Long time lurker, first time poster...
Anywho, I have a couple stories:
First one was how I got kicked out of a Pet Supplies Plus in my area. I walked in to get some plants and a heater for a 15 gallon a friend had found in his grandparent's attic. I'd cleaned it and set it up in my room, but the heater was cracked and I wanted some Anibias for it. Anyways, I was looking at the fish, and overheard an employee refer to himself as an "aquarium expert" and talking to an older couple who were setting up a tank for their grandson. He was bagging up some fish for them when I overheard the lady ask him if he was sure all the fish could go in a 5 gallon. Taking a look at the bags, I saw 3 rainbow sharks, 2 baby angelfish, and 2 silver mollies, and immediately went into alert mode.
The "aquarium expert" responded that all those fish lived in caves in the wild, so they didn't mind small spaces.
I immediately walked up and commented that they had nice fish and asked how big the tank was. The lady said five gallon, and I told them that, actually, none of the fish there would work in a 5, and the sharks would kill the other fish and then each other becuase they are territorial. I then used my phone to show them pics of my 5" angelfish, to which the lady said that she couldn't believe they were told that they could keep all these fish. I then told her that I wasn't an "expert" or anything, but I actually did currently keep all the fish that they wanted to buy and was giving her info from my personal experience. I was being very nice, calm, not downing anyone, and helpful. Then I showed them the bettas, which they seemed to like and told them a 5 gallon was good for one betta and to do a 40-50% water change once a week with dechlorinated water and how the nitrogen cycle worked.
By this time, the employee had disappeared, and I figured he had gone somewhere to sulk. No such luck. He and the manager showed up and both started reaming me. Not for butting in or giving false information, but for RUINING THEIR SALE! I was asked to immediately leave the store and to never come back.
Luckily the older couple also left without buying anything, but they thanked me on the way out.
Fortunately for me, my local Petsmart is pretty good. About half the people there are relatively knowledgeable, and the other half will admit they don't know and find someone who does. This is from today when I went in to check out their new shipment for BN plecos and severums:
Me: I'll take 2 java ferns and a Bristlenose pleco
Her: No! I wanted bristlenoses, and it looks like we're going to sell out again before I get a chance to get any.
Me: Sorry, this one's mine.
Her: Darn you! (I have a pretty good relationship with the girls at my local petsmart and we BS around a lot)
Me: so, do you have any Severums?
Her: No, we don't even carry them anymore.
Me: Why?
Her: I have no clue.
Me: They're great Cichlids, I mean, they get larger than tetras and stuff, but you guys carry big fish like the oscars.
Her: Oh, don't even get me started, we carry effing pacus (holding up her hand with three bandaids on it and pointing to a 10 gallon with about 15 4-5" pacus). They all get really nippy because they don't have room to swim and no one else will clean the tank. And they have that stupid sign that says they need to be in a 75 gallon. They get about as big as a bike tire.
Me: Yeah, I know, this lady on a forum I go to has three and they're huge and not done growing...(kdrun, looking at you)
Her: The worst, though, are the plecos. I mean, there are all sorts that we carry that are fine for most tanks, like bristlenoses, rubber lips, and clowns, but, no, they have to have those stupid commons and sailfins that get too big for any of the tanks we have in stock.
Me: Yeah, that's why I'm getting the BN.
Her: Good call. You know he'll go through all the edible algae in your tank in a few days, right?
Me: yeah, I have algae discs and I give my fish zucchini and green beans about once a week.
Her: I'd like to be your pleco.
