Wal-Mart thumbs down

[Speakerman]

I went up to the Super Wal-Mart today to look at the fish. I started talking to a guy there who was interested in an Oscar. He'd been waiting for service for about an hour...They paged 2-3 times and nobody ever came.

Anyway, we had to help ourselves to the fish. He got his Oscar and I picked up a Red Belly Pacu. I also filed a complaint by calling the manager. He didn't seem to interested.

If stores do not take interest and care in their departments, they shouldn't have them in the store. If I was a butthead I would have just loaded up the bag with everything I wanted and just put the UPC code for a couple fish.

Anyway...I hate Wal-Mart. But I love my new Pacu

[chotie]

be sure to QT if possible!

[MattAquaBio]

Yeah seriously. Sometimes when i have to go to pick up something or other i take a look, usually there will be just entire tanks with nothing but dead fish. I bought a beta from them one time and i asked the guy in the department about the oscars and he said they only got like six inches long.
And thats why you have to know your stuff before you go to wal-mart lol.

Wow. Wal Mart's dont even carry fish in Massachusetts

[jibboo]

I got my redtail shark from Walmart about 6 years ago ... still alive and about 5 inches now ... I also got a black ghost knife from them one time ... of course it wasn't labeled on the tank and the person had no clue what it was (of course neither did I at the time) ... I got it for something $4.50 ... wish I knew what I had at the time ... what a steal.

I got all my current Kenyii and Aurutus from walmart too. Walmart is just like any other fish store ... know what you're looking for and looking at and make sure they appear healthy before purchase.

But I know what you're talking about in getting someone to help you get the fish ... they really don't care ... its too bad.

[Speakerman]

The signs on the fish are rediculous. It says that the Red Belly Pacu only get 10" lmao. I've seen them well over a foot and a half. Most will tell you they get around 2' long (or 24").

[Zagz]

The reality is that it is a chain store whose prime objective is to make money. They are not a dedicated pet store.

The best advice is don't support any lfs that doesn't look after their fish or offer good service. Support the stores that look after their fish and over good service. There will always be newbies that don't know any better. We all were one of them once. AA exsists to help fellow aquarists in their love of their hobby and in helping people with experiences of fellow members.

God knows AA has helped me to not make the same mistakes over and over and countless other mistakes I would have made had I not had support of more experienced members.

[Musket]

I've never had this problem with Walmart, but I've only gotten 2 fish and my lobster there.. Even the refund went easily when I did have a problem. Maybe because Walmart is newer around here? Or the fish dept actually cares. I have seen them taking quite good care. Even though I have only bought 3 times from there, I have paroosed the fish section many times.

[plecoperson]

The best advice is don't support any lfs that doesn't look after their fish or offer good service. Support the stores that look after their fish and over good service.

I agree; even if there's a delicious-looking and bargain priced fish at a crappy store, walk on by. Places like Wal-Mart should really not be selling living things, and what makes them continue is that people buy 'em. I want a betta, but can't bring myself to buy one out of a nasty cup. It's hard; the "rescue" and "that's just what I want" aspects are so powerful. I just try reallllly hard not to go over to that sector of the store.

[Zagz]

I certainly don't believe all Walmarts don't care about fish. We have 3 of them in our city and of the 3, one is completely dedicated to their fish and the other 2 are not terrible at all. I know that in some places Walmart is notorious for not so good fishkeeping. It depends on the staff and the stress level they are under from management IMO. If the management says focus on fish, they will focus on fish, if management says focus on furniture sales that is where the focus will be.

[Ky'smommy]

i have three places to get fish, petsmart. petland and walmart.
if you go buy sucess rate it would have to be walmart all the way. which is sad. i have had more fish live then not live from walmart. and i think the only reason i lost my walmart fish was my own stupidity. lol before i knew better.
the pet land- 1 live out three bought.
petsmart- 3 live out of like 10 bought or more.

[plecoperson]

Zagz, I'm glad to hear that not all Wal-Marts are as bad as the ones I've seen. I think overall, though, it's best that a store selling animals be dedicated to that only; management at an "everything under one roof"-type store can change frequently, and the higher-ups can decide that they need to focus on selling toys, or lamps, or sporting goods, etc.

Not to say that all LFSs are good, certainly! I think the live animals at some of the large chain pet stores and some of the smaller ones are as ill-kept as anywhere else. And I know it's impossible to find a good LFS of any kind in many areas, too, so we all have to make do with what's available.

[Speakerman]

I got my Oscars from Wal-Mart and they are the best fish I've ever had.

The service is what I was complaining about. I waited for an hour and actually had to get my own fish....

[Alshain]

I too have Wal-Mart, Petland, and Petsmart. Except I would buy fish from Petsmart before any other. Wal-Marts fish aren't as bad as some people here describe but they aren't healthy either. Petland participates in fish painting.

[hulkamaniac]

I won't buy any livestock from Wal-mart. I buy dry goods there b/c of the price, but not livestock. You realize how big the Pacu will get right?

[Burks]

Your experience is part of the reason I don't shop at Wal-Mart for fish, there is no service at all.

I stick with Petco/Petsmart/Pets Supplies. Around here the service is fantastic almost to the point of being annoying. If I glance at a tank it's "Which fish can I get you today?". Better than no service I guess

[Ky'smommy]

everyone of my stores u have to wait and as for help.
petsmart always has to little workeres
petlad fish department is now dead that petsmart opened up
and walmart is just walmart.
our walmart staff sucsk bad for a all departments,but i got to say i met a new boy last time and he seems good. and lady from the grocery isle was great. she came over did it herself and tried learning.
that day the guy who works in the fish department told her it wasnt his job? like what is that.lol

[greenmaji]

If you recive good advice and the fish are well cared for at your particular walmart I see no problem purchasing fish from that store (the problem is this is rather rare)

Had you recived advice I would hope someone would have tried to talk you out of purchasing a red bellied pacu, unless you happen to own a small swiming pool sized tank.

[Speakerman]

I've got a 150 gal...He'll be okay in there for a while...But I'll have to do something else once he gets bigger.

[greenmaji]

Thats what Im conserned about, were are all those monster fish going to be housed.
Pacu's are well known for physicaly breaking tanks that are to small