS within 10miles of me have it.

Its not the stores that are bad its the people who work there and run the place, i go to one petsmart only and thats due to a certain associate there, i dont buy fish from there.

[WhiskeyD]

Originally Posted by bs6749

Buying a single tetra? Tetras are schooling fish and you should keep them in groups of at least 6. I guess the Petsmart chick missed that too.

I already have 5 bloodfins and i was just buying another single to make it 6.

[WhiskeyD]

Originally Posted by WhiteDevil

Im lucky to see any SW fish let alone coral/live rock at the petco by me, only 2 LFS within 10miles of me have it.

We have a Petco in one of the upscale areas of town that actually has a very nice SW section. They have most of the popular fishes, corals and LR! Only problem is, its a 30 minute drive each direction for me . The employees seem to know a lot more there also.

[WhiskeyD]

Originally Posted by eja206

just wondering how the tetra is doing now? lookig healthy etc? will be a massive success if it lives through that ordeal - hope it's ok! also, what type of tetra is it? x

I checked him out this morning and it looks like he is getting finrot I'm going to wait another day or two to make sure before i melafix him.

[WhiteDevil]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyD

We have a Petco in one of the upscale areas of town that actually has a very nice SW section. They have most of the popular fishes, corals and LR! Only problem is, its a 30 minute drive each direction for me . The employees seem to know a lot more there also.

Hey good help is hard to find and I know 30 minutes would be OK by me. I plan trips to certain cities for their fish selections and aquatic attractions such as aquariums and fishing ect.

My two LFS's are exactly 30 minutes north and 30 minutes south on a good day. Human overpopulation inhibits any drive from being less then 30 minutes around here anymore.

[asudavew]

Originally Posted by WhiteDevil

Hey good help is hard to find and I know 30 minutes would be OK by me. I plan trips to certain cities for their fish selections and aquatic attractions such as aquariums and fishing ect.

I know what you mean.
My wife and I were in San Antonio last week, and we hit every pet store we could find with Google. It was a bit disappointing though.. I expected more selection.

I live in a smallish town and all we have is Petco and Petsmart. And one really nice Saltwater LFS, but I have yet to set up my saltwater tank.

(20 lbs of live rock on the way though :O) )

[RWaltman]

who buys one tetra?

[mgamer20o0]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyD

I checked him out this morning and it looks like he is getting finrot I'm going to wait another day or two to make sure before i melafix him.

hope you qted lol

[HN1]

Wow!!! That's horrible. Just for the record, it's not all employees. I know of one or two from when I used to buy more common fish that were decently knowledgeable, but yea the bad are there too.

I once went in and saw kuhlis. Had to have a few so I got an employee over. With net in hand she chased them for about 5 minutes (they were loose in a sand bottom tank). When they all buried themselves, she proceeded to scoop a large net full of sand and kuhlies up. Lifted the net out of the water and then rummaged through the sand with her fingers and caught one between her fingers in a "pinch". I was left stunned and speechless. I just turned around and walked out without a word. Common sense need not apply...