I choose a store because of the quality and care of the fish, not the knowledge of "this or that" by the employees. Yes, I do expect a couple of employees to know a bit more than just the basics, such as species specific info in such, but I don't expect there to always be one of those working the shift that I show up at. If you know what you want, go to the store and get it. If you don't know what you want or don't get a satisfactory answer to a question, look it up!!! You can always go back to the store, most stores will even put a creature on hold for a bit for you to get more accurate info first. Don't depend on somebody that works their to know everything you know or want to know. I don't ask the guys at the supermarket how to cook my steak!! Whenever I buy a car, I don't expect the salesman to show me how to program the radio!
I worked at a Petco for a bit as the aquatics specialsit and considered it my job to educate the uneducated! (now I'm a science teacher). I loved it!! Yes, people asked stupid questions, but given them stupid anwers is a way to a)loose business, b)loose livestock, c)loose your job, d) get your butt kicked. No winner there! When people tried to convince me that there "special situation" will work, "I swear, my cousin keeps 3 oscars in a 20 and it works just fine." I just refused to sell them fish. Yes I lost a little business that way, but kept the fish alive and made the business up and then some from people who appreciated my honesty and respected my knowledge.
For those of you who are jerks that work at fish shops, hope you have a backup plan.
For those of you who are jerks and shop at fish shops, order your fish online and give those 18 year old algea scrubbers a break.